Washington State University
Graduate School
Anthropology, M.A.
Student Learning Outcomes
All graduates will be able to:
- Creative and critical reasoning.
- Demonstrate the ability to present a professional, peer-to-peer level, written discussion of the role of their area of specialization within the broader historical and contemporary field of general anthropological theory.
- Ability to present a professional, peer-to-peer level, written discussion of the relevance of their specific research project to the goals of their area of specialization.
- Able to present a professional, peer-to-peer level, written discussion, including reasoned opinions about, non-anthropological and/or nonacademic social issues/concerns related to general anthropology as well as their area of specialization.
- Demonstrate an understanding and ability to discuss the relevance of, ethical standards within the profession generally and their area of specialization in particular.
- Formulate original ideas about their research topic, and are they able to relate these ideas to those of other scholars in the relevant literature.
- Information and data gathering.
- Demonstrate expertise in knowledge of the historical background, current trends, and major leaders in the field(s) of research relevant to their area of specialization.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the different types of traditionally published data and the strengths and weaknesses of such data.
- Provide a well-reasoned explanation for their selection of data and analytical techniques.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the differences between, and appropriate uses of, both qualitative and quantitative data.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply systematic techniques in their data collection and analysis.
- Communication skills.
- Write a clear and concise statement defining their research topic.
- Write an adequate contextual statement for their research topic.
- Present a clear statement of their research methods.
- Write a well-reasoned interpretation of their analysis.
- Write a unifying conclusion statement.
- Demonstrate a mastery of their area of specializations style and citation standards.
- Make a clear and concise verbal presentation before a professional audience that includes a statement of their topic, the context of their question, a description of their data and analysis, and a summary of their interpretations.
- Demonstrate the ability to respond adequately to questions from a professional audience.
- Analytical reasoning.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply advanced systematic techniques or theory in their data analysis.
- Select appropriate quantitative or qualitative assessment techniques in-line with their research question.
- Discuss the strengths, weaknesses, limitations, etc. of their data selection and collection techniques (sample bias).
- Make reasonable interpretations from their theoretical perspective and/or analyses.
- Discuss reasonable alternative interpretations.
- Specialization of study.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the historical development of their topic and the broader academic, and non-academic contexts of their area of specialization.
- Formulate a reasonable question that is compatible with current trends within their defined field of specialization.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the range of types of data and analytical techniques appropriate to their area of specialization and their research question.
- Effectively consider how subjective and objective aspects of data identification, collection, and analysis may have shaped current thinking and their own interpretations within their area of specialization.
- Demonstrate a developed expertise in at least one area of methodology within their area of specialization.
- Demonstrate expertise in the environment, history, traditional and/or contemporary culture(s), and contemporary anthropological issues of a geographic region.
- Demonstrate competence in working with a specific theoretical focus.