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The UNLV Anthropology
Department offers several courses of study that lead to the Master of Arts and the Doctor of
Philosophy degrees. While our curriculum is designed to promote
competence in the entire field of anthropology, a  student may
concentrate in one of the traditional sub-disciplines of
archaeology, cultural anthropology, physical anthropology or
linguistic anthropology. He or she may also pursue some
combination of these, such as biocultural or medical
anthropology.
Close contact with professors
is maintained throughout graduate education, providing the
foundations for further study or for employment. This quality
mentoring environment is reflected in the theses; anthropology
graduate students have received first and third in the
university-wide competition for best thesis; and they have
several times won the highest fellowships offered by the
university.
The Las Vegas urban area is
ethnically and structurally complex and diverse, providing
ample opportunity for ethnographic and linguistic research.
Archaeological sites and artifact collections also are readily
available for student research. Additionally, diverse faculty
interests offer research opportunities outside of the Great
Basin and the Southwest. These include Central and South
America, the Near East and Mediterranean Basin, India, Africa,
and China.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
The program of study is
described in detail in the UNLV graduate
catalog, which can be ordered online.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
 The Master of Arts program in
anthropology provides several areas of concentration leading
towards careers in diverse fields. Students receiving their M.
A. degree in anthropology from UNLV have gone on to careers in
government and private sector archaeology, academia, museum
curation, medical anthropology, teaching, social work, the
armed services, dentistry, politics, and private enterprise. Frequently
we are contacted by various agencies, or the department needs
student workers and we list these on our "Student
and Entry Level Job Openings" page.
Among the graduates who have
gone on to Ph.D. programs at other institutions are a museum
director, a tribal historian, and professors at universities
both in the U.S. and abroad.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
While an undergraduate degree
in anthropology is not required, the applicant should have
earned 18 credit hours in undergraduate anthropology courses
and achieved at least a 3.0 average in those courses.
Approximately half of the 18 hours should be at the
upper-division level, and we prefer that these courses
represent as many of the four sub disciplines of anthropology
as possible.
GRE scores are required for
admission to both the M.A. and Ph.D. programs. There is no
required minimum score, but scores will be used in combination
with the other information in the application to evaluate the
applicant. The exam must be taken within the five years preceding
the deadline for the application under
consideration.
The application form, fees,
official transcripts of all previous college/university work
(official transcripts are those sent directly from the issuing
institution), and assistantship applications are submitted to
the Graduate College. The forms required by the Graduate
College are available online at Graduate
Program Forms.
An additional copy of your official
transcripts, your official GRE scores, two letters of recommendation, a research paper
representative of the applicant's work and a letter of intent
should be sent directly to the department.
International students are
required by the Graduate College to complete the TOEFL with a
score of 550 or better on the written version or 213 or better
on the computer version, or show comparable evidence of
competence in English.
PH.D. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Applications to the Ph.D. program
are considered twice a year. The deadline for
application to the Ph.D. program is February 1 for the fall
semester and September 15 for the spring semester.
Admission Requirements
- Applicants must meet the
general admission requirements established by the Graduate
College. We normally will consider only those applicants
who possess a Masters or equivalent degree in Anthropology
or a related field from an accredited institution.
Students entering with an approved M.A. will not be
required to go through the Department's M.A. program, but
they may be required to take remedial courses in the case
of deficiencies. Applicants without an M.A. in
Anthropology should have a minimum of 18 semester credit
hours in Anthropology distributed among all traditional sub disciplines
of the field.
- The applicant must have at
least a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average in their
previous graduate work.
- The applicant must submit an
example of their previous research, preferably a published
paper; a copy of their thesis or a relevant research paper
also is acceptable.
- The applicant must submit a
detailed statement of intent (1-2 pages) outlining
proposed research. She or he should also identify specific
faculty members with whom they may wish to work.
- Three letters of
recommendation must be provided attesting to the
applicant's ability to conduct Ph.D.- level work. At least
two of the letters must be from academic references.
- The applicant must submit
GRE scores and transcripts, and foreign applicants must
submit TOEFL scores.
Degree Completion
Requirements
- A minimum of 42 credits of
approved work beyond the M.A. must be completed. This will
not include remedial courses. The 42 credits and any
remedial work must be passed with an average grade or B or
better. No more than one grade may be a C, and no grade
may be lower than a C. Within the 42 credits, there will
be a cap of six credits of independent study and/or
directed readings and 12 credits for the dissertation.
- Of the minimum of 42
credits, 18 must be in Anthropology graduate seminars.
- In consultation with his or
her advisor, a student will organize a dissertation
committee of at least three Departmental members. In
addition, a fourth member outside of the Department will
be assigned by the Graduate College. Another outside
member may be added at the Committee's discretion.
- The student must demonstrate
a competence in statistics by passing an appropriate
advanced class.
- The student must pass a
comprehensive examination with a grade of B or better in
the theory of one sub discipline and in one topical area.
Students who fail in either portion of the exam may retake
that portion the following year. A second failure results
in termination from the Ph.D. program.
- After passing the Ph.D.
comprehensive examination, the student must submit to the
Department a written dissertation proposal approved by the
dissertation committee prior to the commencement of
fieldwork or research. The student also must present a
defense of this proposal to the academic community. After
successfully completing these tasks, the student is
advanced to candidacy.
- The student will then
conduct approved anthropological research to gather data
needed for the writing of their dissertation. This may
involved fieldwork, laboratory research, or research on a
theoretical topic, but in any case must represent an
original contribution to knowledge.
- The student must submit and
successfully defend their dissertation. This defense is
open to the public.
We hope that the
information provided above will give you some guidance in
determining if our program is right for you. If you are
interested in discussing in more detail how our Ph.D.
program might meet your needs, please feel free to contact
Graduate Coordinator Dan
Benyshek or another faculty member in your field of
interest. We also invite you to visit the anthropology and
ethnic studies home
page.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Graduate Assistantships,
Barrick Fellowships, Alumni Scholarships, and Graduate
Student Association Scholarships are available through the
Graduate College. Please contact the Graduate College
regarding requirements and deadlines for these awards.
 Each year the Department of
Anthropology offers nine-month graduate teaching
assistantships (GA's). There currently are 13 of these.
Teaching assistants work nineteen hours per week in
undergraduate courses and in laboratories. The current
stipend, which varies for M.A. and Ph.D. students,
includes a tuition waiver. Applications for graduate
Assistantships are due by March 1.
The department also offers
two modest scholarships: The Patricia Rocchio Memorial
Scholarship is given annually to an advanced graduate
student showing superior academic achievement and
professional promise. The average amount of this award is
$1000. The Edwards and Olswang Scholarship is awarded
competitively, based on proposals for research or study.
Awards are normally a few hundred dollars.
The College Work Study
Program is a federally financed program designed to
provide jobs for students with financial need. The jobs
are located on campus with the university or off campus
with certain public or non-profit agencies. Students may
choose jobs that are related to their academic majors and
career objectives. Hours of work may be arranged according
to class schedules. To be eligible, students must have
financial need and must be enrolled in a degree program on
at least a half-time basis. Recipients must be citizens or
permanent residents of the United States or the Trust
Territories (ACT application is made through the Student
Financial Services Office).
Information on grants,
loans and employment opportunities may be obtained from
Student Financial Services at (702) 895-3424 or toll-free
1-800-334-UNLV.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
All materials supporting
applications for admission to the Graduate College must be
received by the following deadlines: Applications for the
M.A. program are due March 1 for the fall semester and
October 1 for the spring. Application deadlines for
international students are March 1 and October 1,
respectively. Applications to the Ph.D. program are
January 1 for fall semester and August 15 for spring.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE DEADLINES ARE EARLIER THAN THOSE OF
THE GRADUATE COLLEGE. See also deadlines
posted by the graduate college.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International students can
find information regarding financial requirements at the
Graduate College web site:
UNLV has an enthusiastic
Graduate and Professional Student Association. Students participate fully
in those committees and programs of the Graduate College
that have an impact on their academic work. In addition,
the GPSA is an active organization that schedules many of
its own events, such as the Graduate
Research Forum, in which all graduate students are
encouraged to participate. The GPSA is budgeted in the
student fee structure and is provided with financial
support to assist its members in their thesis and research
efforts. Every graduate student is encouraged to become a
part of the academic and social activities of the GPSA.
THE CAMPUS
The University of Nevada,
Las Vegas is an institution striving to become one of the
nation's leading urban universities  by providing students
an excellent education at a reasonable cost.
Since its founding in 1957,
the university has grown rapidly, expanding both its
academic programs and its facilities. At the undergraduate
level, students may earn degrees in more than 69 subjects.
Graduate students can choose from more than 59 degree
programs. All UNLV programs are accredited by the
Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.
Located in one of the most
pleasant areas of Las Vegas, UNLV has a beautiful campus
with extensive computer, library and residential
facilities connected by spacious lawns and walkways shaded
by trees and complemented by desert foliage. Just outside
the campus are apartments, restaurants, shopping centers,
libraries, hospitals and all the other hallmarks of a
modern urban area.
The university is integral
to the cultural environment of a city which bills itself
as the Entertainment Capital of the World. The
Master Series features world-class artists and performers,
while the Barrick Lecture Series brings some of the
foremost thinkers of our time to the campus.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
To obtain a Graduate Catalog
by mail, send a check for $5.00 (made payable to the
Board of Regents) to the Graduate College, University of
Nevada, Las Vegas (see address below). Catalogs are also
available through the UNLV Bookstore and online - Click
Here.
Graduate College, UNLV
4505 Maryland Parkway
BOX 451017
Las Vegas NV 89154-1017
Office of the Dean
(702) 895-4391
Graduate
College
Admissions
(702) 895-3320
Toll-free, 1-800-774-UNLV
Department of
Anthropology & Ethnic Studies
4505 Maryland Parkway
BOX 455003
Las Vegas NV 89154-5003
(702) 895-3590
Dan Benyshek
Graduate Coordinator
Department of Anthropology
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