Program Overview

MA and PhD in Anthropology

The Anthropology Department produces doctors of philosophy of the highest quality and offers broad training in both quantitative and qualitative methods of social science research. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and believe that the anthropology discipline is enriched by the skills and knowledge of other disciplines.

Ph.D. Requirements

• Earn 72 graduate credits (past B.A.), including:
  • Minimum of 33 credits in anthropology
  • Maximum of 27 credits in cognate fields
  • Maximum of 12 "dissertation" credits
  • Completion of core courses (see M.A. requirements in the Course Catalog)
  • A Ph.D. pass on qualifying examinations (see M.A. requirements)
• Exemptions may be granted on the basis of previous work by petition to the graduate director

Concurrent Degrees and Certificates

• Many students choose to obtain a second graduate degree
• Currently, two students are completing Master's in Public Administration (M.P.A.) in conjunction with their Ph.D.s in applied/development anthropology
• Other master's opportunities include M.A.s in museum studies or international relations, as well as public health (MPH)
• Twenty percent of the coursework for a Ph.D. in anthropology can be applied towards the credit requirements of a second degree
• Students can also deepen their expertise with a Certificate of Advanced Study in a range of topical and regional foci

Master of Arts in Anthropology

Program Overview (30 credits)

• Master's coursework exposes students to the breadth of anthropology
• The degree can be earned concurrently with a Certificate of Advanced Study or a second master's degree, or earned in advance of more narrowly defined scholarly studies and doctoral research topics
• Students must take at least five core courses, including a two-course sequence within their subdiscipline, and at least three core courses in other subdisciplines, followed by a qualifying exam in their subdiscipline

Core Courses

• History of Anthropological Theory
• Method and Theory in Biological Anthropology
• Anthropological Archaeology
• Language, Culture and Society
• Current Anthropological Theory
• Archaeological Theory

Certificates of Advanced Study

• Available for qualifying graduates in women and gender studies, conflict resolution, post-conflict reconstruction, NGO management, environmental decision-making, security studies, South Asia studies, Latin American and Caribbean studies, Middle East affairs, Europe and the EU, and more

Research Interests

• With a low graduate student-to-faculty ratio and a small entering Ph.D. class, students will be immersed in a research culture of close collaboration
• Graduate students will conduct meaningful research alongside faculty mentors or through Maxwell's 15 research centers, including:
  • Center for Policy Research
  • Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs
  • Campbell Public Affairs Institute
  • Center for Environmental Policy & Administration
  • Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict & Collaboration

Funding Opportunities

• Most graduate students in the Department of Anthropology have received full or partial funding in the form of fellowships, graduate assistantships, scholarships, research grants, and other funding from the department, Graduate School, Maxwell Dean's Office, and an array of topical and regional research centers and institutes
• University Fellowships: Outstanding students are eligible for a University Fellowship, which includes a stipend of $25,290, plus tuition
• Graduate Assistantships: The University offers nine-month teaching assistantships up to two years for M.A. students and four years for Ph.D. students
• South Asia Center / U.S. Department of Education: U.S. citizens interested in studying South Asia are eligible for National Resource Fellowships through the South Asia Center
• Claudia DeLys Scholarship in Cultural Anthropology: The Claudia DeLys Scholarship in Cultural Anthropology is an endowed fund that provides support for field research leading to the Ph.D. degree, dissertation writing, and pre-dissertation field work
• Future Professoriate Program: The Future Professoriate Program (FPP) aims to foster a sense of community among graduate students while allowing them to hone skills related to teaching, research, and professional identity development