Anthropology examines the diversity of human experience across culture and time. Anthropologists in the department study everything from human evolution to pre-history to life in a globalizing world. Because of this breadth of focus, anthropology is highly relevant to understanding and living in a rapidly changing world.<br><br>Students pursuing the Master of Arts degree must satisfy all graduate school requirements. A thesis is required. Optional tracks for the thesis include prehistoric/historical archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, or physical/biological anthropology.<br><br>The Department of Anthropology has an anthropology museum that allows behind-the-scenes training in preparing exhibits and taking care of collections. The department also is home to a physical anthropology lab, a linguistics lab, a prehistoric archeology lab and a historical archeology lab that provide experience in analyzing and studying artifacts and sites in the American West and Great Basin. The physical anthropology laboratory is well-equipped with a collection of fossil ancestral human specimens. Another laboratory is set up to study animal bones, tree-rings and other clues about past environmental changes.