Program Description
Guidelines for Preparation of the Master's Thesis
Frequently Asked QuestionsTHE GRADUATE PROGRAM
The fundamental goals of the Master's Program in Anthropology at Hunter College are provide a first-class graduate level grounding in the basics of Anthropology and extensive exposure to advanced research. We remain committed to providing a level of Master's training second to none.
Graduate Program Objectives
The most important characteristics of our program include the following: The department maintains a commitment to a four-field approach to graduate training despite an apparent national trend towards increasing specialization at earlier levels of graduate training. We feel that a substantial background in Ethnology, Biological Anthropology, Anthropological Archaeology and Linguistics is essential to student training irrespective of subdisciplinary specialization.Current theoretical approaches to problems of anthropological interest increasingly blur the traditional distinctions between sub-disciplines. Students with only minimal cross- quadrant training will be equally limited in their choice of future research topics. Further, in an increasingly difficult job market, there is a growing pressure for a more generalized competency. As Anthropology PhD's find increasing employment in smaller institutions and outside academia, the drawbacks of highly specialized, wholly thesis- focused graduate programs become more serious. We feel that a student with a solid four- field background can readily opt to specialize, while one-talent specialists are hard to retrain as generalists.
The department maintains stringent degree requirements such that students who complete the program have reached a level of training equivalent to, if not superior to virtually any other Master's program in the country.
The entire Master's Degree Program is tied to an evening course schedule thereby offering a unique educational resource in an urban area where the majority of potential graduate students are self-supporting and hold full time jobs. Hunter's comparatively modest fees also serve to attract students who would otherwise never afford graduate education. Many of these students have proved to be our most capable, and working with them represents one of the genuine satisfactions of teaching at Hunter.
The Department is also committed to involving graduate students in ongoing faculty supported research, and in encouraging independent student-initiated research projects. We are by no means content to see them only in lectures, and try to convey that the most interesting parts of the discipline happen outside the classroom. The department further emphasizes the development of scholarly writing skills, and in concert with College policy, we encourage writing and research assignments wherever possible.
Admissions Policy
The Department of Anthropology at Hunter serves one of the most diverse urban centers in the world, and attracts students from a growing number of foreign countries (particularly Pacific Rim) as well as most parts of the United States. Applicants thus come from an unusually cosmopolitan background, and our admissions policy is adjusted to a high degree of variability in level of training and prior background in anthropology through use of a two-tiered "matriculated" and "non-matriculated".Matriculated (Degree-Program) admissions are based on student transcripts, letters of recommendation, and Graduate Record Examination scores. The Graduate Advisor attempts to arrange an interview and departmental tour with local applicants whenever feasible, and we attempt to keep the judgment of applications on an individual basis. Many applicants, for example, have little or no previous experience in anthropology, but hold graduate degrees in other fields. Such evidence of academic success in graduate work in general is normally heavily weighted. For students who have been out of school for some time, the nature of job experience is clearly important (we have acquired several excellent graduate students employed by the United Nations, the Museum of the American Indian, and the American Museum of Natural History). We are also careful to examine transcripts for consistent time trends. An uninspiring cumulative grade point average may conceal excellent academic performance in the latter portion of an undergraduate program.
It if often the case, however, that an applicant shows promise, but lacks a record strong enough to allow immediate admission to matriculate status in the degree program. Such students are advised to apply for non-matriculate, non-degree status. Satisfactory performance as a non-degree student may serve as a basis for later admission as a degree candidate. Non-matriculated students admitted in this way are allowed to transfer up to 12 credits for full graduate credit (B or above only). Non-matriculate status may also allow an uncertain student to test the waters before making a full commitment to graduate study. Non-matriculate students still must meet at least twice-yearly with the departmental graduate advisor to discuss their progress, plan future course work, and obtain written approval for specific graduate courses.
Degree Requirements
The Department of Anthropology maintains stringent requirements for its Master's Degree. These include completion of 30 credit hours of course work, required introductory courses in the four subfields, a statistics or language examination, and a Master's Thesis. Students who may have a substantial undergraduate background in a particular subdiscipline may be exempted from the graduate introductory course by successful completion of a a special examination.
Statistics and Language Examinations
A basic working knowledge of descriptive and inferential statistics or reading ability in a major non-English research language is evaluated by the statistics and language examinations. These open-book exams are offered once each semester and may be repeated until satisfactory performance is attained. They are administered by the Graduate Advisor and graded by an appropriate faculty member.
Advising and The Master's Thesis
One of the departmental graduate advisor's most important responsibilities is the maintenance of communication with students. This involves a good deal of regular contact: ensuring that students fully understand requirements, alerting them to courses of special interest (or those needed to correct individual deficiencies), helping them move through the program as smoothly as possible by fulfilling the degree requirements in a timely fashion, and monitoring student feedback on courses taken and desired in the future.In addition to a minimum of two interviews a year with the graduate advisor, graduate students are required by the end of their third semester to have established a working relationship with one or more of the other faculty, who then act as the thesis advisor and general mentor. The thesis advisor then selects a second reader (not necessarily from the Hunter staff) when the work reaches the first draft stage if not before. The departmental graduate advisor is an ex officio member of all Master's Thesis committees.
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARATION OF MASTER'S THESIS
Thesis Proposal
The thesis proposal should be brief. It should contain (not necessarily in this order): (1) a statement of hypotheses or research questions; (2) an outline of methods or procedures that will address the hypotheses or research questions; (3) an argument for the significance of the proposed research; (4) a preliminary list of sources; and (5) a short outline of the proposed thesis. The proposal and outline may be modified during the research and writing period with the approval of the candidate's faculty sponsor.
Thesis Sponsor and Second Reader
The candidate must select a thesis sponsor who is a full-time member of the Hunter Anthropology faculty. The faculty sponsor must approve the thesis proposal by signing the cover page. The candidate should then give a copy of the approved proposal to the Graduate Advisor. The second reader of the thesis should be selected in consultation with the faculty sponsor. She or he may be a Hunter faculty member or somebody else with relevant expertise who agrees to serve as a reader.
Thesis Format
Two copies of the approved thesis must be deposited in the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences. The thesis should be printed or photocopied in clear, dark ink on high quality 8.5" X 11" white bond paper. Do not use very small, very large or other unusual fonts. The left margin must be 1.5" to permit binding; other margins should be one inch. Text should be double-spaced, with the exception of footnotes, endnotes and bibliography, which may be single-spaced. Quotations of more than four lines should be indented. Unless the thesis sponsor and the candidate decide otherwise, citations should follow the style of the American Anthropologist. Diacritical marks and terms in non-Roman letters should, as much as possible, be inserted using a word processing program rather than written in ink on the text. Charts, graphs and maps must be done in black ink; if color is essential, make identical color copies for each copy of the thesis. Poor copies of graphics and photographs are not acceptable. Pages, including all tables and illustrations, must be numbered. The title page should use the format of the attached sample. The latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style is a good source for answering other stylistic questions relating to the thesis.
Submission of First Draft
The candidate should normally allow at least four weeks for the sponsor and second reader to comment on the first draft. The submission date is determined by the sponsor in consultation with the candidate and the second reader.
Submission of Final Draft
The candidate must submit the final draft to the thesis sponsor at least three weeks before the deadline for deposit of the approved thesis in the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences. Deadlines for deposit are listed in the Hunter College Academic Calendar. They are usually approximately one month before graduation.
Binding Fee
The candidate is required to pay a thesis binding fee of $15.00 at the Bursar's Office. The receipt must accompany the copies of the thesis deposited at the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences. Deposit of Approved Thesis
The title page of both deposit copies must be signed by the advisor and the second reader. The candidate must complete the upper portion of the Thesis Approval Form and bring the form and the completed thesis to the Anthropology Department Graduate Advisor. The following must then be deposited at the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences (812 Hunter East): (1) Two copies of the thesis with the appropriate signatures on the title page; (2) the binding receipt from the Bursar's Office; and (3), the completed Thesis Approval Form with the Graduate Advisor's signature.
Once the Dean has signed the Thesis Approval Form, the original will be sent to Graduate Audit in the Registrar's Office as official notification of fulfillment of the thesis requirement. A copy of the form will also be sent to the candidate. The Dean's Office will then forward the two copies of the thesis to the Hunter College Library, where they will be catalogued and placed in the collection.
Publication
Publications based in whole or in part on the thesis should acknowledge that the research was undertaken for a masters thesis in the Department of Anthropology, Hunter College, City University of New York.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How do I apply to the M.A. Program?
To obtain an application, go to: http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/~graduate/request.html
What does an effective application statement contain?
There is no single format for an application statement. However, you should be aware that the main objective of the statement is to persuade the Admissions Committee that you will perform well as a graduate student. It is generally a good idea to indicate why you are interested in the field or how you became interested in it, what kinds of intellectual issues you find most exciting, and why those issues could be usefully be explored in the Program. If possible, say something about your professional goals and demonstrate that there is a good "fit" between your interests and those of the Hunter Anthropology faculty. If there are questions about your background that you feel need clarification, the application statement is probably the place to do it. For example, if your grades during your undergraduate years were not very good, you might want to point out that you subsequently took two graduate anthropology courses at another institution and received grades of "A" or that your experience after graduating from college has given you a new commitment to studying hard.
I became interested in anthropology after I completed my B.A., so I don't have an undergraduate background in the field. May I still apply to the M.A. Program?
Candidates admitted to the Program generally have strong undergraduate backgrounds in anthropology. Occasionally, however, a strong background in a related field may be considered sufficient. For example, undergraduate biology majors who want to study biological anthropology or sociology or history majors who want to study cultural anthropology might be accepted into the Program if their overall records appear promising. Students with no anthropological background might also consider taking an undergraduate course or two as a non- degree student before applying to the M.A. Program.
Can I take M.A. Program courses as a non-matriculated student?
Those interested in taking one or a few M.A.-level courses but not interested in pursuing a degree sometimes come to Hunter as non-matriculated students. In addition, the Anthropology Admissions Committee sometimes recommends that candidates who seem promising but who lack a strong anthropology background come to Hunter first as non-matriculated students. These students can then deepen their knowledge of the field and get to know the faculty. After one or two semesters (and a maximum of nine credits, with grades of "B" or better), they may apply for full matriculation. These credits may then be applied to the M.A. degree.
What kind of financial aid is available for students in the M.A. Program?
Full-time graduate students may be eligible for some financial aid and/or work-study jobs from the College, New York State or other sources. Part-time students usually have fewer financial aid options. All students in need of financial aid should contact the Hunter College Office of Administrative and Information Services (OASIS) located in 217 Hunter North Building.
Its web page is http://guthrie.hunter.cuny.edu/finaid/
The Foundation Center is a specialized library and resource center which may provide leads to information about grants for study and research. It it located at 79 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003. Tel: (212) 620-4230. http://fdncenter.org/newyork/index.html
The Hunter College Anthropology Department occasionally provides small grants on a competitive basis to assist students in their training or their master's thesis research.
If I study part-time, how long do I have to complete the degree?
M.A. candidates normally complete the Program in two years if there are no interruptions in their studies. The total time for completing all degree requirements from the time of matriculation is four years. Students who exceed this limit have to fill out a time extension form, which must be signed and stamped by the graduate advisor and approved by the Dean. http://registrar.hunter.cun y.edu/forms/Graduatetime.htm
I work full-time and have a family. Is it still possible for me to enter and finish the Program?
Many M.A. Program students have significant work and family responsibilities. All M.A.-level courses are held in the evening in order to make it possible for students who work to attend. Students with full-time jobs and/or family obligations may find that they have to study part-time, but they can still successfully complete the Program.
I need to interrupt my studies for a while in order to attend to other business. What should I do?
The College requires that you submit a leave of absence petition if you plan to take a semester or more off from your studies. For a leave of absence form, see http://registrar.hunter.cuny.ed u/forms/gradleave.htm
How should I choose what courses to take?
The four required courses are offered each year and it is generally a good idea to complete them early in your course of study. Some special topic courses are offered only every few years or on a one-time basis. If there is a special topic course that greatly interests you, it is probably a good idea to take it, since it may not be offered again for some time. Towards the end of your course of study, you may wish to register for an independent study course or the thesis research course. Both of these courses require that you reach an agreement with a faculty supervisor about the work to be completed for the course. Students should decide which courses to take in consultation with the graduate advisor and other faculty members.
What is the procedure for obtaining approval and registering for courses?
All students must obtain approval from the graduate advisor to take M.A.-level anthropology courses. Once the appropriate approval codes are entered in the central CUNY computer, students may register by telephone, following the instructions provided by OASIS.
May I request course approvals from the Graduate Advisor by telephone?
It is recommended that students seeking course approvals submit their requests only in writing. This can be in the form of an e-mail message, a snail mail letter, or a brief memo left in the advisor's box in the Anthropology Department. Such requests must include the student's full name, social security number, and the title, number and code for each course. Please do not leave telephone messages, since these are frequently incomplete and/or difficult to understand.
Can I take courses outside of Hunter and receive credit towards my Hunter M.A.?
Students may receive up to nine transfer credits towards the M.A. degree for courses taken at other institutions. They must seek approval for such courses before enrolling in them, although students who have taken graduate courses elsewhere before matriculating at Hunter may request transfer credit. Such requests should include syllabi, catalog description, a transcript of grades, and term papers or other work for each course.
Students who wish to take courses at other CUNY campuses must request a permit from OASIS. The permit has to be approved by the graduate advisor and by the appropriate official at the other CUNY campus. http://registrar.hunter.cuny.edu/f orms/permit.htm
Can I take courses during the summer?
The M.A. Program only occasionally offers courses during the summer. Some students receive credit during the summer, however, for participation in field schools or, less commonly, for independent study or thesis research courses. These require that a faculty supervisor is available during the summer and willing to supervise the course.
What is the required foreign language test?
The language examination is intended to assure that master's degree candidates have a reading knowledge of a language other than English which is sufficient for them to use that language in scholarly work. This means that the candidate should be able to read the language easily, with only minor reliance on a dictionary, and should be able to translate academic prose into idiomatic (not necessarily literal) English. A candidate may request an examination in a language that has a significant scholarly literature or that would be useful in his/her field research; in recent years, students have taken examinations in Bulgarian, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish.
The examination usually requires the student to translate approximately one printed page into English. There is no time limit and the student may use a dictionary. The student should strive for a fluid translation; it should be publishable prose in English. A student should not take the language examination until he/she is very confident of passing. The CUNY Graduate Center offers foreign language reading courses (non-credit) for students who wish to brush up on or learn a language.
A native speaker of a language other than English is not exempt from the requirement, since he/she must also demonstrate a high level of competence in translating the language into English. The Department will only waive the language examination under very unusual circumstances; a student who is a native speaker and who has documentation of significant post- secondary education in the language may apply for a waiver. Even in such cases, however, waiver applications are not granted automatically.
Language examinations are given on an ongoing basis throughout the year. Students may contact the Graduate Advisor to arrange for an examination.
What kind of statistics examination or course may I take in lieu of the foreign language requirement?
Students who wish to demonstrate competence in quantitative methods in lieu of knowledge of a foreign language may take a statistics course, with prior approval of the Anthropology Graduate Advisor, or request to be examined by the Department.
What kind of research opportunities are available to students in the M.A. Program?
M.A. Program students frequently participate in summer field schools and faculty research projects. Many also develop their own projects as part of their master's thesis research.
Who will be my faculty advisor in the Program?
While the graduate advisor may provide advice about curricular matters, students with concerns about their areas of specialization should consult with other faculty members expert in those areas. All students also have to select an advisor for their master's thesis, preferably one who is knowledgeable about the topic of their research. Only full-time permanent faculty can act as thesis advisors. It is important to take courses and work closely with the faculty member you wish to be your advisor. Faculty may be reluctant to take on the time-consuming role of supervising a thesis unless they have some prior experience with the student.
When should I start thinking about a master's thesis topic? How do I choose a topic and an advisor for my master's thesis?
A master's thesis is a significant undertaking, but it is not generally as extensive as a doctoral dissertation. You should always be thinking about, making lists of, and collecting material on topics that you find intellectually exciting. You should try to frame an appropriate thesis topic, in consultation with one or more faculty members, at least one semester (and preferably more) before you intend to graduate.
What kinds of courses and other work are necessary for completing a good master's thesis?
A thesis is supposed to be based on original research. It is usually a good idea to be familiar with appropriate research methods and research design skills for the issue on which you intend to work. This background could be obtained through taking a research methods course or other similar training. The Anthropology Department has a set of Guidelines for the Preparation of the Master's Thesis: http://maxweber.hunter.cuny.edu/anthro/grad.html
I've finished all my course work, but not my thesis. Do I still have to register?
If you are not registered for any courses but are completing other degree requirements, you must register to maintain matriculation (and must pay a maintenance fee). A student must be registered for the semester of graduation but need not register for any semester during which no work is done toward graduation. For more information, see: http://registrar.hunter.cuny.edu/Schedule/Front00/maintenance.htm
What kind of careers are available to people with a M.A. degree in anthropology?
The American Anthropological Association home page has a wide variety of information on careers. http://www.ameranthassn.org/carplc.htm
Will the M.A. Program at Hunter prepare me for entering a Ph.D. program in anthropology?
The Hunter College M.A. Program provides solid training for students who intend to enter doctoral programs. Our graduates have an excellent record of obtaining admission and fellowships at top programs.
Can I go directly from the Hunter College M.A. Program to the Ph.D. Program in Anthropology at the CUNY Graduate Center?
Many M.A. Program students hope to continue their training in the Ph.D. Program in Anthropology at the CUNY Graduate Center. This is not automatic, however. The Ph.D. Program has a separate admissions committee and different admissions criteria. In recent years, many, but not all, applicants with Hunter M.A. degrees have been accepted by the Ph.D. Program.
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