Coterminal M.A. Degree in Anthropology
The Coterminal Master's program in Anthropology is for current Stanford undergraduates seeking to obtain a Master's degree while completing their bachelor's degree in Anthropology or in a different department.
Stanford University undergraduate majors are eligible to apply for the Coterminal M.A. degree program if they have a 3.4 GPA in their department major, a 3.0 GPA in overall course work, and have no more than one “Incomplete” listed on the transcript at the time of application. Successful applicants to the Coterminal M.A. program may enter only in the following Autumn Quarter. However, the department may consider a request for early deferral of admission in the Spring Quarter by petition. Coterminal M.A. degree applicants are not required to submit their Graduate Record Examination scores.
Fields of Study
Our graduate students may choose from the following Department tracks: 1) Archaeology; 2) Culture and Society. Students work closely with faculty members who are engaged in research informed by a wide array of theoretical perspectives from political to spiritual. Subfields in Archeology include: cities, gender and sexuality, and materiality. Students interested in Culture and Society can focus on a wide range of issues such as: linguistic anthropology, culture and mind, medical anthropology, and global political economy.
Explore each Research Area and its faculty.
Further information about Stanford’s Coterminal degree programs, along with application instructions, can be found in the Student Services Website.
The Graduate Application opens in mid-September Deadline is Wednesday, December 2, 2026
Degree Requirements
A program of 45 units, taken at the 100 level or higher with a minimum grade of ‘B’. Of the 45 units:
- At least 23 units must be taken at the 200/300 level.
- No more than 5 units may be taken for a satisfactory/ no credit grade.
- No more than 10 units of directed reading-style course work may be counted towards the degree.
- No more than 15 units may be approved from related areas of study or overseas studies.
While you have access to petition courses up to Autumn quarter of sophomore year via eForm, note that no courses taken before the first quarter of the junior year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements for this program. Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.
Additionally, requirements for the coterminal and terminal master’s degree program include the following:
- A faculty advisor appointed in the Department of Anthropology.
- Reach out to your advisor by the first week of Autumn quarter to schedule an initial meeting regarding your degree plan
- A self-designed plan of study chosen from one of the following Anthropology tracks; the tracks are not declarable in Axess:
- Archaeology
- Culture and Society
Course Requirements for the Archaeology Track
Core Program Requirements
ANTHRO 310G. Introduction to Graduate Studies
- Enroll in Anthro 310G for Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters.
ANTHRO 441. Master’s Project
- Enroll in Anthro 441 in the final quarter of the MA degree program and earn a grade of B or better.
ANTHRO 303. Introduction to Archaeological Thought
ANTHRO 303A. Contemporary Debates in Archaeological Thought
ANTHRO 307. Archaeological Methods
Theory Requirements
A minimum grade of B+ is required from one of the following graduate-level ANTHRO theory courses:
ANTHRO 303. Introduction to Archaeological Thought
ANTHRO 303A. Contemporary Debates in Archaeological Thought
Methods Requirement
A minimum grade of B+ is required from the following graduate-level ANTHRO methods courses:
ANTHRO 307. Archaeological Methods
Electives Requirement
Take at least 4 ANTHRO grad elective courses from the chosen track, listed at the 200-level or higher, taught by Anthropology faculty, and taken as a 5-unit course.
Master's Project Requirement
Submit an approved laboratory research or library-based paper proposal by the last day of instruction in the first quarter of the master's degree program.
Both tracks are required to enroll in ANTHRO 441 Master’s Project in the final quarter of the MA degree program and earn a grade of B or better.
By Week 6 of Graduating Quarter, submit the Master's paper reviewed by two faculty members (advisor and reader).
For the Archaeology track, the paper can be a laboratory research paper.
Optional: Presentation of the master’s research project at the department’s Master’s (Honors) paper presentation event in spring quarter.
Recommended Courses (Optional)
Students are encouraged to enroll in ANTHRO 299 for Winter and Spring quarters.
ANTHRO 299. Senior and Master’s Paper Writing Workshop
Course Requirements for Culture and Society Track
Core Program Requirements
ANTHRO 310G. Introduction to Graduate Studies
- Enroll in Anthro 310G for Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters.
ANTHRO 441. Master’s Project
- Enroll in Anthro 441 in the final quarter of the MA degree program and earn a grade of B or better.
ANTHRO 301. History of Anthropological Theory, Culture and Society
ANTHRO 306. Anthropological Research Methods
Theory Requirements
A minimum grade of B+ is required from one of the following graduate-level ANTHRO theory courses:
ANTHRO 300. Reading Theory through Ethnography
ANTHRO 301. History of Anthropological Theory, Culture, and Society
ANTHRO 301A. Foundations of Social Theory
Methods Requirement
A minimum grade of B+ is required from the following graduate-level ANTHRO methods courses:
ANTHRO 306. Anthropological Research Methods
Electives Requirement
Take at least 4 ANTHRO grad elective courses from the chosen track, listed at the 200-level or higher, taught by Anthropology faculty, and taken as a 5-unit course.
Master's Project Requirements
Submit an approved laboratory research or library-based paper proposal by the last day of instruction in the first quarter of the master's degree program.
Both tracks are required to enroll in ANTHRO 441 Master’s Project in the final quarter of the MA degree program and earn a grade of B or better.
By Week 6 of Graduating Quarter, submit the Master's paper reviewed by two faculty members (advisor and reader).
For the Culture and Society track, the paper can be a field research or library-based research paper.
Optional: Presentation of the master’s research project at the department’s Master’s (Honors) paper presentation event in spring quarter
Recommended Courses (Optional)
Students are encouraged to enroll in ANTHRO 299 for Winter and Spring quarters.
ANTHRO 299. Senior and Master’s Paper Writing Workshop