The Anthropology Master of Arts program prepares graduates for a variety of professional positions and entrance into doctoral programs. The department’s approach combines a strong anthropological perspective, an active faculty, a vigorous research and contract program, flexibility, and many opportunities to obtain hands-on experience. The department has one of the largest and most active terrestrial and maritime archaeology programs and facilities in the Southeast. There is continuous on-going student-focused research and contracts in prehistoric, historic, coastal, and interior archaeological sites that include graduate students at all levels of responsibility. The Cultural Anthropology program is dynamic and includes ethnographic research in Ireland and the study of myth, religion, rape, and disease. The growing Biological Anthropology program includes osteoarchaeology, forensics, and primatology. Financial assistance includes many research assistantships in terrestrial and maritime archaeology through the Archaeology Institute, grants and contracts, internships, and the Marcus Fellowship for thesis completion. There are thesis and internship options, both of which require 30 semester hours of graduate coursework, 6 hours of thesis or internship, and a research tool. Students in both options must complete the common core courses, but the remainder of the course work can be structured according to their interests with the approval of their advisor or committee.