UofC • This Is Now

Location

Earth Sciences 852

Faculty number

403-220-2665

Fax

403-282-9562

E-mail address

wwilson@ucalgary.ca

Web page URL

http://www.fp.ucalgary.ca/physanth/index.htm

The University offers an interdisciplinary specialization in Biological Anthropology to students registered in an existing graduate program. The student will receive the degree offered by the home program:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Master of Science (MSc)

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization: Biological Anthropology (Interdisciplinary)

In addition to Faculty requirements, all applicants must meet the minimum standards of the home program. Admission to the specialization requires:

a) A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree (and Master of Arts degree for admission to the PhD program) in Anthropology, Archaeology, Biology, Zoology, Ecology, or Health Sciences with a GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 point scale in the last two years of program or over the last 10 full course equivalents

b) An example of the applicant's written work: a term paper, research paper, Master of Arts, or honours thesis that the applicant considers representative of his or her best work. Published work authored by the applicant is also acceptable provided the applicant is the sole or senior author.

c) A concise statement setting forth the applicant's academic interests and reasons for wishing to pursue graduate work in the specialization. The area of thesis research should also be specified.

d) An up-to-date curriculum vitae

The deadlines for the submission of complete applications are:

15 January for September admission and funding

28 February for September admission only

The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission.

In addition to the Faculty requirements, the Specialization requires:

Master of Arts / Master of Science

1.Five half-course equivalents, which shall include:

a)Archaeology 617 (Theory and its Application in Biological Anthropology)

b)Anthropology 603 (Thesis Development)

c)Any two of the following: human gross anatomy, Archaeology 613 (Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains), Anthropology 635 (Primatological Theory), or Anthropology 605 (Professional Skills)

d)One optional course relevant to the proposed research topic

e)All students are expected to have proficiency in statistics. The supervisor and two other faculty members of the specialization, in concert with the applicant, will determine if additional course work is needed in statistics, depending upon the applicant's background and proposed research area.

2.A season of fieldwork offering appropriate experience for the proposed research (for example, primate field study, archaeological excavation, or field research in human biology), to be approved by the supervisor. However, students specializing in laboratory-based topics (for example, morphological studies or bone chemistry) may substitute an approved program of laboratory work for the fieldwork requirement.

Doctor of Philosophy

1. Course Requirements:

If students entering the PhD specialization have completed the Master's specialization in Biological Anthropology, or if they have completed equivalent courses in another Master's program, they will not be required to repeat those courses. Rather, additional courses will be determined at the discretion of the student's supervisory committee.

Normally, 6 half-course equivalents which shall include (unless completed previously):

a)Archaeology 617 (Theory and its Application in Biological Anthropology)

b)Anthropology 603 (Thesis Development)

c)Any two of the following: human gross anatomy, Archaeology 613 (Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains), Anthropology 635 (Primatological Theory) or Anthropology 605 (Professional Skills)

d)Two courses relevant to the proposed research topic

The number of courses required of each student may vary according to his or her particular needs as determined by the Supervisory Committee. Statistics will be required in the event the student's committee deems it necessary. The courses will be selected based on the student's previous statistics training and the type of data analyses they will conduct in their research.

2. Two seasons of fieldwork offering appropriate experience for the proposed research topic (for example, primate field study, archaeological excavation, or field research in human biology), to be approved by the supervisor. Fieldwork may have been undertaken before entry into the specialization and may be counted toward the fieldwork requirement. Students specializing in laboratory-based topics (for example, morphological studies or bone chemistry), may substitute an approved specialization of laboratory work for the fieldwork requirement.

3. Submission to the supervisory committee of a paper that demonstrates an ability to research and write a paper at a professional level

4. Special skills: proficiency in a second language

None

Students may apply for no more than one 500-level course for graduate credit, subject to the approval of the Program Director. Graduate students taking a 500-level course for graduate credit will be required to complete additional assignments.

Expected completion time for the MA is two years and maximum completion time is four years.

Expected completion time for the PhD is four years and maximum completion time is six years.

Students will be assigned a supervisor upon admission.

Final thesis oral examinations are closed.

Within twenty months of entering the program, the student, with the supervisor's advice, develops a thesis research proposal. This is then transmitted to the student's supervisory committee for agreement and to the Program Director for approval and placed on file.

None

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this calendar.

Students applying for scholarships must submit their applications to the home program by 2 January.

Given the limited resources, the specialization may, in any year, admit fewer applicants than those who are qualified to undertake graduate studies.

See the website of the home department of the faculty member.