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Program Description
The Master of Science in Human Skeletal Biology program prepares graduates to apply the principles and techniques of Biological Anthropology to a variety of contexts, including those in the Forensic Sciences (i.e., Medical Examiner’s office, Coroner’s office, Armed Forces, Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Mass Disasters). The program is also useful training for students who are preparing for admission to doctoral programs in skeletal biology, molecular anthropology, and human evolution.
An integral part of the program is hands-on, semester long professional internships developed according to student interest. These opportunities range from those in genetics (in departmental labs and the ME’s office), osteology and odontology (in departmental labs, NYU School of Dentistry, the AMNH, and ME’s office), and field recovery training (departmental or other field schools). Ideally, student research projects will evolve from these internships into MS theses. Yearly skeletal biology colloquia bring visiting scientists for talks and workshops.
The program is expected to take two years to complete, but can be extended for those working full-time.
Admissions
All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the general application requirements, which include:
See Anthropology for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
Program Requirements
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| ANTH-GA 1516 | Human Osteology and Odontology | 4 |
| ANTH-GA 1520 | Interpreting the Human Skeleton | 4 |
| ANTH-GA 1505 | History and Philosophy of Biological Anthropology | 4 |
| 4 |
| 20 |
| Total Credits | 36 |
Additional Program Requirements
Thesis
Students must complete a master’s thesis, the culmination of a research project in an area related to skeletal biology and agreed upon by the student's advisory committee. The thesis does not have a minimum or maximum page limit but should be sufficiently long to thoroughly address the question/s posed to the satisfaction of the committee. Final thesis committees consist of a primary reader (advisor) and a secondary reader (generally the second most relevant committee member give the student’s project), both of whom must be NYU faculty. Students may (and commonly do) work with an outside committee member (if approved by the internal committee), but this individual will be listed on the thesis itself as a third reader.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:
- Understand and apply the principles of Biological Anthropology in the context of Human Skeletal Biology. We anticipate our students to have a comprehensive understanding of the principles of evolutionary theory and human osteology in addition to the history of biological anthropology, and to apply this knowledge to the study and analysis of human skeletal remains. This includes the ability to interpret variation in human morphology found in contemporary and prehistoric human populations and in our earlier hominin relatives.
- Conduct high-quality professional internships and translate them into research projects. We expect our students to be able to successfully complete professional internships in the areas of genetics, osteology, odontology, evolutionary morphology, and field training, among other areas. Ideally, these internships will provide the foundation for developing and executing robust MS thesis projects. The program should also provide useful training for students who are preparing for admission to doctoral programs in Biological Anthropology.
- Demonstrate critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. Our students should be able to pose sophisticated questions about human skeletal biology, design and conduct research to answer these questions, and communicate their findings effectively both orally and in writing. They should be able to think creatively, critically, and independently, demonstrating these skills through their research projects and professional internships.
- Develop professional skills for a variety of career paths: We train our students to apply their skills and knowledge in a variety of professional contexts (e.g., bioarchaeology, cultural resource management, forensic anthropology), as well as preparing them for further academic pursuits in skeletal biology, molecular anthropology, and human evolution.
- Participate actively in the scholarly community. We encourage our students to engage with the broader scholarly community, whether that be through attending and participating in skeletal biology colloquia and department colloquia, collaborating with visiting scientists, or contributing to academic discussions and debates. This engagement fosters a dynamic learning environment and prepares students for active participation in their future professional or academic communities.
Policies
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University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
Graduate School of Arts and Science Policies
Academic Policies for the Graduate School of Arts and Science can be found on the Academic Policies page.