Portfolio Track

The portfolio track, an alternative to the thesis track, allows students to choose papers/projects from classes completed in the graduate program, on which they received high marks. The projects will represent the diversity of subjects studied to demonstrate the breadth of experience received in the MA program, while highlighting deeper themes that connect the subjects together. Students will present this work for the department.

Students choose 3-5 papers/projects from classes they have taken in their graduate program to represent what they have learned in the program.

Not all need to be written papers, and videos and other types of projects should be included.
At least one should be a written paper to demonstrate this skill to future employers/project directors/PhD programs.
The projects should represent at least some diversity of topics/subjects to demonstrate the expected breadth of someone completing the program and should include at least one project from the core class or elective outside the student’s concentration.
The paper/projects must have received a grade of B or higher from the course instructor.

Students must write a retrospective statement (ca. 5 pages) that talks about the projects, demonstrates a consideration of deep connections in terms of how they fit together, and how the student positions themselves within the important questions of their field. A rubric (see the end of the document) will be used to grade the retrospect and the attached papers and will be presented to the students ahead of time, so they understand the expectations. The grade will be pass/fail.

The retrospective paper (accompanied by the projects) will be graded by a three-person committee. All three members of the committee must agree that the student has passed to receive their MA degree.
The student must declare their intention to submit the portfolio at the beginning of the semester through a mechanism similar to the one currently used to declare intent to take the comprehensive exams (the last day to defend depends on the Graduate Education deadlines of the semester).
The students will provide a 10-15 min presentation of their work to department faculty and their peers at the Anthropology Department portfolio fair. The presentations are not graded, but students are expected to participate in person or via Zoom. The date for the fair will be announced within the first two weeks of every semester. This presentation format is designed to provide students an opportunity to develop concise presentation skills, engage with faculty and other graduate students on important anthropological topics, foster departmental community, and provide a ceremonial ending to their graduate studies.

First, the student must form a graduate committee (minimum of three members). The student should discuss this step with their advisor. Each member of the committee should be asked to confirm that they are able to serve to avoid issues with faculty being unable to serve during the semester of portfolio presentation due to research leave, Family Medical Leave, or sabbatical leave.

Second, the student must sign up by the date specified at the beginning of the semester, signaling their intent to submitthe portfolio. For fall or spring semester graduation, depends on the deadlines set forth by Graduate Education.

Third, the student must gather a minimum of three (3) and maximum of five (5) projects from classes they have taken that count toward the MA degree (consultation with your faculty committee should occur in picking these projects).

The retrospective paper/project talks about the projects and discusses how they tie together and how they demonstratethe student’s position on important questions in the field. The following rubric is used by the committee to determine if the paper and gathered projects is a pass or fail (you must pass every section and the decision must be unanimous). Early drafts of the paper can be submitted, and the paper rewritten as long as the deadline for submitting the graduate exam form is made. Students should work with their faculty to ensure this deadline is met.

The final step in the portfolio process is an oral defense of the portfolio. This defense will satisfy the requirement of the graduate school for a graduate exam. For fall or spring semester graduation, depends on the deadlines set forth by Graduate Education.

The student will give a 10-15 min presentation of their work to department faculty and their peers at the Anthropology Department portfolio gathering. Students must participate in person or via Zoom. Two weeks before the gathering, the student must submit the Request for Graduate Exam Form to generate the final paperwork needed by their committee to certify fulfillment of the requirement to the university. Students must attend the gathering to fulfil their graduation requirements. The presentation will provide a brief summary of the projects, how they are integrated, and how they fit into larger anthropological paradigms, theories, or methodology. The presentation itself is not graded; this is meant as an opportunity to engage with faculty and other graduate students on important anthropological topics, foster departmental community, and provide a ceremonial ending to their graduate studies.

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