Thesis

Thesis
Comprehensive Exam

The comprehensive examination is one of two options available for those seeking an M.A. degree in anthropology, the other being the thesis. Proper preparation for the exams is essential.

In planning when to take the comprehensive examination, either for the first or a subsequent time, students must keep in mind that comprehensive exams are not offered during the summer quarter in Anthropology. In addition, since regular faculty are usually not on duty during the summer, individual faculty may or may not be able to interact with students; if they do so, it is on a volunteer basis.

There are five areas in which students may be examined: Anthropological Theory, Cultural Anthropology, Physical Anthropology, Archaeology, and Linguistics. All students who elect to take the comprehensive exam option will be examined in three of these areas. The exam in Anthropological Theory is required of all students. The student selects two additional fields from the remaining four.

The exam in each area generally consists of three questions. There is almost always a choice provided for each of the three questions.

Two areas are selected by the student. These two areas are determined by the student and appropriate faculty through consultation. Students are encouraged to meet regularly with faculty who specialize in their areas of interest. This facilitates learning and preparation for the exams. In selecting the additional areas for examination, the student should choose areas in which they have either passed a graduate seminar (e.g. Anth 560, Anth 520, Anth 570) or for which they have written instructor approval.

The Cultural Anthropology area exam is configured in the following way:

1. Students will be expected to answer a broad question concerning the peoples, cultures and environments that characterize and have characterized the world region selected by the student (North and Middle America, South America and Caribbean, Africa...).
2. Within that world region, the student, in consultation with appropriate faculty, will choose one sub-area (e.g. Indonesia, Amazonia, Japan, West Africa, Melanesia...).
3. The student will also select, in consultation with appropriate faculty, one cultural group on which there is a substantial body of descriptive/analytic literature (ethnographic or historical/archaeological); for example, the Aztec, the Ashanti, the Trobriand Islanders, the Yanomamo...

The Archaeology area exam will include a section on archaeological theory, a section on archaeological method, and a section based on a specific area of archaeology for which the student has prepared or has stated a special interest.

The Physical Anthropology area exam will include a section on human evolution, a section on modern human variation, and a section based on a specific area of physical anthropology for which the student has prepared or has stated a special interest and with which the Physical Anthropology faculty are familiar.

The Linguistics area exam is configured on an individual basis in consultation with appropriate faculty members.

1. The examinations are administered during the eight week of the fall, winter and spring termsl.
2. Students must enroll for the exam no later than the second week of the quarter in which they plan to take the exam. If a student enrolls for the exam and fails to either complete the exam or properly drop enrollment in the exam, the student will be regarded as having failed the exam.
3. All areas of the exam are graded by at least two faculty members.
4. After faculty have individually read and evaluated the exams, the entire Department meets to discuss the results. The final decision is reached by consensus.
5. If the student fails two or more of the three examinations he or she may elect to retake the exam in a subsequent term. The student must retake the entire exam.
6. If the student fails only one of the three examinations he or she need only retake the failed exam.
7. Students are allowed two retakes. Failing a third time will constitute grounds for that student's termination from the program.
8. The examination process must be completed within the seven years allowed for completion of all the requirements for a master's degree.
9. The Department maintains copies of the examination questions and student exams in the student's file.

1. Is the student addressing the question that is being asked (rather than some other question)? If, for example, a question is asked about the weaknesses of the functionalist approach, and the student writes mostly about the history of functionalism and the life histories of particular functionalists, it is unlikely that they are successfully answering the question no matter how much or how accurate or how detailed the information they produce might be.
2. Is the student citing the most significant evidence and sources in their response? While we cannot anticipate what novel ideas and perspectives a student might bring to a question, certain references and acknowledgements can reasonably be expected. For example, a question on the role of energy production in anthropological theorizing cannot entirely ignore the contribution of Leslie White.
3. Is there an argument being made and is it supported by appropriate evidence? What is the thesis that the student is articulating? Is it coherent, consistent and making sense? Is it supported by appropriate evidence?
4. Is the information cited in the answer correct? Is the student getting the information right?
5. Is the writing coherent and communicative? Communication is part of what the student needs to achieve, and it should not be left to the grader to assume that students know what they are talking about when they do not make it clear in their writing.
6. While there are certain questions that do not call for arguments (e.g. those that ask for identifications of concepts or the listing of books or theorists), most do. Those that do should be evaluated according to the above criteria.
7. Students will be evaluated on the basis of performance on these exams. The exams are an independent assessment (as is the thesis). Evaluation will not include or be based on knowledge of how the student performed in classes.