Year 2

In the spring semester of the second year, a student will register for research hours with their advisor, culminating in a short (maximum 10,000 words) paper (formerly known as an ‘FSP’) that demonstrates the capacities to synthesize evidence, craft arguments, and write effectively within the field of anthropology, in the judgment of the student’s 3- person advisory committee.

A student wishing to receive an MA may revise this paper in light of the committee’s recommendation and feedback and present it to the department no later than the Spring semester of their third year. If a student has a preexisting text (e.g. an MA thesis or article) that, in the judgment of a 3-person faculty committee, demonstrates the capacities above, they may substitute that document for Year 2 requirement. However, this cannot be substituted for an MA. Though not required as part of our PhD program, an MA is a valuable degree for an archaeology student. Our intent is to incentivize the completion of a high-quality MA and to provide opportunities to practice making analytical arguments via high-quality research and writing. Must be enrolled in 993: Master’s Research and Thesis for 3 credit hours with advisor the semester the MA is defended.

In the spring semester of their second year, students will complete an independent research paper that will be reviewed by their 3-person committee. By the end of the second year, students should demonstrate an ability to formulate and pursue a research question, gather and/or analyze data, write analytically, and work with a committee to a synthesize a written argument in preparation for publication. These requirements facilitate timely progress to degree, and provide training and professionalization in research skills and the process of academic publishing.

Students without an MA upon enrollment in the program will be encouraged to submit their second year paper as an MA thesis by the end of their second year if their committee recommends and they pass an oral defense. Must be enrolled in 993: Master’s Research and Thesis for 3 credit hours with advisor the semester the MA is defended.

In the spring semester of their second year, students in sociocultural anthropology will complete a Research Development Essay, outlining a key problem in the field, providing a sketch of relevant literature, and offering an assessment of methods for investigating this problem through future research. (This preliminary exercise is meant to galvanize thought toward an eventual dissertation proposal in Year 3. Affording a stepping-stone toward their formal proposal and successful funding applications, it should accelerate students into those Year 3 efforts. This essay/thesis should be modeled on a grant application relevant to their field (for example, that of the NSF). Students will meet with their committee at the end of their second year to discuss their Research Development Essay and to co- develop their plans for proceeding toward their comprehensive exams in Year 3 of the program. This includes collaborating on drafting initial reading lists, which will be instrumental to the literature review essay, required in Year 3.

Students whose Research Development Essay rises to the level of a Master’s thesis will be presented the option of formally defending it as an MA. Students who have elected (or been advised) not to proceed to PhD candidacy may opt out of the Research Development Essay and instead pursue an optional ‘exit’ MA by successful submitting and defending one of the following: a publishable paper (suitable for peer review); two interrelated and subsequently synthesized seminar papers; or a stand-alone MA thesis of original or secondary source research. Must be enrolled in 993: Master’s Research and Thesis for 3 credit hours with advisor the semester the MA is defended.