Deepen your understanding of anthropology and apply its concepts, methods, and insights to real-world challenges. In this MA program, you will gain hands-on experience through archaeological field schools, community-engaged research projects, and opportunities to work with collections in the Museum of Anthropology gallery.
To tailor your academic journey, you can choose from three distinct tracks: Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, or Museum and Heritage Studies. Each path offers specialized coursework, independent study, and practical experiences designed to prepare you for diverse career opportunities in research, cultural resource management, museums, and beyond.
Start Dates: Fall
Curriculum: 48 Credit Hours
Program Length: 2 Years Full-time
Concentrations:
$89k Median salary of postsecondary anthropology and archaeology teachers in 2020
Master of Arts in Anthropology
How our curriculum prepares you for your career in anthropology
Collaborate with expert faculty
Engage one-on-one with faculty in classes, fieldwork, archaeology and ethnographic labs, and the Museum of Anthropology to develop your expertise and research skills.
Gain hands-on experience
Build practical skills through lab work, museum collection management, and coursework that connects theory with real-world application.
Advance your career
Whether pursuing a PhD or advancing in Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, or Museum and Heritage Studies, this MA equips you with the skills to take the next step in your career.
Prepare for professional success
The professional experience and connections of our faculty and staff will help you build the skills and connections to launch or advance your career.
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Application Information
Admission Steps for:
Start Your Application
Advance your career in Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, or Museum and Heritage Studies with an MA in Anthropology from the University of Denver
Choose the Master’s Paper or Thesis Track
You can select the thesis track to develop research skills alongside faculty or master’s paper track to increase your knowledge through additional coursework customized to your interests.
Thesis track
- 48 credit hours
- Oral defense
- Thesis
- Qualifying examination
Master’s paper track
- 60 credit hours
- Master’s paper
- Qualifying examination
Careers in Anthropology
Gain hands-on experience and develop professional skills that will prepare you for work in a variety of fields. Our alumni have gone on to careers in:
Research and teaching
- Education Program Manager and Policy Researcher — School of Public Affairs, American University
- Graduate Research Assistant — Center for Native Peoples and the Environment
- User Researcher III — Meta
Museums and heritage sites
- Research and Publications Associate — World Heritage USA
- Director of Registration, Collections, and Exhibition Services — Denver Art Museum
- Assistant Registrar — Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
- Senior Archivist — Anchorage Museum
- Cultural Anthropologist/NAGPRA Coordinator — National Park Service
- Oral Historian/Archaeologist/Interpretive Specialist — Anthropological Studies Center
- Image Project and Catalogue Manager — Event Tickets Center
- Communications and Programming — Western Folklife Center
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Public health and community development
- Lead Evaluator at Community Epidemiology & Program Evaluation Group (CEPEG) — Colorado School of Public Health
- Center for Community Engagement Coordinator — Sam Houston State University
- Senior Director, Evidence Generation and Commercial Strategy (Medtech) — Caresyntax
Cultural resource management and environmental conservation
- Director — Gardens on Spring Creek
- Environmental Coordinator and Project Manager — Treado Engineering and Development
- Acting Integrated Resources Program Manager — National Parks Service
- Geophysical Archaeology Team Lead — SWCA Environmental Consultants
- State Archaeologist — USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Field Director — Pinyon Environmental, Inc.
- Archaeologist — Eocene Environmental Group
- Regulatory Archeologist — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Cultural GIS Specialist/GIS Analyst III — Tetra Tech
- Geographic Information Systems Technician — GeoComm
- Project Director — Metcalf Archaeology
The Archaeology concentration equips you with the knowledge and hands-on skills to explore the past, understand its impact on the present, and preserve it for the future. You will engage with both the academic and applied aspects of archaeology, integrating theory with real-world practice.
Coursework for Archaeology
- Required Courses:
ANTH 3630 - Archaeological Method and Theory
ANTH 3660 - Anthropological Theory and Context
ANTH 4000 - Advanced Anthropology - Select at least one of the following Archaeology Courses:
ANTH 3170 - Applied Heritage Management
ANTH 3390 - Geoarchaeology
ANTH 4040 - Historical Archaeology: Theory and Method - Select one Cultural Anthropology course
- Select one Museum and Heritage Studies course
See the bulletin for a full list of courses.
Thesis Track: Minimum 48 credit hours with 24 elective credit hours
Master's Paper Track: Minimum 60 credit hours with 36 elective credit hours
"Experiences (at DU) gave me the skillset to be successful as an archeologist and the confidence to step out into my own."
Jasmine Saxon (MA '18)
DU Alumna Connects Community to History Through Public Archaeology
The Cultural Anthropology track prepares you to analyze and address global challenges related to human rights, development, and social change. With faculty expertise spanning North America, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and Latin America, you will gain regional and methodological insights that enhance your research and career opportunities.
Hands-on experience is a key part of your studies. You will complete a practical component such as a museum internship, archaeological field school, field methods course, or ethnographic fieldwork, ensuring you graduate with applied skills that set you apart.
Coursework for Cultural Anthropology
- Required Courses:
ANTH 3660 - Anthropological Theory and Context
ANTH 3750 - Ethnographic Methods
ANTH 4000 - Advanced Anthropology - Select four Cultural Anthropology courses
- Select one Archaeology course
- Select one Museum and Heritage Studies course
See the bulletin for a full list of courses.
Thesis Track: Minimum 48 credit hours with 12 elective credit hours
Master's Paper Track: Minimum 60 credit hours with 24 elective credit hours
"I've had the opportunity to work with museum professionals, medical doctors, ethnographers, archaeologists, and scholars from a wide variety of backgrounds and interdisciplinary fields. I feel lucky that I've been able to learn from so many different types of people, and to acquire a versatile set of skills and experiences that I can apply in a wide variety of situations."
Julian Nilsson (MA '19)
DU Newsroom: Graduate Student Julian Nilsson: Driven by the Love and Study of People
The Museum and Heritage Studies concentration prepares you for careers in museums and cultural institutions by combining academic study with hands-on professional training. You will explore both the theoretical and applied aspects of museum anthropology and heritage studies, gaining practical experience through coursework, supervised internships, and work in the University of Denver Museum of Anthropology.
Coursework for the Museum and Heritage Studies Concentration
- Required Courses:
ANTH 3660 - Anthropological Theory and Context
ANTH 4000 - Advanced Anthropology
ANTH 4744 - Museum Anthropology - One of the following ANTH Courses:
ANTH 3750 - Ethnographic Methods
ANTH 3630 - Archaeological Method and Theory - Select six Museum and Heritage Studies courses
See the bulletin for a full list of courses.
Thesis Track: Minimum 48 credit hours with 8 elective credit hours
Master's Paper Track: Minimum 60 credit hours with 20 elective credit hours
"Sometimes our representations of the cultures of the Americas conflict with how those cultures are represented in the mainstream. It’s my job to ensure that our workshops reflect current thinking regarding education and cultural responsivity, and make sure we represent the culture the Museo aims to honor in its full reality."
Leah Zavaleta (MA '19)
Article: Anthropology Alumna Takes Museum Skills to Denver Art District
Get Started on Your MA in Anthropology
Build your career in anthropology with a master's degree from the University of Denver’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
