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    It’s hard to imagine, but UNBC students conducting an archaeological dig as part of a summer course may have discovered the oldest known settlement in BC.

  • The Department of Anthropology at UNBC recently finished excavating the remains of an ancient fishing village on the Babine River 100km northeast of Smithers.

  • “UNBC is the reason I’m successful,” cites UNBC Anthropology grad Derek O’Neill (BA Anthropology 2009), who now works as an archaeologist for Golder and Associates.

  • About 90% of the population is right-handed and UNBC Anthropology professor Richard Lazenby is trying to find out why.

Graduate Program

There is a large interest in graduate level study in Anthropology. In keeping with UNBC's innovative approaches to academic study, Anthropology offers post-graduate studies via the interdisciplinary Master of Arts degree (IDIS).

Students wishing to take advanced study in anthropology are able to do so through the IDIS Masters and through registration in individual 600 level ANTH courses.

Students interested in pursuing this path should consult with an appropriate member of the faculty in the program, who would potentially serve as the student's supervisor. This consultation would establish the appropriateness of this route given the student's career objectives and research interests.

Details regarding admission procedures, deadlines and other pertinent information can be obtained from the Office of Research and Graduate Programs.

An applicant may understake an IDIS program only under the following conditions:
  • the applicant's proposed course of study cannot be pursued within an existing degree;
  • the applicant has a well-conceived idea of the courses needed for a program of study and of a thesis topic that the applicant wishes to pursue.
The guidelines for the IDIS MA program require that:
  • the proposed subject of study (i.e. the thesis topic) be interdisciplinary in scope, drawing on at least two of the University's academic programs;
  • the student take a minimum of 5 courses, not all, or all but one, course may be taken from one Program;
  • the student submit a proposal conditional to acceptance into the program, and this demonstrates that study of the topic can only be achieved through a multi-disciplinary approach.
The following excerpts from the Graduate Calendar are printable versions of the IDIS guidelines & criteria.
        Admission Guidelines
        The following IDIS forms can be found at: Interdisciplinary Studies (MA/MSc)
  •         Steps to Take in Arranging an IDIS Graduate Program
  •         Guidelines for Preparing a Research Proposal for IDIS Program
  •         Interdisciplinary Studies Proposal Coversheet
  •         Application for Admission to Graduate Studies
  •         Assessment Report on Applicant for Admission to Graduate Studies
  •            (Letters of Reference)
  •         MA/MSc IDIS Application Checklist
NOTE:  It is recommended that students wishing to enter the Indisciplinary Studies program contact the Dean of Graduate Studies to discuss their proposed program of study.