Research focus areas
Discover the fascinating and wide-ranging nature of our department’s research. We focus on these areas in our graduate training and undergraduate teaching.
Visit our faculty page for more information on the diversity of our research interests.
Socio-cultural anthropology
Our socio-cultural anthropology research areas include;
- Applied and public anthropology
- Anti-colonialism
- Conflict
- Environmental anthropology and political ecology
- Food;
- Gender, development and wellbeing
- Global political economy
- Media
- Migration
- Race and ethnicity
- Relatedness
- Repatriation
- Sexuality
- Social movements
- Youth culture
Our research is conducted in Canada, the United States, South and Southeast Asia, South America, Central Africa, China, and Eastern Europe.
Archaeology
Our archaeology research areas include:
- Analytic methods
- Ceramics
- Domestication
- Environmental archaeology
- Ethnoarchaeology
- Historical archaeology
- Hunter/fisher/gatherers
- Settlement patterns
- Theory
- Zooarchaeology
Our research is conducted in Western and Northern Canada, Eastern Europe, Southern Africa, and the Near East.
Biological anthropology
Our biological anthropology research areas include:
- Bioarchaeology
- Colonialism and health
- Demography
- Dental anthropology
- Gender and health
- Growth and development
- Historical epidemiology
- Infectious disease
- Medical anthropology
- Palaeodemography
- Proteomics
- Palaeopathology
- Skeletal biology
- 3D imaging and microscopy
Our research is conducted in Central and Northern Europe and in North America.
Program details
The department of Anthropology maintains a strong focus on research training and tailoring programs to the interests and strengths of individual students in close cooperation with faculty advisors for graduate studies.
Master of Arts in Anthropology
Expected duration: 2 years
The MA thesis-based program consists of a combination of coursework and a research component.
Tuition and fees: Program fees are assessed in the first two terms of study, followed by a continuing fee in the third and any subsequent terms. (refer to Graduate tuition and fees).
In addition to the minimum course requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section, students must complete:
- A minimum number of 12 credit hours of coursework at the 7000 level, including at least 9 credit hours of anthropology courses
- A mandatory pass/fail ANTH 7000 Professional Development in Anthropology Course
- An acceptable thesis and successful thesis oral examination
Sample courses
- ANTH 7050 - Seminar in the Anthropology of Religion - (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7040 - Seminar in Ethnography of Power Systems (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7470 - Scientific Methods and Applications in Biological Anthropology and Archaeology (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7140 - Ethnographic Research Methods (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7350 - Prehistoric Human Ecology (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7790 - Advanced Topics in Human Skeletal Biology
- ANTH 7440 - Archaeological Theory (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7720 - Seminar in Human Adaptability
- ANTH 7930 - Growth, Development & Plasticity in Human
- ANTH 7450 - Cultural Resource Management
Pre-master's option
Expected duration: 1 year
Tuition and fees: One year tuition (refer to Graduate tuition and fees)
The department has an expectation for applicants applying to the Master of Arts graduate degree to have majored in anthropology in their undergraduate degree. Applicants who did not major in anthropology will be looked at on a case-by-case basis for admission. Applicants with a non-anthropology background may be recommended for acceptance into the Pre-master’s program, which consists of consisting of up to 18 hours of courses from the undergraduate, and especially the advanced, curriculum.
The Pre-master's program is normally reserved for students with an academic background other than anthropology. Anthropology students who do not have a four-year (Honours or Advanced BA) undergraduate degree or who lack a sufficient grade point average in their undergraduate degree are recommended to seek advice from the department on how to use the Special Student category to upgrade their qualifications.
Career options for anthropology students
UM anthropology graduates have been highly successful in a variety of fields.
They have taken up positions in universities and colleges as professors or specialists, in the Foreign Service, in health-related institutions, in museums, in private sector positions including commercial archeology and heritage resource management, in education, in government heritage positions, for the International Development Research Centre and in counselling for Indigenous municipal boards.
Others have chosen to be freelance anthropologists, and some have incorporated their own successful companies.
Admission requirements
The following are minimum requirements for entry into the program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Admission decisions are based on the qualifications of the applicant as well as the ability of the anthropology department and the University of Manitoba to serve the applicant’s intended program of study and area of specialization.
In addition to the admission requirements described here, all applicants must meet the minimum admission and English language proficiency requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
To qualify for admission to the Anthropology (MA) program, you must have a minimum of a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in anthropology.
Pre-master's admission requirements
To be considered for the pre-master's program, you must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree.
How to apply
The master's in anthropology program has one application deadline per year, and applications are accepted for September entry only. Applications must be completed online and include several parts:
- Application fee (non-refundable)
- Unofficial copies of transcripts and degree certificates
- Current CV/resume
- Include the following, in this order, with dates for all activities: educational background, relevant experience, publications, other professional activities, volunteer and community service
- Statement of intent
- Detail your study and/or research interests and reasons for seeking admission, and identify a faculty member from the anthropology department whom you are interested in being your advisor.
- Make your statement two pages, single-spaced, in Times New Roman 12-point font.
- Publication/writing sample of single-authored scholarly writing
- Acceptable samples: master's thesis, research paper, major paper, published article, book chapter, conference paper
- The sample must be single-authored, academically rigorous, and demonstrate quality writing.
- Two letters of recommendation (must be requested from within the application)
- Letters must be from a university professor who has taught you at a post-secondary institution.
- Proof of English language proficiency, if required
Please read the Faculty of Graduate Studies online application instructions before beginning your application.
Application deadlines
Learn more
Contact us
Admission and application inquiries
Faculty of Graduate Studies
Room 500 UMSU University Centre
65 Chancellors Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
graduate.admissions@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-9377
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Program inquiries
Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Arts
432 Fletcher Argue Building
15 Chancellor's Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
anthro@umanitoba.ca
204-474-9361