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Applying to the Graduate Studies Programs
Department of Anthropology
2004-2005
This guide is intended to provide general information to potential
students who may be interested in pursuing graduate studies in the
Department of Anthropology. It is intended to complement rather than
substitute for information contained in the University Calendar.
Table of Contents
General Information....................................................................................2
Admission Requirements ............................................................................5
• Master of Arts......................................................................................... 5
• Master of Arts in Humanities Computing.................................................. 5
• Doctor of Philosophy ............................................................................. 5
English Language Requirements ...............................................................6
Application Procedures ...............................................................................7
Members of the Department......................................................................9
Program Requirements.............................................................................17
• MA Program Requirements................................................................... 17
• MA in Humanities Computing Program Requirements............................ 18
• PhD Program Requirements................................................................. 20
Financial Assistance ...................................................................................22
• Graduate Assistantships........................................................................ 22
• University-Administered Awards............................................................ 23
• Awards Administered by Other Agencies ............................................... 24
Graduate Student Research and Travel Grants .....................................25
University Standards for the Protection of Human
Research Participants.........................................................................26
University Teaching Program ...................................................................26
Facilities and Resources ............................................................................27
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 1
GENERAL INFORMATION
Opened in 1908 as a board-governed, public institution, the
University of Alberta has grown to be one of Canada's foremost
research-intensive universities, with external funding in 2002/03 of
more the $300 million. The University is located in Edmonton, the
vibrant cosmopolitan capital of the province of Alberta. In a
metropolitan area with close to one million people, Edmonton's
economic growth ranked first among Canadian cities in 2002 and
remains strong. In partnership with industry and government, the
University of Alberta plays a pivotal role in advancing the economic
prosperity of Edmonton and Alberta.
The University of Alberta serves nearly 34,000 students in more than
200 undergraduate programs and 170 graduate programs. Students
enjoy an exceptional quality of life on a friendly campus in the midst
of a city that values research and technology as well as its beautiful
river-valley parkland. The University’s pioneering spirit inspires
faculty and students to advance knowledge through research, to seek
innovation in teaching and learning and to find new ways to serve
the people of Alberta and the world.
The Department of Anthropology was created in 1966. From an
initial staff of seven, it has grown to its present complement of fifteen
faculty who represent the traditional subfields of anthropology, as
well as considerable diversity in research projects and geographical
focus. The first MA degree was awarded in 1968 and the first PhD in
1972; since then the Department has graduated 181 MAs and 77
PhDs. There are currently 60 students (32 MA, 28 PhD) in the
program as of September 2003.
Broadest in scope of the social sciences, anthropology contributes to an
understanding of the human condition through the interpretation of
human biological and cultural variation. The Department offers graduate
programs in the four major branches of the discipline of anthropology:
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 2
Social/Cultural anthropology is concerned with the analysis of
historical and contemporary human societies in all parts of the world.
Social/Cultural anthropologists study variations in human lifestyles.
Focusing on particular societies and cultures, they attempt to
document, to interpret, and to achieve an understanding of the
patterned interrelationships of economic, technological, political, and
social systems and the symbolic systems relating to language and
ideology. A major concern in contemporary social/cultural
anthropology is interethnic relationships and how different societies
with distinct cultural traditions interact with each other in the modern
world. The goal of social/cultural anthropology is to explain human
cultural variation.
Archaeology attempts to document and interpret the course of
human cultural evolution and to trace the development of cultural
traditions in various areas of the world. Archaeologists attempt to
determine how specific prehistoric societies were adapted to past
environments. They analyze the major changes in human cultures
that have occurred with the development of food production,
urbanization, and the emergence of states and civilizations. The goal
is to achieve an understanding of the processes involved in human
cultural evolution.
Linguistic anthropology is concerned with all aspects of language
and language use, including the evolution of human language and
the development and spread of language families. A particular
interest of linguistic anthropologists is ways in which language
affects and is affected by culture and social relations, for example in
situations of multilingualism, in the construction and employment of
cultural categories, and in rhetorical uses of speech. Anthropologists
concerned with language also conduct comparative studies to
reconstruct past languages in order to gain insight into prehistoric
cultures and social systems.
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 3
Physical anthropology attempts to document and interpret the course
of human biological evolution and to analyze the processes giving rise to
physical variation in contemporary human populations. Our place in
nature is considered through the study of our closest living relatives, the
primates. Fossil evidence of our ancestors is interpreted according to
evolutionary theory. Variability in contemporary human populations is
analyzed in terms of adaptation and the factors of population genetics. All
of these studies contribute to the goal of understanding human biological
variation in space and time.
In all fields of anthropology, emphasis is placed on understanding
human individuals, societies, and cultural traditions within the full
context of environmental, biological, social, and psychological
conditions. Anthropology takes a broad view, considering all aspects
of the human situation in an holistic approach that is both scientific
and humanistic in its scope and implications.
The Asian-Pacific region and Canada are important areas of staff
research, and the Department is particularly well situated and
constituted for research in Arctic and Subarctic regions. There is a
growing interest in applied anthropology which ranges from studies
in traditional knowledge to health and healing, to landscape
modification, and to forensic identification issues. Increasingly, staff
and students are bringing an anthropological perspective to the
challenges posed by cultural pluralism, development, globalization
and environmental change. To encompass the full range of expertise
at the University of Alberta and to become active in emerging
research areas, the Department advocates interdisciplinary
approaches to the study of anthropology. This is evident, for
example, in the area of bio-archaeology where close ties have been
established with a number of other departments and institutions.
Our graduates are employed in a wide range of occupations, from
Canada Immigration and Manpower to archaeological consulting
firms. They hold academic positions at Athabasca, Carleton, Central
Washington State, University of Idaho State, Oregon State, Memorial,
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 4
Concordia, Harvard, Lakehead, and McGill Universities and the
Universities of New Brunswick, Manitoba, Windsor, Alberta, Calgary,
Florida, Northern Illinois, Prince Edward Island, as well as several
junior and community colleges. Graduates also hold museum
curatorships at the Royal Ontario Museum, American Museum of
Natural History, and important administrative positions with Federal
and Alberta archaeological surveys.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The Department of Anthropology offers thesis-based graduate
programs leading to three degrees:
(1) Master of Arts
(2) Master of Arts in Humanities Computing
(3) Doctor of Philosophy
Master of Arts Program
The Department’s minimum admission requirement for the thesis-based
MA program is a four-year undergraduate degree and a grade point
average of 3.3 on the 4 point grading scale in the last 60 units (*60) of
course weight (or equivalent) at the University of Alberta or an
equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.
Master of Arts in Humanities Computing Program
The Department’s minimum admission requirement for the thesis-based
MA in Humanities Computing is a four-year undergraduate degree and
a grade point average of 3.3 on the 4 point grading scale in the last 60
units (*60) of course weight (or equivalent) at the University of Alberta
or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.
Doctor of Philosophy Program
The Department’s admission requirements for the PhD program are a
thesis-based master’s degree and a grade point average of 3.3 on the 4
point grading scale in the last 60 units (*60) or equivalent of
undergraduate or graduate study at the University of Alberta or an
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 5
equivalent qualification from a recognized institution. In exceptional
cases, the Department may grant admission to the PhD program
directly from a bachelor’s program in anthropology.
Generally, students with a degree in a discipline other than
anthropology are advised to complete at least one year as a special
student or qualifying student, and focusing on anthropology courses,
before applying for a graduate degree program.
There are no non-thesis (i.e., course-based) graduate programs offered
through the Department.
Admission to a graduate program does not guarantee that
financial assistance will be available.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
Since English is the primary language of instruction and communication
at the University of Alberta, proficiency in English is a prerequisite for
graduate admission. All applicants will be required to demonstrate
English language proficiency prior to admission. This demonstration
may take one of several forms:
(1) Possession of a baccalaureate degree or its academic equivalent from
an academic institution recognized by the University of Alberta, in
which the language of instruction is English.
(2) A satisfactory score on an approved English language examination as
described below.
Notwithstanding the above, the department and the Faculty of Graduate
Studies and Research (FGSR) each reserves the right to require a
demonstration of English language proficiency.
The FGSR and the Department of Anthropology recognize four English
language examinations.
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 6
They are:
(1) TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). The minimum
acceptable score is 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based).
(2) MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery). Minimum
acceptable score is 85.
(3) IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Minimum
overall band score is 6.5, with at least 5 on each test band.
(4) CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment).
Minimum overall score is 60 with at least 60 on each subtest.
Applicants should arrange for their English language test results to be
sent directly to the department.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Deadline for receipt of a completed application for
admission is 15 January for the subsequent academic year
that begins in September.
There is a $100 application fee for each application. Students from
certain countries may be exempt from paying the application fee. See
the following webpage for more information on this fee, and for specific
country exemptions: http://gradfile.fgsro.ualberta.ca/
Students considering graduate studies should consult the Associate
Chair (Graduate Programs) or the Graduate Programs Administrator
(gail.mathew@ualberta.ca) beforehand so that advice can be given on
an individual basis.
It is very important that, when applying to the graduate program, you
make contact with a fulltime academic staff member to see if they would
be willing to supervise your program.
The University of Alberta offers an enhanced, interactive web-based
service for applicants and students called Bear Tracks. As part of
this service you are now able to apply for graduate programs
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 7
through the web. You can check on the status of your application
and view outstanding documents associated with your application
(www.registrar.ualberta.ca )
To submit an online application, go to www.ualberta.ca/gradstudies
We strongly encourage applicants to use the online application, but,
if you are unable to do so, please contact the department to arrange
for an application to be mailed. Contact the Graduate Programs
Administrator at (780) 492-2368 or gail.mathew@ualberta.ca
Any recommendation for admission by a department will be referred
to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research where a final
assessment and decision is made. All applicants who are admitted
will receive an official letter of acceptance directly from the Faculty of
Graduate Studies and Research.
All documents, including paper applications and outstanding
documents, should be sent directly to the department you are
applying to.
The following documents are required with an application:
1. Official transcripts (2 copies) from all post-secondary
institutions attended. This also applies to University of Alberta
students. Applicants who are still enrolled in courses at the
time of application should provide a list of those courses that do
not appear on their transcripts. Foreign applicants must note
the additional information i.e. “receipt of original or certified
true copies of all transcripts and marksheets” outlined on the
“Information and Instructions” cover sheet of the application
form.
2. A definitive statement of intent specifying the area of interest
and plans for study in the graduate program. It is strongly
recommended that the applicant contact at least one potential
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 8
supervisor prior to submitting an application. This will assist
the Department in determining the applicant’s area of interest
and the availability of a prospective supervisor.
3. A detailed curriculum vitae (resume).
4. An academic paper written by the applicant that is substantial in
content and analysis (in English) in the area of interest. This
will be used to assess analytical ability.
5. Three (3) original letters of reference, written within the last
12 months, with the referee’s original signature, to be sent
directly to the Department. Reference letters provided in
conjunction with an application for graduate admission are
considered to be supplied in confidence and will only be
disclosed as required in the admission process of the applicant
or in accordance with Federal and Provincial Statutes regulating
disclosure of personal information.
6. Documents showing satisfaction of the English language
requirement where relevant.
Please forward all required documentation directly to the
Department. No action will be taken on applications until
all documentation has been received.
MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT
(Please note: Supervisors must be full-time Academic staff)
Academic Staff – Full Time
Owen B Beattie (PhD Simon Fraser 1981; Professor and
Associate Chair, Graduate Programs) Physical anthropology,
forensic anthropology, human osteology; North America.
(owen.beattie@ualberta.ca )
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 9
Michelle Daveluy (PhD Montreal 1994; Associate Professor)
Ethnolinguistics, linguistic communities, language change,
multilingual communities; Canadian French, Inuktitut
(michelle.daveluy@ualberta.ca ) on leave winter 2005
Jean DeBernardi (PhD U Chicago 1986; Professor)
Social/cultural anthropology, linguistics, religious discourse and
practice, ethnicity; South China, Southeast Asia.
(jean.debernardi@ualberta.ca ) on leave 2004/2005
Christopher Fletcher (PhD U Montreal 2002; Assistant
Professor) Medical, applied, ethnohistory, cultural landscape,
ecology; circumpolar regions (christopher.fletcher@ualberta.ca )
Gregory Forth (DPhil Oxford 1980; Professor) Symbolism,
religion, social structure, ethnographic methods, ethnobiological
classification; Southeast Asia. (gforth@ualberta.ca ) on leave
2004/2005
Sandra Garvie-Lok (PhD U Calgary 2002; Assistant Professor)
Reconstruction of human diet and mobility in the past using stable
isotope analysis and the study of pathological lesions in
archaeological skeletons; Medieval and early modern Greece.
(sandra.garvie-lok@ualberta.ca )
Raymond J LeBlanc (PhD U Toronto 1983; Associate Professor
and Acting Chair) Prehistoric archaeology, lithic and bone
technology; Alberta archaeology, arctic, subarctic; North America.
(ray.leblanc@ualberta.ca )
Robert Losey (PhD U Oregon 2002; Assistant Professor)
Zooarchaeology and archaeology of natural disasters, evolution of
social complexity among hunter-gatherers and maritime
adaptations across the globe; Northwest Coast of North America.
(robert.losey@ualberta.ca )
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 10
Nancy C Lovell (PhD Cornell 1987; Professor) Physical
anthropology, human osteology, paleopathology, paleonutrition;
South Asia, Egypt. (nancy.lovell@ualberta.ca )
(www.ualberta.ca/~nlovell/index.html ) on leave 2004/2005
Mark Nuttall (PhD Cambridge 1990; HM Tory Professor);
Anthropology of the Arctic and North Atlantic; human-environment
relations, sustainability of living marine resources, climate change,
locality, identity and memory; Greenland, Alaska, Canada,
Scotland, Scandinavia (mark.nuttall@ualberta.ca )
Andie Diane Palmer (PhD U Washington 1994; Associate
Professor) Cultural anthropology, sociolinguistics, narratives of
place, oral history, contemporary social issues and First Nations;
Interior and Coast Salish, Northwest Coast.
(andie.palmer@ualberta.ca )
Charles Schweger (PhD U Alberta 1976; Professor)
Paleoecology, geoarchaeology; quaternary biology, palynology,
climate-culture change; Alaska, Yukon, western North America,
Scandinavia, Greenland. (charles.schweger@ualberta.ca ) on leave
2004/2005
Denise Spitzer (PhD U Alberta 1998; Assistant Professor)
Medical anthropology, feminist anthropology, women’s health,
transnationalism, community-based research; China, Canada.
(denise.spitzer@ualberta.ca )
Andrzej Weber (PhD U A Mickiewicz 1987; Associate Professor)
Archaeology, mesolithic, neolithic, Siberia, Europe, complex
hunters and gatherers, subsistence, social structure, mortuary
ritual. (andrzej.weber@ualberta.ca )
Pamela R Willoughby (PhD UCLA 1985; Associate Professor
and Associate Chair, Undergraduate Programs) starting Jan 04)
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 11
Paleolithic archaeology, lithic technology, human evolution; Old
World, Africa. (pamela.willoughby@ualberta.ca )
Retired Academic Staff
(Some retired academic staff participate in our graduate programs
as members of committees. Such participation is normally
arranged by the supervisor in consultation with the student.)
Michael Asch (PhD Columbia 1972) Social structure,
ethnomusicology, political and legal anthropology; hunting-
trapping economics; Subarctic.
David H Bai (PhD U Alberta 1972) Political and economic
anthropology, technology and culture, multiculturalism; Asia.
(david.bai@ualberta.ca )
Alan L Bryan (PhD Harvard 1962) Prehistoric archaeology;
peopling of North, and South Central America.
Anthony D Fisher (PhD Stanford 1966) Anthropology and
education, alcohol abuse, social change; North America.
Milton M R Freeman (PhD McGill 1965; Research Scholar,
Canadian Circumpolar Institute) Ecology, traditional resources
management, applied anthropology; Arctic, North Pacific.
(milton.freeman@ualberta.ca )
Ruth Gruhn (PhD Radcliffe College 1961) England, Alberta,
Belize, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, Mexico,
Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela, and Brazil.
(ruth.gruhn@ualberta.ca )
Clifford Hickey (PhD Brown U 1975) Ethnohistory, economics,
hunter-gatherers, culture change, archaeological systems, effects of
early contact, contemporary northern development; Arctic.
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 12
(cliff.hickey@ualberta.ca )
David Lubell (PhD Columbia 1971) Prehistoric archaeology and
cultural ecology, transition to food production;
Circummediterranean, southern Europe, northern Africa.
Carl Urion (PhD U Alberta 1978) Anthropological linguistics,
anthropology and education; North America, Belize.
(carl.urion@ualberta.ca )
C Roderick Wilson (PhD U Colorado 1972) Amerindian culture
change, applied anthropology; North America.
(rod.wilson@ualberta.ca)
David E Young (PhD Stanford 1970) Psychological and cognitive
anthropology, anthropology of religion, medical anthropology,
anthropological aesthetics, material culture; East Asia.
Adjunct Professors
(Some adjunct professors participate in our graduate programs as
members of committees. Such participation is normally arranged
by the supervisor in consultation with the student.)
David Anderson (PhD 1996 U Cambridge, Lecturer, U Aberdeen,
UK). Social anthropology, circumpolar ethnology, ecology, political
theory, history of anthropology, aboriginal rights, national identity,
the transition in Eastern Europe, Siberia, northern Canada.
Pamela Asquith (DPhil Oxford 1981) Anthropology of East Asia,
anthropology of science, primatology; Japan, Korea, Japanese
Canadians.
Bernard Bannach (MD U Toronto 1986; Assistant Chief Medical
Examiner, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Edmonton, AB)
Forensic anthropology. (bannachb@just.gov.ab.ca )
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 13
Alwynne Beaudoin (PhD U Western Ontario 1984;
Palaeoenvironmentalist, Archaeological Survey of Alberta 1986-91;
Archaeological Survey, Provincial Museum of Alberta, 1991-
present) Quaternary palynology and palaeoecology, Holocene
landscape history; Alberta. (abeaudoin@mcd.gov.ab.ca)
Susan Berry (PhD U California, Berkeley 1979; Curator of
Ethnology, Provincial Museum of Alberta 1994 - present) Material
culture, ethnohistory, social history; Subarctic, northwestern Plains,
northeastern U.S. (sberry@mcd.gov.ab.ca )
Mary Black-Rogers (PhD Stanford U 1967) Field and archive
ethnography/ethnohistory, native North America. Metis origins
and dispersals, native and Metis texts and belief systems.
(mb11@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca )
Jacques Cinq-Mars (MA Wisconsin 1971) Pleistocene
archaeology, Yukon and Northwest Territories, European
palaeolithic archaeology and art, lithic procurement, bone
technology, geoarchaeology. (jacques.cinqmars@sympatico.ca )
Graeme Dowling (BSc [Med], MD, U Manitoba 1981; Chief
Medical Examiner, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Edmonton,
Alberta) Forensic pathology, forensic anthropology.
(dowlingg@just.gov.ab.ca )
Mike Evans (PhD U McMaster 1996, Canada Research Chair, U
College Okanagan) Economic anthropology, anthropology of
development, applied anthropology, Tonga, Oceania, Western
Canada.
Linda Fedigan (PhD U Texas 1974; Professor, NSERC Canada
Research Chair, U Calgary) Primate behavior and ecology,
sex/gender differences, life history studies, women in science;
Central America, Japan. (fedigan@ucalgary.ca )
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 14
Terrance Gibson (PhD U Alberta 1998; Senior Archaeologist and
Manager, Alberta Western Heritage Inc., St. Albert) Plains,
parkland, boreal forest of Western Canada. Current research
interests: late precontact period in western North America, heritage
management in the forest industry and application of geospatial
analysis methods in cultural resource management.
(tgibson@westernheritage.ca )
Caroline Haverkort (PhD U Alberta 2001; Postdoctoral Fellow U
Alberta) Biological anthropology, dental anthropology,
Mesolithic/Neolithic, life history reconstruction, trace element and
stable isotope analysis; Cis-Baikal (Siberia).
(chaverko@ualberta.ca )
Eric Higgs (PhD U Waterloo 1988; Director, School of
Environmental Studies, U of Victoria) Anthropology of science and
technology, environmental anthropology, environmental risk
management, ecological restoration; North America.
(ehiggs@uvic.ca )
Jack Ives ( PhD U Michigan 1985; Assistant Director responsible
for Archaeology and Ethnology, Provincial Museum of Alberta)
Prehistoric archaeology, northern Athapaskan and Algonquian
social and economic organizations; Subarctic, northwestern plains,
northeast Asia. (jives@mcd.gov.ab.ca )
Mary Jackes (PhD U Toronto 1977) Osteology,
paleodemography, age assessment; North America peri-contact
period; Circummediterranean Mesolithic to Chalcolithic.
(mary.jackes@ualberta.ca )
Frank Kense (PhD U Calgary 1981; Executive Director, Scouts
Canada, Edmonton Region, Edmonton, AB) African archaeology,
ethnography, history, art, Old and New World prehistory.
(fjkense@compuserve.com )
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 15
David Link (PhD U Chicago 1996; Northern Archaeologist, Prov
Mus of Alberta) Boreal forest archaeology, human osteology
(dlink@mcd.gov.ab.ca )
Janis McEwan (PhD U Southampton, UK 1997) History of
professionalization of archaeology in Ireland, history of science and
medicine, bone density in ancient skeletal remains, relationship of
medieval diet to bone development. (mcewans@shaw.ca )
Janice Morse (PhD Nurs & Anth U Utah 1981; Prof & Dir Int’l
Inst Qual Meth U Alberta) Medical anthropology, women’s health,
clinical nursing research and qualitative research methods.
(janice.morse@ualberta.ca )
Janet Olson (PhD SUNY-Albany, US 2001) Post classic urbanism,
gender studies, Latin American ethnography, Mesoamerican
textiles, Ecuadorian prehistory.
Trevor Peck (PhD U Calgary 2001; Plains Archaeologist,
Archaeological Survey, Heritage Resource Management Branch,
Alberta Community Development) Plains prehistory, historical
resource impact assessments in Alberta.
Noura Rahmani (PhD U Bordeaux 2002)
Lido Valdez Cardenas (PhD U Calgary 1998) Complex societies,
settlement and spatial archaeology, zooarchaeology, subsistence
and diet, ethnicity, indigenous peoples, cultural contact.
(lvaldez@ualberta.ca )
Michael Wayman (PhD, Cambridge 1968; Professor Emeritus, U
Alberta) Archaeometry, ancient materials, archaeometallurgy.
Studies of various aspects of the early production, exchange and
use of metals and alloys including post-medieval steel making
technology, pre-contact and early contact metallurgy in North
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 16
America (especially the Arctic). (michael.wayman@ualberta.ca )
Joel Wilbush (MD, Sheffield, 1943; MRCOG (British special
degree, Pbst & Gyn) 1950, led to FRCOG (recognition of
achievement) London 1984; DPhil Oxford, 1980).Historian on
menopause, publication of chapters of books and several papers in
this area. More recently interested in the evolution of human
reproduction, a review of bipedalism.
Heather Young Leslie (PhD McMaster 1989; Prof U of Hawaii)
Medical and feminist anthropology; health, development, gender,
midwifery, textiles; methodologies; Polynesia, Canada.
(hyleslie@hawaii.edu )
Cynthia Zutter (PhD U Alberta 1997; Chair, Anthr, Econ & Poli
Sc, GMCC) Human landscape intersections through use of
archaeobotanical and palaeoenvironmental methods; Iceland,
Jasper National Park, Labrador. (zutterc@admin.gmcc.ab.ca )
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
The University operates year-round. Fall Term is from September
to December; Winter Term is from January to April. Intersession is
comprised of two six-week terms: Spring Term (early May to mid-
June); and Summer Term (early July to mid-August). While
research is continual throughout the university year, graduate
course offerings are concentrated in the Fall and Winter Terms.
MA Program Requirements
In addition to satisfying the general requirements of the FGSR,
candidates for the MA degree must complete six courses (18 units of
course weight):
1. four courses in Anthropology of which one must be ANTHR
501 (effective Fall 2004). The other three courses must be in
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 17
areas relevant to their specialization (3 units of course weight
each); and,
2. two courses in areas outside their specialization (one course
from within Anthropology and one course from another
department, or both courses from within Anthropology).
Specific courses meeting these requirements must be chosen in
consultation with the student’s supervisor and the Associate Chair
(Graduate Programs). The normal course load is three courses in
each of the Fall and Winter Terms of the first year.
In addition to course requirements, candidates must prepare an
acceptable MA thesis according to the FGSR regulations (University
Calendar 183.10) and Department expectations. Candidates must
demonstrate to the satisfaction of the examining committee
proficiency in the application of any research tools, such as statistics
or a foreign language, necessary for the MA thesis.
Residence requirements are met upon the completion of two four
month terms of full-time attendance at the University (total of 36
units of course weight).
Length of Program
The time limit for completion of the MA degree is four years from the
date of first registration in the program.
MA in Humanities Computing Program Requirements
Applications are submitted to the Humanities Computing Program. If
all requirements are met then the application is forwarded on to the
department for approval and recommendation to the FGSR.
In addition to satisfying the general requirements of the FGSR,
candidates for the MA degree in Humanities Computing must
complete the following nine courses (27 units of course weight):
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 18
1. three courses in Anthropology (3 units of course weight each);
and,
2. four required courses in Humanities Computing (HUCO 500,
510, 520, 530) (3 units of course weight each);
3. two option courses in Humanities Computing (3 units of course
weight each)
It is normally expected that students will take two Humanities
Computing courses and one course in Anthropology in each of the
first three terms (Fall, Winter first year; Fall second year), and
complete their thesis in the fourth term (Winter, second year).
Specific courses to meet these requirements must be chosen in
consultation with the student’s supervisor and the Associate Chair
(Graduate Programs).
Successful progress through the program depends on the satisfaction
of both Anthropology and Humanities Computing. (University
Calendar 185.30)
It is normally expected that a representative of both Anthropology
and the Humanities Computing program will sit on the thesis
supervisory committee.
In addition to course requirements, candidates must prepare an
acceptable MA thesis according to the FGSR regulations (University
Calendar 183.10) and Department expectations. Candidates must
demonstrate to the satisfaction of the examining committee
proficiency in the application of any research tools necessary for the
MA thesis.
Length of Program
The time required to complete the MA may vary according to the
previous training of the applicant and the nature of research
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 19
undertaken; however, the program is designed to be completed
within 24 months.
PhD Program Requirements
1. Students entering the PhD program must have completed a
master’s degree for which a written thesis is a requirement.
Applicants must successfully defend their thesis by 31 August of
the admission year and meet the Fall convocation deadline of
their university. Failure to provide the University of Alberta with
notification of the master’s thesis defence by 1 August of the
admission year will negate the offer of admission.
2. Residence requirements are those of the Faculty of Graduate
Studies and Research (173.6) – a minimum of two years.
Provisional PhD candidates must enrol in three courses per term
(3 units of course weight) in the first year of residence. The
nature of the work will be determined by the student and the
supervisor with the following requirement: ANTHR 601,
normally taken in the first term, is required of all new PhD
students who did not complete ANTHR 501 as an MA student in
this Department. (effective Fall 2004)
3. In accordance with Faculty regulations, a Supervisory Committee
will be struck as soon as possible to formulate a program of
advanced study and research and will require demonstration of
proficiency in any research tools necessary for writing the
dissertation.
4. A proficiency in a language other than English must be
demonstrated by meeting one of the following options (normally
before the candidacy exam).
Option I. An anthropology student has the skills necessary to
read and competently interpret the research literature in her/his
field which is published in a language other than English. This
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 20
is met through the successful completion of approved courses as
described in the University Calendar (183.7).
Option II. An anthropology student has the skills necessary to
communicate with, and conduct research on, a people whose
native language is not English. This is met through the
completion of relevant courses in the target language and/or
demonstration of competence in communication in the target
language, verified by the student’s supervisor/supervisory
committee.
Option III. An anthropology student has the language skills
necessary to conduct dissertation research in a country whose
native language is not English. This is met through the
completion of relevant courses in the target language, and/or
demonstration of competence in communication in the target
language, verified by the student’s supervisor/supervisory
committee.
Option IV. Completion of a second language requirement in a
previous graduate program.
Option V. A student whose native language is not English and
is admissible into the Faculty and the Department by meeting
University approved English language standards (e.g. TOEFL,
IELTS).
Where it is unclear whether a student has met the language
requirement under any of the above options, the case will be
decided by the Associate Chair (Graduate Programs) in
consultation with faculty members of the Graduate Programs
Committee.
5. Prior to the candidacy examination, the student must submit a
satisfactory research proposal (called a prospectus) that will lead
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 21
to production of a dissertation of publishable quality based on
original advanced research and theoretical interpretation.
6. According to Faculty regulations (University Calendar 183.11),
the student shall pass an oral candidacy examination in subjects
relevant to the general field of research. Normally the candidacy
examination shall be held at the end of the second year or the
beginning of the third year.
7. The dissertation shall be examined by a committee, the
composition of which is specified in Faculty regulations.
8. The PhD defence will be in the format of a public lecture
immediately followed by an open examination, with deliberation
to be conducted by the examining committee in private. The
public will be permitted to ask questions only at the end of the
open examination process. (effective for PhD students starting
Fall 2004).
Length of Program
The time limit for completion of the PhD degree is a maximum of
six years from the date of first registration in the program.
Students are encouraged to plan to complete the degree in four
years since most financial awards do not exceed four years.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
Financial assistance is available from the department on a highly
competitive basis through a limited number of Graduate Teaching
and Research Assistantships. These assistantships consist of a 4
month term with 12 hours of work commitment per week, and run
from September through December, and January through April. If
awarded a graduate assistantship, students are largely limited to
support for two years (MA program) or four years (PhD program).
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 22
The function of a Teaching Assistant is to provide assistance for
faculty in the teaching function in a way that makes a significant
contribution to the faculty member’s teaching efforts, while
providing additional opportunities for specialized training of the
Teaching Assistant.
Similarly, the function of a Research Assistant is to provide
assistance for faculty in the research function in a way that makes a
significant contribution to the faculty member’s research efforts,
while providing additional opportunities for specialized training of
the Research Assistant.
If assigned a teaching or research assistantship the graduate
student is given a contract to take to the assigned supervisor to
discuss and record the duties required of the assistantship.
Signatures of both the student and supervisor are required on the
contract and then returned to the Graduate Programs
Administrator.
The graduate teaching/research assistant is evaluated by the
assistantship supervisor at the end of the contract. The evaluation
is filed in the student’s file.
Each term the number of assistantships is determined based on
teaching/research requirements and department resources.
University-Administered Awards
To be eligible for scholarships and fellowships, applicants are
required to be in either a degree program in the Faculty of
Graduate Studies and Research at the University of Alberta or in
the process of applying to a department in which admission is
sought.
Applicants admitted as Qualifying or Probationary graduate
students are not eligible for scholarships or fellowships during their
qualifying or probationary period.
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 23
Recruitment Scholarships and General Awards are offered on the
basis of superior academic standing and demonstrated potential for
advanced study and research. Each department is responsible for
nominating its own students. Applicants are assessed according to
a combination of departmental evaluation and recommendation,
grade point average, reference letters, statement of program,
research potential and productivity where it has been
demonstrated, and evidence of publications and other scholarship
achievement. In all cases only applicants that have been
nominated by the department will be considered.
Awards Administered by Other Agencies
Canadian students in, or applying for the doctoral program are also
expected to apply for federal scholarships from Social Sciences and
Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and Natural
Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in
the Fall prior to the January application deadline. As awards are
limited, prospective students are expected to pursue alternative
sources of funding. For more information on NSERC and SSHRC
please go to websites www.nserc.ca and www.sshrc.ca .
Canadian students applying for the master’s program or Canadian
students currently in a master’s program who have completed no
more than 12 months of full-time study are expected to apply for
the Canada Graduate Scholarships Program - Master’s Scholarship
through SSHRC.
Non-Canadian students should also inquire about financial aid from
agencies or governments in their home country; those from
Commonwealth countries are eligible for Commonwealth
Scholarships and should write to the Canadian High Commissioner
in their home country. More information can be obtained by
contacting the University of Alberta International Centre
(www.international.ualberta.ca)
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 24
Further funding information can be found on the following web
sites:
www.alis.gov.ab.ca/scholarships/info.asp
www.grad.uwaterloo.ca/scholarships/index.asp
www.research.buffalo.edu/spa/research.htm
www.aaanet.org/resinet.htm
www.asu.edu/lib/top-menus/new.html
GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH AND TRAVEL GRANTS
Clifford H. Skitch Fund
This fund assists graduate students in the Social Sciences to further
their research by supporting travel to: (a) attend conferences
where the student is giving a paper, and/or (b) visit libraries,
archives or other institutions to pursue research/creative activities.
The maximum allocation annually to each Department in the
Faculty of Arts is $800, to be given out in four individual awards of
$200 each. The Department application deadline is April.
Mary Lousie Imrie or J Gordin Kaplan Research Travel
Grant Awards (value from $200-$600 for MA students and from
$200-$800 for PhD students)
Applicants must be registered full-time at the time of application
and time of the proposed travel. Master’s students must have
completed two terms of full-time registration and doctoral students
must have completed the candidacy exam and be actively engaged
in thesis research. There is no application deadline.
(www.gradfile.fgsro.ualberta.ca )
Graduate Students’ Association
The Graduate Student’s Association offers funding for research and
student travel. For information please go to www.ualberta.ca/~gsa
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 25
UNIVERSITY STANDARDS FOR THE PROTECTION OF
HUMAN RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
All research conducted by members of the department (including
students, whether related to theses or dissertations, or for another
purpose) is required to pass an ethics review. Research programs
must meet the ethics requirements of the University Standards for
the Protection of Human Research Participants (see University
Calendar 20.6), including those described in the Tri-Council Policy
Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans, and
found at:
www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/english/policystatement/policystatement.cfm
The review is conducted by the department’s Ethics Advisory
Group. Please contact the Graduate Programs Administrator for
procedures on submitting ethics proposals.
UNIVERSITY TEACHING PROGRAM
The Department of Anthropology is a participant in the University
Teaching Program (UTP). The UTP is a no-fee, voluntary program
designed specifically to help prepare graduate students for careers
in academic and non-academic fields. The program, which is
normally completed in two years, incorporates three fundamental
components integral to the development of career-wise graduates:
learning, teaching, and documents.
With the help of teaching mentors who offer guidance to students
along the way, the program aims to:
• Equip students with the theoretical pedagogical knowledge
required to be effective instructors and communicators.
• Provide students with practical advice on how to practice and
improve their individual communication or teaching styles.
• Offer students a forum for developing and maintaining a
comprehensive record of their teaching experience and
philosophy.
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 26
Completion of the UTP, and noted on the students’ final
transcripts, can demonstrate to future employers and granting
agencies that the student is committed to acquiring and honing the
skills required for successful careers in corporate or academic
institutions.
See the Graduate Programs Administrator for more information or
go to www.ualberta.ca/~uts .
FACILITIES & RESOURCES
Facilities (on campus)
• Main campus: 89 hectares (about 50 city blocks), with more
than 90 buildings; an additional 5,000 hectares of off-campus
land for research.
• Van Vliet Physical Education and Recreation Centre: outdoor
and indoor facilities for many sports.
• Student housing on campus in dormitories, apartments and
HUB International – a unique residential complex and
shopping mall; additional family-oriented townhouse units off-
campus. The Housing registry has a list of available
accommodations from houses to bachelor suites. Check out
their website www.su.ualberta.ca .
Libraries and Collections (on campus)
• University libraries housing over 3,000,000 volumes, including
an extensive anthropology collection.
• Alan Bryan-Ruth Gruhn Anthropology Library (housed off-
campus).
• Collection of ethnographic materials from North America, Latin
America, the Arctic, Oceania and Africa.
Teaching and Research Laboratories (in department)
• Archaeological materials preparation area.
• Osteology preparation laboratory. Facilities for processing
animal remains from dissection to final preparation.
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 27
• Zooarchaeology laboratory. Comparative faunal collections.
• Geoarchaeology laboratory. For processing sediment samples
and grinding thin sections.
• Paleoecology laboratory facilities for pollen processing and
pollen and seed reference collections.
• Microscope laboratory. Petrographic, fluorescence, and
incident light microscopes, with cameras.
Technical Support Laboratories (in department)
• Extensive video/film and slide teaching collections.
• Audiovisual teaching and research equipment.
• Photo studio and darkroom.
• On-campus facilities for palaeomagnetism, palaeolimnology,
material sciences, potassium-argon dating, amino acid
racemization, experimental permafrost studies, pedology,
stable isotope analysis, electron microscope, trace element
analysis and metallurgy.
• MACI computer lab.
Student Groups and Services
• Association of Graduate Anthropology Students (AGAS).
Services include discussion and special interest groups,
informal graduate student seminar series, Frucht Memorial
Lecture Series and Graduate Student Conference.
http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/~agas/index.html
• Students’ Union. Services include student groups, housing
registry, safewalk, student newspaper.
• Graduate Students’ Association. Services include help with
scholarship applications and negotiating graduate assistantship
contracts, social programs.
Affiliated Programs
• Participation in programs in East Asian Studies, Native Studies,
Classics, Canadian Studies, Canadian Institute of Nordic
Studies and the Canadian Circumpolar Institute and library.
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 28
• Association with the Archaeological Survey of Alberta and
Medical Examiners Office.
• Participation in a multidisciplinary Quaternary research
program with Departments of Biological Sciences, and Earth
and Atmospheric Sciences.
07/14/04 Graduate Studies in Anthropology 2004-2005 29
