Program Modification Form
I Summary of Proposed Changes
Anthropology: MA Forensic Anthropology Option
Department/program
Change of requirements to reflect new and revised course offerings
Summary
II Endorsements and Approvals
Please obtain the Program Chair/Director’s approval and Dean’s approval.
Please type / print name Signature
Requestor:
Phone:
Program Chair/Director:
Randall R. Skelton
243-4245
John Douglas
Department Dean
Other affected Programs:
Chris Comer
Date
(Use additional sheet if needed)
Are other departments/programs affected by this modification
Please obtain signature(s) from the
because of
Chair/Director of any such department/
(a) required courses incl. prerequisites or corequisites,
program (above) before submission
(b) perceived overlap in content areas
(c) cross-listing of coursework
III Type of Program Modification
(e.g. adding a writing course required of all majors.) Please X check the appropriate box.
Major
Minor
Option
Teaching major/minor
X
Other
Please describe Refining the list of required courses to reflect new and
revised course offerings.
IV Catalog Language
If you are proposing a change to an existing program or
major, please cut and paste the requirements as they
appear in the current catalog below.
www.umt.edu/catalog 
Since this is a graduate program the requirements are
not in the catalog. They are listed at
http://www.cas.umt.edu/anthro/degrees/masters/grad_fo
rensic.html as this:

Thesis/Professional Paper Plan (30 credits
total)
o The background courses listed
below, which ideally will have been
taken previously as an
undergraduate.
o Anthropology 500 and 512.
o One of the following seminars:
ANTH 510, 511, or 513.
o One additional anthropology
graduate seminar, numbered 500589, 595, or 600-694. (ANTH 512
may be taken twice).
o A total of 1 to 10 credits in ANTH
599 (Thesis) or 593 (Professional
Please provide the proposed copy as you wish it to
appear in the catalog. 

Thesis/Professional Paper Plan (30 credits
total)
o The background courses listed
below, which ideally will have been
taken previously as an
undergraduate.
o Anthropology 500, 510, 512, 513
and 515.
o A total of 1 to 10 credits in ANTH
599 (Thesis) or 593 (Professional
Project), consistent with Graduate
School requirements (6 credits
recommended).
o A defended Thesis or Professional
Paper/Project. A thesis is a


Project), consistent with Graduate
School requirements (6 credits
recommended).
o A defended Thesis or Professional
Paper/Project. A thesis is a
document that presents the results of
research in which data was gathered
or analyzed in order to test a
hypothesis. A professional paper
consists of a project, report, exhibit,
or similar scholarly contribution of
the sort produced by professionals in
the field; or a scholarly work
published in a refereed journal or
other reviewed forum. Many
students choose to complete a
comprehensive case report type of
professional paper.
Non-Thesis Plan (36 credits total)
o The background courses listed
below, which ideally will have been
taken previously as an
undergraduate.
o Anthropology 500 and 512.
o One of the following seminars:
ANTH 510, 511, or 513.
o Two additional anthropology
graduate seminars, numbered 500589, 595, or 600-694. (ANTH 512
may be taken twice).
o A total 1 to 10 credits in ANTH 597
(Research), consistent with Graduate
School requirements (6 credits
recommended).
o A comprehensive evaluation (a
defense if the scholarly work or
portfolio will satisfy this
requirement, otherwise it may be
administered as an examination).
o A reviewed scholarly work or
portfolio (collection of shorter
scholarly works). Many students
present a portfolio of cases reports
prepared in the concise style
preferred by law enforcement
agencies.
Background courses required for all
students completing the forensic
anthropology option. One course in each of
the following areas, or their equivalent from
another institution:


document that presents the results
of research in which data was
gathered or analyzed in order to test
a hypothesis. A professional paper
consists of a project,
comprehensive case report, exhibit,
or similar scholarly contribution of
the sort produced by professionals
in the field; or a scholarly work
published in a refereed journal or
other reviewed forum.
Non-Thesis Plan (36 credits total)
o The background courses listed
below, which ideally will have been
taken previously as an
undergraduate.
o Anthropology 500, 510, 512, 513
and 515.
o Two additional anthropology
graduate seminars, numbered 500589, 595, or 600-694.
o A total 1 to 10 credits in ANTH
597 (Research), consistent with
Graduate School requirements (6
credits recommended).
o A comprehensive evaluation (a
defense if the scholarly work or
portfolio will satisfy this
requirement, otherwise it may be
administered as an examination).
o A reviewed scholarly work or
portfolio (collection of shorter
scholarly or professional style
documents).
Background courses required for all
students completing the forensic
anthropology option. One course in each of
the following areas, or their equivalent
from another institution:
o Forensic anthropology (such as
ANTH 314)
o Osteology (such as ANTH 412)
o Archaeological field experience
(such as ANTH 413, 466, an
archaeologically oriented 487, or a
volunteer or paid archaeological
field experience)
o General forensic science (such as
ANTH 488)
o Statistics (such as ANTH 401,
ANTH 402 is strongly
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Human variation (such as ANTH
310, 417, 418, or 510)
Forensic anthropology (such as
ANTH 314)
Osteology (such as ANTH 412)
Archaeological field experience
(such as ANTH 413, 466, an
archaeologically oriented 487, or a
volunteer or paid archaeological
field experience)
Archaeology theory (such as ANTH
450, 456, 458, 550, or 551)
General forensic science (such as
ANTH 286 or 488)
Statistics (such as ANTH 401)
recommended for those students
choosing the thesis/professional
paper plan).
Ideally, these courses will have been taken as an
undergraduate, but if not must be taken before an
M.A. degree with this option is awarded.
Ideally, these courses will have been taken as an
undergraduate, but if not must be taken before an
M.A. degree with this option is awarded.
Please explain/justify the new proposal or change. Over previous years it has become apparent that students who
take the physical and forensic anthropology seminars (ANTH 510, 511, 512, 513) are not prepared in terms of
background theory in biological anthropology. Therefore, we have created a new team-taught course that covers
these bodies of theory and which we want to make a prerequisite for the other physical/forensic seminars. This
allows us to revise these seminars under the assumption that we don’t have to teach the basic theory, thus allowing
us to go into greater depth in the subject matter of the seminar. Requiring the theory course also allows us to
prune the list of required background courses, since the important portions of the theoretical background they
provide is covered in the theory course.
V Copies and Electronic Submission
Once approved, the original, a paper copy and an electronic file are submitted to the Faculty Senate Office, UH
221 (camie.foos@mso.umt.edu).
VI Department Summary Required if several proposals are submitted. In a separate document list
program title and proposed change of all proposals.
Revised 11-2009