UCLA - Masters vs. PhD

[Lexicon]

I have a question about UCLA. Their department website says:

The UCLA Department of Anthropology offers both masters and doctoral degrees, but accepts only students who are seeking the Ph.D. as their ultimate degree objective; the M.A. is acquired as a step toward the doctorate.

http://www.anthro.uc.../graduate-study

The graduate admission section says this:

M.A.: A degree in anthropology is not required, but is highly desirable. If an applicant with a B.A. or M.A. from another field is admitted, a program of background studies in anthropology is formulated.

Ph.D.: Students who are entering the graduate program with an M.A. degree, whether or not in anthropology, are required to demonstrate basic knowledge of the discipline before being permitted to begin the requirements for the doctorate.

http://www.gdnet.ucl...icyear=20132014

So does this mean I have to have a master's to apply to the PhD program? Should I apply to the MA program? Is the MA funded differently than the PhD?

Their website is really sparse on information and I'm so confused

[Bearcat1]

They don't have an MA program, so you have to apply to the PhD program. Basically the site is telling you that students who hold an MA may be given priority. They certainly accept students without MAs, because I know two of them. If you are accepted to the PhD program, you will be awarded a Masters degree along the way. The site is worded strangely, but they don't have a terminal MA program, so apply to their PhD program, and maybe to other terminal MA programs as back up?

[Quant_Liz_Lemon]

So it says that it only accepts students who want a PhD. There is no MA program. They just hand them out as consolation prizes for those that drop out and those that finish their masters' thesis (or qualifying exam) along the way to the PhD.

It doesn't mean that you have to have a masters in anthro. You just have to have a solid background in anthro

[Bearcat1]

I just looked at their site. It's the most uninformative, bizarrely arranged graduate program website I've ever seen. And especially so because I know it's a great program. Maybe lack of info is how they weed people out?

[Lexicon]

Well the actual application itself has you select between PhD and MA when it asks about your degree plans. I'm just going to put PhD though. Thanks for the help!

[Bearcat1]

Well the actual application itself has you select between PhD and MA when it asks about your degree plans. I'm just going to put PhD though. Thanks for the help!

Wow. I'm so surprised at UCLA. I think yes, select PhD because it is clear, at least in the first part, that they don't accept you for just the MA.