Offered By	ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
Minimum	48 units
Academic Contact	Dr Robert Attenborough
Academic Plan	7124XBIAN
CRICOS Code	072340F
UAC Code	832079(Master Biological Anthropology)
Areas of Interest	Biological Anthropology

Biological Anthropology is not offered at most Australian universities. The ANU’s postgraduate coursework in the discipline is designed for students who have developed an interest in the subject, but who may have relatively little prior formal background in it.

The aim of the suite of postgraduate qualifications in biological anthropology is to provide such a student, at the intensity and initiative levels appropriate for graduates, with a grounding in the main sub-fields of biological anthropology, and optionally to proceed from that to a short supervised research thesis in the field.  Students who proceed to the thesis and graduate at a high level from the MBian (Research) program will be strongly placed for Higher Degree Research in the discipline or other professional applications of their expertise in the field.

The core of the program is a 48-unit (2-semester or part-time equivalent) set of courses covering key topics in biological anthropology.  Extra preparatory coursework in the form of the Graduate Certificate (24 units) precedes this core, for those not eligible to enter the MBian directly.  The core is followed, for those who qualify and so opt to 'rollover' into the MBian (Res), by completing a short (24-unit) thesis, leading to a MBioanth (Research). Students may apply for the Graduate Certificate and/or for the Masters in the first instance.  Graduate Certificate entrants may either conclude their studies with that qualification or proceed to the Masters program.  

Multiple entry and exit points allow students a coursework/thesis program of postgraduate study tailored flexibly to their individual needs.  Students should indicate their preferred pathway on application.  The convener will determine eligibility to enter the program via that preferred pathway and may offer advice on alternative pathways.  Specific course suites consistent with the program structures set out below will be finalized with each student at enrolment.  Course selection and scheduling are dependent on course availability semester by semester during each student’s membership of the program.  Students will be offered course selection advice from the convener before finalizing their enrolment

Prerequisites

Applicants for direct entry to the Master of Biological Anthropology program should have obtained a four year Bachelor degree with Honours in a cognate field (e.g. archaeology, socio-cultural anthropology, biology, medicine) from an approved tertiary education institution,OR a three year Bachelor degree without Honours but supplemented by at least one further year of tertiary study or relevant professional experience OR equivalent background obtained overseas.

Entry via Graduate Certificate

Applicants who initially do not meet the requirements above for entry may apply for the Graduate Certificate which provides a coursework introduction to the Masters.  These applicants should have obtained a three year Bachelor degree in a cognate field (e.g. archaeology, socio-cultural anthropology, biology, medicine) from an approved tertiary education institution OR a three degree in a non-cognate field supplemented by relevant professional experience. 

The effect of entry via Graduate Certificate is to extend the coursework component of the program with an additional 24 units taken before entry to the MBian.

The information published on the Study at ANU 2011 website applies to the 2011 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2010 website.