Master of Arts in Anthropology

The Graduate Program in Anthropology at the University of Virginia prepares students for careers in teaching, research, and applied work in the fields of Socio-Cultural Anthropology, Archaeology, and Linguistic Anthropology. We are a small, selective program that admits about six PhD and up to six MA students each year across the three sub-disciplines. The department is known for its warmth, collegiality, and supportiveness, where classes are small, students work closely with faculty as well as peers, and students are encouraged to take courses in other disciplines. Regular workshops prepare students for proposal and grant writing, teaching, professional presentations, and job searches, and each sub-discipline supports faculty-graduate student research workshops. The Department also sponsors a Colloquium Series that brings everyone together for Friday afternoon lectures by University and visiting speakers.

All international students must submit TOEFL scores in addition to GRE scores. Applicants are required to record their scores from the TOEFL (or IELTS) exam on their electronic application. Official scores are not necessary for the review process, but will be required if the applicant matriculates as a student. Official scores sent from ETS (or IELTS) are automatically matched to the application at the time they are received.

The minimum score requirement for either the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL or the paper-based TOEFL is 90 (including sectional minimums of 22 in speaking, 22 in writing, 23 in reading and 23 in listening. Applicants may submit scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as an alternative to the TOEFL exam. The minimum IELTS score requirement is 7.0 in each section. In any case, the date of the reported test must fall within two years of the application deadline. Admissions committees will consider applications with scores that do not meet the minimum requirements.
Applicants must upload unofficial transcripts of their entire post-secondary academic record to the online application, including all undergraduate- and graduate-level coursework. Applicants are expected to have achieved a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate programs. Transcripts that are not stated in English must be accompanied by a translation into English.

Letters of recommendation should be submitted electronically through the online application system. Once you have saved the contact information for a particular reference within the online application, that individual will receive instructions via e-mail for submitting a letter of recommendation on your behalf. The Graduate School requires two letters of recommendation. As many programs require additional letters, please consult the program's website for additional requirements. You may submit your application independently of the letters submitted by your references. Letters of recommendation should be sought from faculty in your proposed field of study who are sufficiently familiar with your work to make a comprehensive evaluation of your abilities. If you have already undertaken a graduate program, at least one of the letters should be from a faculty member who is familiar with your academic performance on the graduate level.

The statement of purpose should indicate your reasons for applying to the proposed program at the University of Virginia and describe your preparation for this field of study, research interests, future career plans, and intellectual or life experiences in order to aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study. Your commitment to a selected field of study is presumed in the receipt of your application, instead, please discuss specific issues in the field that engage you. Please limit your submission to between 500 and 1,000 words.

The minimum score requirement for either the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL or the paper-based TOEFL is 90 (including sectional minimums of 22 in speaking, 22 in writing, 23 in reading and 23 in listening. Applicants may submit scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as an alternative to the TOEFL exam. The minimum IELTS score requirement is 7.0 in each section.
Most admitted students attain a total score of at least 600 on the PBT TOEFL, 250 on the CBT TOEFL, or 7.0 on the IELTS.