Our MA focuses on public anthropology by applying the discipline's concepts, methods, and insights to issues of contemporary relevance and concern. In our program you will gain valuable experience in archaeological field schools and community-engaged research projects or work in collections and in the Museum of Anthropology gallery. We also support student research in several on and off-campus lab and field experiences including the DU Ethnography Lab, the Paleodiet Archaeobotany Lab, and the Amache Archaeological Field School. To hone your expertise, we offer three distinct degree tracks in Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology and Museum and Heritage Studies. Our graduates go on to work across all sectors, including in non-profit, corporate, educational, and governmental organizations.
Our MA degree is 48 credits and can be completed in two academic years. For the 2025–2026 academic year, tuition is $1,718 per credit. Scholarships are awarded based on merit and students pay an average of $17,317 annually.
Bachelors degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.
Grade point average: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree. An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution supersedes the minimum standards for the baccalaureate. For applicants with graduate coursework but who have not earned a master’s degree or higher, the GPA from the graduate work may be used to meet the requirement. The minimum GPA is a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework undertaken.
Program GPA requirement: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for this program is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
Additional Standards for Non-Native English Speakers
Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), C1 Advanced or Duolingo English Test are required of all graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship status, whose native language is not English or who have been educated in countries where English is not the native language. Your TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test scores are valid for two years from the test date.
The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test score requirements for this degree program are:
Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80
Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5
Minimum C1 Advanced Score: 176
Minimum Duolingo English Test Score: 115
English Conditional Acceptance Offered: No, this program does not offer English Conditional Admission.
Per Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulation, international applicants must meet all standards for admission before an I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, [per U.S. Federal Register: 8 CFR § 214.3(k)] or is academically eligible for admission and is admitted [per 22 C.F.R. §62]. Read the Additional Standards For International Applicants policy for more details.
We require a scanned copy of your transcripts from every college or university you have attended. Scanned copies must be clearly legible and sized to print on standard 8½-by-11-inch paper. Transcripts that do not show degrees awarded must also be accompanied by a scanned copy of the diploma or degree certificate. If your academic transcripts were issued in a language other than English, both the original documents and certified English translations are required.
Transcripts and proof of degree documents for postsecondary degrees earned from institutions outside of the United States will be released to a third-party international credential evaluator to assess U.S. education system equivalencies. Beginning July 2023, a non-refundable fee for this service will be required before the application is processed.
Upon admission to the University of Denver, official transcripts will be required from each institution attended.
Two (2) letters of recommendation are required. Three (3) letters of recommendation are preferred. Letters should be submitted by recommenders through the online application.
A personal statement of academic and professional goals is required. The statement should describe your academic interests, and why you wish to pursue graduate studies in the Anthropology Department at the University of Denver, specifically. It should also present your academic and professional background and describe how it has prepared you for graduate study. The statement should also tell us how our program will help you achieve your intellectual and professional goals by outlining what topics you wish to explore in the program. If there are faculty you wish to work with, identify them in the statement. The statement should not exceed 1000 words.
Colorado Residents: Application fee waivers are available to Colorado residents who apply to MA or certificate programs in the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences prior to the priority deadline.
Limited numbers of MA/Certificate application fee waivers are also available for the following groups (first-come, first-served):
Americorps, City Year, and Peace Corps Alumni
Veterans
DU Alumni
Fee Waiver Process
Submit all of your application materials, including your transcripts and letters of recommendation. Do not pay the fee.
Go to the graduate admission application to submit your information. For information on admission requirements, visit the graduate academic programs page and locate your program of interest.
