Cultural Resources Management, M.A.

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Coordinator
Laura A. Watt

The master of arts in Cultural Resources Management (CRM) involves the identification, evaluation, and preservation of cultural resources, as mandated by cultural resources legislation and guided by scientific standards within the planning process. A goal of the master’s program in CRM is to produce professionals who are competent in the methods and techniques appropriate for filling cultural resources management and related positions, and who have the theoretical background necessary for research design, and data collection and analysis.

Persons with an M.A. in CRM will be qualified to hold positions within the United States and its territories. Some individuals will also be qualified to serve outside of the United States in an advisory capacity in establishing and managing cultural resources management programs within environmental protection and preservation contexts of other nations.

The CRM program emphasizes:

Experience in developing projects and programs in cultural resources management;
Experience conducting research on archaeological, osteological, linguistic, and sociocultural data for purposes of assisting public and private sectors in the implementation of environmental protection and historic preservation legislation;
Experience with anthropological techniques of field and laboratory analysis, and archival and museum preparation; and
Experience with existing cultural resources management data-keeping facilities.

Students in the program, under the supervision of a primary faculty advisor, develop a plan of study and thesis project that reflects their special interest in cultural resources management. In addition, students are encouraged to present the results of their work and research in professional meetings, research publications, and public documents.

Facilities and Faculty

The department’s Anthropological Studies Center (ASC) houses an archaeology laboratory and a cultural resources management facility. ASC maintains collections of artifacts, archaeological site records and maps, photographs, manuscripts and recordings, and a specialized research library. The ASC website can be found at www.sonoma.edu/asc/. The Northwest Information Center (NWIC), an adjunct of the State Office of Historic Preservation, manages historical records, resources, reports, and maps; supplies historical resources information to the private and public sectors; and compiles and provides a referral list of qualified historical resources consultants. The NWIC website is www.sonoma.edu/NWIC. In addition to archaeologists and other anthropologists, participating faculty in the CRM program include historians, geographers, soil scientists, and environmental planners.

Requirements for the Degree

The coursework required for the CRM M.A. totals 30 academic units and is typically completed in six to seven semesters. This design presumes that students are enrolled full-time and not working more than part-time. Students are admitted to the program with Conditionally Classified graduate status. They must fulfill certain requirements before being fully accepted into the program and able to enroll in Thesis Prospectus units. These requirements include successful completion of ANTH 500 , maintenance of a minimum 3.6 GPA, and timely resolution of any incomplete grades. Departmental policy stipulates that no more than 10 units of the 30 unit program may be revalidated beyond the 7-year limit defined by the CSU.

* Internships are decided upon by discussion between the student and his or her advisor. Students will normally take both on-campus and off-campus internships. On-campus internships are available at the Cultural Resources Facility, the Interpretive and Outreach Services Office, the Northwest Information Center, and the Archaeological Collections Facility. Off-campus agencies include the State Office of Historic Preservation, the National Park Service, the Museums of Sonoma County, and many others.

ANTH 500 - Proseminar Unit(s): 4
HIST 472 - California History I Unit(s): 4
ANTH 502 - Archaeology: History and Theory Unit(s): 3
ANTH 503 - Seminar: Cultural Resources Management Unit(s): 3
ANTH 592 - Practicum in National Register of Historic Places Unit(s): 2
ANTH 595 - Special Studies Unit(s): 1-4 (1 Unit(s) Required)
ANTH 596 - Agency Internships Unit(s): 1-3 (3 Unit(s) Required) *
ANTH 597 - Anthropology Internships Unit(s): 1-3 (3 Unit(s) Required) *
ANTH 599A - Thesis Unit(s): 2-3 (4 Unit(s) Required)
ANTH 599B - Thesis Unit(s): 2-3 (4 Unit(s) Required)
Supporting Courses Units: 6

Units

Total units in the CRM degree: 30

Admission to the Program

Applications must be submitted separately by January 31 to the Graduate Coordinator and to the Office of Admissions and Records (via Cal State Apply) for possible acceptance into the program the following academic year. Consult with the program’s Graduate Coordinator and website for departmental requirements and submissions. While archaeology is a focus, the program emphasizes CRM as an interdisciplinary profession. Students with degrees in history, geography, and planning, as well as anthropology, are frequently accepted.