Anthropology at UTSA offers MA degrees specializing in archaeology, biological anthropology, or cultural anthropology.

Explore our current and upcoming course offerings for graduate students!

Learn about funding opportunities within our department and from external sources!

Quick Links for Current Students:
MA Graduate Handbook
Thesis Proposal Guidelines
Intent to Write Thesis Form

Application Procedures

To apply for admission to the M.A. program in anthropology, you must complete The University of Texas at San Antonio Graduate Application for Admission. The application consists of an application form, official academic transcripts, an essay (statement of purpose), and 3 letters of recommendation (see below). Applications will not be reviewed until complete.

It is highly recommended that applicants contact potential professors in the department that they are interested in working with to assess their availability as an advisor.

Applicants can request degree-seeking or non-degree seeking status (special graduate students or non-degree-seeking graduate students). Please see below for explanation of terms.

Applicants for admission as degree-seeking students will be evaluated on the basis of undergraduate academic performance, the application essay, and letters of recommendation. GRE test scores are not required. A degree-seeking applicant admitted to the program may receive unconditional, conditional, or probationary admission status.

Non-degree-seeking students may be limited in the courses they are permitted to take. Admission as a non-degree-seeking student does not ensure subsequent admission as a degree-seeking student.

Admission Deadline

The deadline for admission to the M.A. program is MARCH 15.

If you have any questions or would like to talk further with anthropology faculty about the M.A. program, please contact:

Dr. Kathryn Brown
MA Graduate Advisor
MH 4.03.06
(210) 458-6761
kathryn.brown@utsa.edu
or any of the Anthropology faculty in your particular area of interest.

General Application Information
The Graduate School
University of Texas at San Antonio
One UTSA Circle
San Antonio, TX 78249
(210) 458-4331
graduateschool.utsa.edu

Application Materials

Record of Undergraduate Academic Performance

Applicants should have successfully completed at least 18 hours of undergraduate anthropology coursework. In addition, this background should reflect facility in anthropology’s four fields: archaeology, biological/physical anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology.

Essay

Include a statement of purpose describing your reasons for entering UTSA’s M.A. program in anthropology. This document should be 500-750 words in length (approximately two-to-three double-spaced pages) and should answer the following questions as completely as possible:

• What particular facet of anthropology do you wish to pursue in your graduate education, including topical and regional specializations?
• How have your prior coursework and related experience prepared you for graduate work in anthropology?
• How do your interests mesh with our faculty and resources?
• Which of our faculty members (at least 2) would you be interested in working with? Please explain.

Writing Sample

Your application must include a writing sample (between 10 and 25 pages, double spaced) from an advanced undergraduate anthropology course, or equivalent course if you did not major in anthropology.

Three Letters of Recommendation

As part of your application, you will need three letters of recommendation. Recommendations should preferably be from anthropology faculty with whom you have worked during your academic training. We realize that this is not always possible, especially if you were trained at a smaller institution or anthropology was not your major. In such cases, recommendations from other social science faculty or faculty in related fields are appropriate. Recommending faculty should be given information about how to submit letters electronically.