Anthropology
Overview
Take your passion for anthropology to the next level.
The anthropology master's program at Illinois State is individualized, flexible, and supportive. With flexible requirements, hands-on instruction, and faculty mentorship, students craft a research-based thesis in two years.
Our department is a four-field program (archaeology, anthropological linguistics, cultural anthropology, and biological anthropology) and we offer five master’s concentrations:
- Biological Anthropology
- Cultural Anthropology
- Historical Archaeology
- Prehistoric Archaeology
- Japanese Studies
You will dive deep into your concentration inside the classroom and out. We offer a broad range of research opportunities with faculty working on projects around the world.
Our class sizes are small with plenty of individualized attention. We have modern labs with the latest equipment and technology, comparative and museum collections, and a summer field school. No matter your focus, you can count on having all the support you need at Illinois State. Our faculty and staff will be with you every step of the way.
The Anthropology master’s program also offers a distinctive program for those who have completed at least a year of volunteer service in programs such as Peace Corps, AmeriCorp, Vista, or similar service programs. The Applied Community and Economic Development (ACED) Fellows Program at the Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development enables those who are passionate about social change through service to take their careers to the next level.
We also offer interdisciplinary graduate certificates in
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS)
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Entrance into these certificate programs happens after your admission to the Anthropology master’s program.
Whether your trajectory takes you into a Ph.D. program, Cultural Resource Management, non-profit administration, museum work, or teaching, our programs will prepare you to follow your dreams and our faculty will connect you with the people who can make them happen.
Point of Pride
Graduate students follow their passions in flexible two-year, research-based programs. We offer individualized, supportive, and hands-on instruction and mentorship from four-field research faculty.
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Liv Stone
(309) 438-5850
Schroeder Hall 347
Schedule a Visit
Discover what life as an Illinois State graduate student is like.
How to Apply
University Admission Requirements
A student applying to a master's program must:
- have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so within one academic year
- have a minimum 2.8 GPA (on a scale in which an A is a 4.0) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work
- present unofficial transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. The unofficial transcript should be easily readable and clearly indicate degree(s) awarded, courses and course grades for each term. If accepted, official transcripts can be emailed from the university to GraduateAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Graduate School, 209 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 4040, Normal, IL 61790-4040.
International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions.
Additional Program Admission Requirements
To apply to this program you must have:
- a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, history, geography, foreign language, or a related field
- a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work
You must also submit:
- names and email addresses of two academic references for letters of recommendation
- a statement of purpose
Statement of Purpose
Your statement is a narrative of your academic interests, culminating in a description of the research interests you would like to pursue on the master’s level. We know that these project change, but we also want to see that you have independent interests. Being successful in graduate school depends on a good match between the research interests of students and faculty and so this statement is the single most important part of your application for the faculty reviewing your application.
Your statement should also include what concentration you are interested in pursuing. Options for this program include:
- Historical Archaeology
- Prehistoric Archaeology
- Biological Anthropology
- Cultural Anthropology
- Japanese Studies
GRE
GRE scores are not required for your application. However, if you wish to submit them, you may.
Scores do not play a significant part in our decision-making process for admission. GRE scores may help your application if you did not have strong undergraduate grades but do have strong GRE scores.
Use institution code 1319 if you want to submit your scores. It will not be held against you if you do not submit GRE scores as part of your application.
Application Deadlines
- Fall (August) Term — January 31
Graduate Assistantships
The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,
- be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program
- be in good-standing
- be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).
Benefits
Graduate assistants receive
- monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
- a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
- a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment
Selection Process
Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis at the department level. There is no separate application process. Every student applying for an Anthropology master’s program is considered for an assistantship. We communicate about funding and assistantships alongside communications about admissions to the program.
Costs & Funding
See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.
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