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Department of Anthropology – San Diego State University
Master’s Program Application Checklist
Application deadline: January 12, 2015
(this is in addition to the materials requested by SDSU Enrollment Services)
Check the boxes on this cover sheet and include it with your application
1.
A signed anthropology department application.
2.
A statement of purpose demonstrating a clear focus of research interests, including both geographical
and topical interests. Your statement of purpose is a very important part of the application, as it allows
the faculty to look for excellent writing ability, clarity of purpose, realistic assessments of both your
skills and the anthropological profession, and an indication that you selected our department for a
specific reason. The statement should include the name of at least one SDSU anthropology faculty
member who would be a suitable thesis adviser and an explanation why you selected them.
3.
Three letters of recommendation. We prefer that your recommenders email their recommendations
to our Administrative Coordinator, Bann Attiq (battiq@mail.sdsu.edu). Mailed letters should be
received in a sealed envelope with the recommender's signature on the back flap.
4.
A sample of written work representative of your research and writing skills.
Please email these documents to our Administrative Coordinator, Bann Attiq (battiq@mail.sdsu.edu).
We prefer electronic documents but if you are unable to email the documents, paper copies can be
mailed to:
Department of Anthropology
(MA application enclosed)
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-6040
rev: Oct-2014
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Department of Anthropology – San Diego State University
Master’s Program Application
1. Applying for:
2. Specialization:
Fall semester____
___
(year)
General Anthropology or
3. Name:_
(Last)
Applied Anthropology
_____
(Middle Initial)
(First)
4. Email:
5. Do you claim California residency:
Yes
No
6. Overall undergraduate grade point average for all institutions attended:
(using four point scale, A=4.00)
7. Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Scores for each category must have been taken on the same exam date.
Test scores: Year taken: __
_ Q:
, V:
Combined Q+V=
Analytical:
8. Academic Interests:
Subdisciplinary specialization:
Archeology
Biological Anthro
Cultural Anthro
Linguistic Anthro
Specific thematic focus:
(e.g. osteology, environmental anthropology, medical anthropology, primatology, historical archeology, etc.)
Geographic focus:
(e.g., Latin America, USA, India, etc.)
Based on your research interests what faculty member (or members) could potentially serve as your thesis adviser?
9. Education: List the institution where you earned your undergraduate degree
School
Location (state)
Dates attended
From-To (mo/yr)
Major
Field
Degree and
date awarded(mo/yr)
10. Academic preparation in anthropology:
Indicate which of the following courses or their equivalents you completed as an undergraduate. See course
descriptions below to ensure that a course you completed at a different university is equivalent. Note that these
preparatory courses are not required for admission into the graduate program.
Prerequisite
ANTH 301 Principles of Physical
Anthropology (with lab)
ANTH 302 Principles of Archaeology
ANTH 303 Principles of Socio-Cultural
Anthropology
ANTH 304 Principles of
Anthropological Linguistics
rev: Oct-2014
Completed equivalent course. Include the abbreviated course name and number
from your transcript and the full course name.
Grade
Date completed
(semester/year)
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Anth 301--Principles of Physical Anthropology
Primate comparative anatomy and human paleontology. Physical measurement of the living subject and skeletal specimens. The
statistical treatment of data in physical Anthropology. Applications of physical Anthropology in industry and medicolegal problems.
Anth 302--Principles of Archaeology
History, method, and theory of archaeological data acquisition and interpretation. Methods of data recovery and analysis suitable to
resolution of historical and processual questions. Archaeological examples from a worldwide sample of prehistoric and historic
societies.
Anth 303--Principles of Socio-Cultural Anthropology
Development of theories which explain nature of culture and cultural variation. Applications of theory of culture to field methods in
ethnography and interpretation of ethnographic findings.
Anth 304--Principles of Anthropological Linguistics
The structural nature of language. How languages differ, change and influence each other. The language families of the world. The
significance of language for human social life in a variety of cultures.
11. References:
You are required to furnish three letters of recommendation from persons in a position to judge your academic ability.
We prefer that letters be sent to the applicant, to be included with the other application materials. If your
recommenders prefer to send them directly to the department, this is acceptable (though not preferred). The letters
should be received in a sealed envelope with the recommender’s signature on the back flap.
List the names of the referees we should expect to receive letters of recommendation from:
Recommender’s Name
Affiliation
tel #
email
Recommender’s Name
Affiliation
tel #
email
Recommender’s Name
Affiliation
tel #
email
CERTIFICATION – to be read and signed by all applicants to certify the accuracy of the information provided.
I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California and the United States that I have provided complete and
accurate responses to the items on this application. I further certify that all official documents submitted in support of this
application are authentic and unaltered records that pertain to me. I authorize the California State University to release any
information submitted by me in connection with my application to any person, firm, corporation, association, or government agency
to verify or explain the information I have provided, to obtain other records necessary for my application, or in connection with
perjury proceedings. My signature certifies the accuracy and completeness of the information provided. I understand that any
misrepresentation may be cause for denial or cancellation of admission or enrollment.
I certify that so long as I am a student at this institution, I will advise the residence clerk if there is a change in any of the facts
affecting my residence.
Signature________________________________________ Date: _____________
rev: Oct-2014