M. A Degreee Program | Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate Program in Museum Studies | Course Description

Program objectives are: (1) competence in experimental design and data analysis related to anthropological research; (2) competence in oral and written communication; and (3) ability to compete successfully for professional positions in anthropology and related fields.

II. Concentrations are available in Urban Anthropology, Medical Anthropology, and Public Archaeology. Each student will plan his or her program in consultation with his or her major advisor.

III. M.A. Degree Program

A. Program Admission

Admission to both the Graduate School and the department is required. To meet departmental requirements for admission, students must submit a letter of intent, three letters of recommendation, and complete the GRE. In addition to their undergraduate academic record, applicants will be considered on the basis of their GRE scores, work experience and career plans as described in the letter of intent. Except in exceptional circumstances, students should have a 3.0 undergraduate record and at least 450 scores on each of the verbal and quantitative GRE subtests.

Admission to the program is not automatic upon meeting minimum departmental admission requirements. Students are selected from the pool of qualified applicants and the number selected depends on the availability of financial aid and adequate faculty supervision. NOTE: Deadline for completion of submission is April 1 for the following fall semester and November 1 for the following spring semester. Summer school admission must be competed by May 1 for entrance into the Graduate School and the departmental program. Field school admissions (only) will be accepted until May 15. Late submissions may, in exceptional circumstances, be considered on an individual basis, but will normally be deferred to the following semester.

B. Program Requirements

1. A total of 30 semester hours course-work plus satisfactory performance in a practicum (Anthropology 7985—6 hours credit) for a total of 36 semester hours.
2. Satisfactory completion of the core curriculum (14 hours).
3. Satisfactory completion of track-specific requirements (6 hours).
4. At least 70% of the program (i.e. 26 hours) must be taken at the 7000 level.
5. Satisfactory performance on a comprehensive exam.
6. The Master’s Degree in Anthropology is an interdisciplinary degree and students are encouraged to take up to 9 semester hours of their work outside of the Department of Anthropology, depending upon their area of interest and the nature of previous work experience.
7. Intensive Writing Option. Some students may choose to pursue an intensive writing option. Students who choose this option must complete all of the requirements listed above, plus one of the following writing courses, for a total of 39 semester hours.
   1. Professional Writing Assignment (all tracks). Students will enroll in and satisfactorily complete the requirements for ANTH 7995 (3 hours).
   2. Thesis (Archaeology track only). Students will enroll in and satisfactorily complete the requirements for ANTH 7996 (3 hours).

IV. Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate Program in Museum Studies (administered jointly by the Department of Anthropology and Art)

A. Program Admission

Students currently admitted to a graduate program at The University of Memphis or another university and individuals already holding a graduate degree (MA, MFA, MS, PhD) may apply for admission to the Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate Program in Museum Studies. Students already enrolled in a graduate program are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for admission. Students attending an institution of higher education other than The University of Memphis must apply to the Graduate School for admission as a Non-Degree Seeking student.  In rare instances, students who have completed an undergraduate degree program, but who have not been admitted to a graduate program, may apply and will be considered for admission to the program on an individual basis. For more information on this option, contact Dr. Luebbers.
All applications to the museum studies certificate program will be reviewed by the Admissions and Advisory Committee. The Committee may also interview prospective students in order to ensure a good fit between the program and the individual student's needs.

For additional information, please visit http://academic.memphis.edu/museumstudies/admissions.html

B. Program Requirements

1. The Interdisciplinary Certificate Program in Museum Studies is intended to be completed along with a regular graduate degree program (MA, MS, MFA, or PhD) in a related discipline.
2. A total of 18 graduate credit hours is required.
3. Six of the 18 hours must be met by satisfactory completion of two core courses: ANTH/ARTH 7661 Museum Practices and ANTH/ARTH 7662 Museums and Communities.
4. Six elective hours (two classes) will be selected in consultation with the Admissions and Advisory Committee. Unless a special exemption is requested, students in the Anthropology and Art/Art History graduate programs must take at least three elective hours outside of their major department.
5. Six internship hours are also required. These consist of two three-credit-hour internships: ARTH/ANTH 7669 Museum Internship. Each of the two internship sites will be chosen by the student in consultation with the Admissions and Advisory Committee. For those students already working in a museum or other appropriate community site, three of the internship hours may be replaced by a third elective course.
   NOTE: The student must be officially admitted to the Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate Program in Museum Studies, before any internship will be approved.

For additional information, please visit: http://academic.memphis.edu/museumstudies/requirements.html

Inquiries may be directed to Dr. Leslie Luebbers, Director of the Art Museum (lluebbrs@memphis.edu) or
Dr. Linda Bennett, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences (lbennett@memphis.edu)

Visit: http://academic.memphis.edu/museumstudies/index.html for more information.

Course Description

6051. Anthropology and Education. (3).

Advanced study of the cultural transmission process with emphasis on identifying differing behavioral, cognitive, and learning styles of various ethnic groups within American society and selected Third World countries. Encounters of U.S. subcultural groups with the public education system.

PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor. 

6065. Contemporary Anthropological Theory. (3).

Contemporary growth of theories and methods in anthropology.

PREREQUISITES: ANTH 1100 and 1200, or permission of instructor. 

6111. Human Adaptations. (3).

Examines the physical and cultural adaptations of humans in an ecological context. Information from primate studies, the archaeological record and studies of contemporary societies. Ecological context of physical adaptations, cultural adaptations, language, social organization.

PREREQUISITE: ANTH 1100, 1200, or permission of instructor.

6120. Africa’s New World Communities. (3).

Survey of African-American cultures in the New World emanating from 17th and 18th century slave trade; focus on African Diaspora, Caribbean, Central America, South America, and North America.

6200. Ecological Anthropology. (3).

Critical examination of concepts for ecological analysis of formation, maintenance, and change of human groups. Draws on the archaeological record and contemporary studies to examine interactions between cultures and environments.

PREREQUISITE: ANTH 1100, 1200, or permission of instructor.

6220. Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management. (3).

Role of culture in the use and management of natural resources. Discusses how societies construct knowledge about nature and attribute value to it. Examines how indigenous knowledge, alternative value systems, and traditional management strategies influence policy decisions at the local, national, and international levels.

PREREQUISITE: ANTH 4200 or permission of instructor. 

6251. Psychological Anthropology. (3). (6751).

Examines the relationship between culture and personality; cross-cultural comparison of perspectives on cognition, mental illness, ethno psychiatry, and ethno therapies.

6253. Anthropology of Religion. (3).

Comparative analysis of religious systems and their functional relationships to other cultural institutions; interrelations of myth, magic, and ritual; types of religious institutions and religious practitioners.

6257. Archaeology of the Southeast. (3).

Intensive study of various prehistoric cultures of southeastern North America form the earliest times until historic contact.

PREREQUISITE: ANTH 1100, 1200, 1300, or permission of instructor.

6301. Archaeology of North America. (3).

Description and distribution of prehistoric cultural remains in North America and Meso America. Major regional sequences, extending from the earliest evidences of human occupation until historic times. 

PREREQUISITE: ANTH 1100, 1200, 1300, or permission of instructor.

6302. Native Peoples of North America. (3).

Intensive ethnological study of various prehistoric cultures from earliest times until historic contact.

PREREQUISITE: ANTH 1100, 1200, 1300, or permission of instructor.

6325. Archaeological Field Techniques. (3).

Field excavation, specimen preparation, use of survey instruments and photography, map making and archaeological record keeping. May be repeated for maximum of 6 hours credit.

PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor. 
 

6326. Archaeological Laboratory Techniques. (3).

Methods and techniques in archaeological laboratory analysis. Emphasis on organization and supervision of laboratory procedures.

PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor.

6327. Lithic Artifact Analysis. (3).
Introduction to lithic artifact analysis and prehistoric stone tool technologies; raw material studies; typologies; technological studies; functional studies; hands-on experience with basics of flintknapping, debitage analysis, and use-wear analysis. PREREQUISITES: ANTH 1100, 1200, 1300, or permission of instructor.

6333. Archaeological Site Reconnaissance. (3).

Field course to provide basic understanding of applied archaeology including governmental Phase I, Phase II research. Site survey, site mapping, surface collections, site testing, and rapid site assessment.

PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor. 

6336. Native Peoples of the Mid-South. (3).

Archaeology and ethnology of the Southeast; intensive study of various North American cultures of Tennessee and bordering states.

PREREQUISITE: ANTH 1100, 1200, 1300, or permission of instructor.

6370. Historic Archaeology. (3).

Review of the contributions of archaeologists to historical research. The methods and techniques of archaeologists as required and modified by the excavation and interpretation of historic materials. The allied specialties unique to Historic Archaeology including documentary investigations and the conservation and restoration of existing structures. 

6375. Archaeology of Slavery. (3).
Explores contributions of archaeological research to understanding slavery in the New World; examination of the slave experience; slave life; survival of African cultural traditions; debate over the nature of domination and resistance. PREREQUISITE: ANTH 1100, 1200, 1300, or permission of instructor.

6411. Urban Anthropology. (3).

Anthropological studies of pre-industrial and industrial cities. Urbanization, movements of social transformation, and other processes of adjustment to an urban milieu. Urban slums, ethnic enclaves, and housing developments in cross-cultural perspective. Urban and social kinship and social organization. Urban community development. Urban research techniques. 

6412. Neighborhood Development and Poverty. (3).

Role of various institutions and their relationship to developmental needs of inner-city neighborhoods; evolution of American cities as context for understanding urban neighborhoods and poverty; government and foundations in shaping policy; neighborhood associations and non-profits; role of the anthropologist in contributing to a better understanding of neighborhoods and various intervention strategies particularly in the Mid-South. 

6413. Anthropology of Tourism. (3).

Cultural dynamics and dilemmas of tourism and tourist development; tourism assessed both in terms of impacts on the host culture, tourists, and the environment; also assessed as development alternative, driver of cultural change, and form of local, regional, national, international, and intercultural relations.

6414. Comparative Work and Production Systems. (3).

Advanced study of changes in work units and production systems beginning with early industrial capitalism, evolving through stages of integrated mass production, and finally the current restructuring of a global system; focus on flexible mass production, involvement of the periphery, workplace innovation, international labor migration, and human resource development.

PREREQUISITE: ANTH 1200 or ANTH 3282. 

6420. American Folklore. (3).

Selected genres of American folklore, including folk religion and belief, folk medicine, folksong and music, narrative and humor (jokes and riddles). Comparisons to other cultures. Emphasis on role of folklore in maintenance of tradition, in social change, and in concept of culture. 

6511. Medical Anthropology. (3).

Cross-cultural analysis of bio-behavioral components of infectious, nutritional, genetic, chronic, and psychiatric diseases. Individual and cultural reactions to medical care, professionals, and health care delivery systems. 

6531. Alcohol, Culture, and Biology. (3).

Cross-cultural comparison of beliefs, rituals, and meaning of alcohol consumption and alcoholism; examination of biological and cultural evidence for development of alcohol-related problems; implications for prevention, early intervention, and treatment. 

6541. Nutritional Anthropology. (3).

Cross-cultural comparison of human diet, assessment, cultural and health value of foods, hunger and malnutrition, acculturation and dietary change. 

6551. Culture and Childbirth. (3).

Review of biological, environmental, social and cultural factors influencing human reproduction; comparison of individual, community and clinical approaches to fertility, birth control, pregnancy, birth and post-partum care; evaluation of alternative delivery systems in Western and non-Western societies.
 

6660. Museum Collections. (3). (Same as ARTH 6660).

Museum collection theory and methods, including collection policy, development, preservation, documentation, and interpretation.

PREREQUISITE: Permission of the instructor.

6661. Collections Research. (3). (Same as ARTH 6661).

Introduces students in object-based disciplines to museum collections research methods and their application to exhibitions, catalogs, and scholarly publications.

PREREQUISITE: Permission of the instructor.

6662. Museum Exhibitions. (3). (Same as ANTH 6662).

Museum exhibition methods and theory, including research, design, layout, object selection and handling, installation, public programming, and evaluation.
PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor.

6840. Israel: Antiquity in Modernity. (3). (Same as JDST 6840).

Interdisciplinary examination of relationship between ancient traditions and modern issues in Israel. Emphasis on relationship between historical conditions, conflicts, and interconnections and new choices facing Israel. 

6841. Biblical Archaeology. (3). (Same as JDST 6841).

Relationship between historical texts in Hebrew Bible and historical evidence from archaeological research in Israel and surrounding area. Emphasis on how archaeological evidence and Biblical narratives illuminate each other. 
 

†7001. Internship for Graduate Assistants. (1-3).

Supervision of and consultation with anthropology graduate assistants. May be repeated.

PREREQUISITE: Limited to anthropology majors; approval of graduate coordinator. 
 

†7002. Reading for Comprehensives. (1-3).

Arranged on individual basis for anthropology graduate students only. May be repeated.

PREREQUISITE: Limited to anthropology majors; approval of graduate coordinator. 

†7004. Teaching Skills for Graduate Assistants. (1-3).

Overview and practical demonstrations of art of teaching anthropology. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credit hours.

PREREQUISITE: Limited to anthropology majors; permission of graduate coordinator. 
 

7075-8075. Methods in Anthropology. (4).

Critical examination of field methods and research designs in selected areas of anthropology. Major trends in contemporary anthropological research as a preparation for applied research.

PREREQUISITE: Non-majors must have permission of instructor. 

7076-8076. Techniques of Anthropological Data Analyses. (4).

Construction and analysis of data bases developed from ongoing anthropological projects; review of frequently used statistical techniques in anthropological literature, hypothesis testing, and methods of presentation.

PREREQUISITE: ANTH 7075 or permission of instructor; non-majors must have permission of instructor. 

7100-8100. Seminar in Biocultural Anthropology. (3).

Topics include principles of human genetics, the biological and cultural aspects of race, the hereditary and environmental factors in modern human variation, medical and nutritional anthropology.

PREREQUISITE: Non-majors must have permission of instructor. 

7200-8200. Seminar in Cultural Anthropology. (3).

Topics include the nature of culture and its various aspects including language, social organization, economics, technology, the development of civilization, and the process of urbanization.

PREREQUISITE: Non-majors must have permission of instructor. 

7250. Community, Culture, and Program Evaluation. (3)

Cultural perspective on the program evaluation in community settings; theoretical and methodological approaches to evaluation of human service programs; culturally competent evaluations using ethnographic methods; role of anthropology in program evaluation at the national and international levels.

PREREQUISITE: Non-majors must have permission of the instructor.

7255. Applied Anthropology and Development. (3).

Cross-cultural review of processes of change, grassroots development, and planning in industrialized world; models of change, specializations in applied anthropology, and development of public policy on international issues of housing, education, health, and economic development.

7310. Archaeological Theory and Method. (3).

History of archaeology and development of conceptual framework for archaeological data collection and interpretation; current theories and methods including use of allied specialties. 

7311. Public Archaeology. (3).

Roles and responsibilities of the archaeologist in contract and salvage work, in museum research and administration, and in the public dissemination of archaeological information. A review of relevant state and federal legislation. 

7315. Chiefdoms. (3).

Intensive study of chiefdom societies based on ethnohistoric and archaeological data.

PREREQUISITE: Non-majors must have ANTH 1300 or permission of instructor.

7360. Environmental Reconstruction. (3).

Advanced study of cultural ecology in past environmental regimes; emphasis on interdisciplinary approach to extinct social systems and their relationship with the environment.

7380-89. Special Topics in Archaeology. (3-6).

Topics in Public Archaeology. No more than six hours may be counted toward degree requirements in Anthropology.

PREREQUISITE: Non-majors must have ANTH 1300 or permission of instructor.
 

7390-99. Special Topics in Museology. (1-3).

Topics in site interpretation/museology. No more than six hours may be counted toward degree requirements in Anthropology. 

7411. Urban Anthropology in the Mid-South. (3).

Discussion and analysis of community economic development in the Mid-South region from prehistoric to present time; inter-relationship of cultural values, regional social structures and political economy in terms of international and national industrial trends. 

7490-99. Special Topics in Urban Anthropology. (3).

Topics of special interest in Urban Anthropology. No more than six hours may be counted toward a degree in Anthropology. 
PREREQUISITE: Non-majors must have permission of instructor.

7511. Anthropology of Health Care. (3).

Roles of the various health professions in the delivery of medical care with emphasis on the perception of these roles by racial or ethnic groups in the Mid-South. Lectures by medical professionals and administrators. 

PREREQUISITE: Non-majors must have permission of instructor.

7521-8521. Biocultural Epidemiology. (3).

Concepts and research uniting epidemiology and medical anthropology; explores epidemiologic web of agent, host, and environment in disease; stresses interplay of sociocultural, behavioral, and environmental risk factors; examines applications of epidemiology theory and methods to medical anthropology and global health policy. 

7590-99. Special Topics in Medical Anthropology. (3).

Topics in Medical Anthropology. No more than six hours may be counted toward degree requirements in Anthropology. 

7661. Museum Practices. (3). (Same as ARTH 7661).

Museum administration, finance, collection management, conservation, education, exhibition design, marketing, and visitor services.

PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor.

7662. Museums and Communities. (3). (Same as ARTH 7662).

History and theory of museums, governance, audiences, and current topics in the profession.

PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor.

╪7669. Museum Internship. (3-6). (Same as ARTH 7669).

Structured experience in selected aspects of museum practice, Includes 150 contract hours in museum and colloquium. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

PREREQUISITE: ANTH 7661, 7662, and/or permission of instructor.

╪7970. Directed Individual Writing. (1-3).

Intensive guided study of original data in areas selected by advanced students and accepted by the instructor. Preparation of manuscripts for publication.

PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor. 

╪7975-8975. Directed Individual Readings. (1-3).

Intensive guided study in areas selected by advanced students and accepted by the staff.

PREREQUISITE: Permission of staff. 

7980-8980. Directed Individual Research. (1-3).

Intensive guided study of original data in areas selected by advanced students and accepted by the staff. Preparation for publication.

PREREQUISITE: Permission of chair and the designated staff.

†7985. Anthropological Applications. (3, 6).

Supervised practical experience in the application of anthropological principles in an agency or facility appropriate to urban, medical and nutritional anthropology, mental health or archaeology.

†7995. Professional Paper (3).

Preparation and presentation of a professional writing assignment.

PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor.

†7996. Thesis. (1, 3, 6).
The student must research, write, and defend a thesis on a subject approved by the major professor and advisory committee. PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor.

†Grades of S, U, or IP will be given 

╪Grades of A-F, or IP will be given

For more information regarding the graduate program, please contact: 

Charles Williams, Ph.D. 
Coordinator of Graduate Studies 
(901) 678-3333
Email: cwilliams@memphis.edu