Admission Criteria

Master of Science Degree Program Criteria

  • Meet 
  • Have a baccalaureate degree, typically in anthropology, biology, geology, geography, classics, fine arts/art history, or education (other majors will be considered)
  • Have at least a B (3.0) grade-point average in previous academic work (students with a GPA of no lower than 2.75 may be admitted on a probationary provision)

Acceptance to the program will be decided by the Admissions Committee of the Museum in consultation with the department pertinent to the student's discipline. For Masters students, the student must be accepted by an advisor in his or her discipline; program staff will assist in identifying potential advisors, but it is the student's responsibility to secure formal agreement from an advisor. We strongly recommend that prospective students contact faculty members directly with specific questions prior to the application deadline.

Professional Certificate Program Criteria

Typically, no more than three students are admitted to the Professional Certificate program in a given year. Application criteria and procedures are very similar to those for the Masters of Science program, and applicants will be evaluated at the same time.

For a graduate student in another department, admission to a university graduate program and recommendation of the student's departmental graduate advisor will establish eligibility for application to the Professional Certificate program.

For museum professionals, admission through will establish eligibility for application to the program.

Minimum Performance Criteria for Graduate Students

  • Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the end of each academic year*
  • Use of English with precision and clarity; classes may be required to develop this ability
  • Computer skills necessary for museum or field studies work; may be recommended by advisor

*If the grade point average falls below 3.0 in a given semester, the student will be placed on probation and the case will be reviewed by the student's graduate committee. Failure to achieve a 3.0 average in the subsequent semester is grounds for dismissal from the program. Appeal may be made to the Executive Committee of the Graduate School, whose decision is final.

Transfer from Provisional to Degree Status

The conditions for achieving "regular" status are set by the Graduate School and the Museum and Field Studies Admissions Committee. All provisional admitted degree students must apply through their advisors to the Graduate School for change from provisional to "regular" degree status in the first two semesters of study, after achieving at least a 3.25 grade point average for the first 12 hours of course work.

If a student is denied regular degree status after the probationary period, he or she will be denied registration in further graduate work in the program.

Graduate Residence Requirement

Masters degree students are required to be enrolled full-time at the Boulder campus for a minimum of two semesters.