Program Overview

Department of Anthropology

The Department of Anthropologys unique graduate program is focused on the social relations, culture, biology, and history of past and present peoples. Geographically, our research foci lies within Latin America, North America, and the Caribbean. The graduate program in anthropology provides intensive training and research opportunities to a select group of graduate students with the objective of producing scholars who will be successful teachers and scholars, and who have the theoretical breadth to teach and produce work that is of significance beyond their specialization. We have an excellent track record placing our graduates in career positions that require a PhD, with especially strong performance in tenure track position placement.

Admissions

We only accept students we can fund for our full six year funding program. This enables us to provide students with targeted faculty attention and resources and setting our students up for success. This restricts our cohorts to generally three or four students per year. Applications received by December 1 will be considered for enrollment in the subsequent fall semester.

Applying to the Program

The department accepts only students who seek the Ph.D.; M.A. students are not accepted. Doctoral students receive a masters degree in passing after they satisfy language and course requirements and pass comprehensive exams. Students who do not pass the comprehensive exams may, at the discretion of their exam committee and the DGS, have an option to receive a terminal masters degree, which may require additional exams or written work.

Application Process

The application process to apply for the Ph.D. program in anthropology is completed online, and it is administered by the Graduate School. Complete applications are due December 1st of the year before you want to enroll (e.g., if you wish to start in fall 2025, you must submit a complete application by December 1, 2024).

Research

• Overview: The graduate program in anthropology provides intensive training and research opportunities to a select group of graduate students.
• Research Areas:
  • Social relations
  • Culture
  • Biology
  • History of past and present peoples
  • Geographical focus on Latin America, North America, and the Caribbean

Program Details

• Degree Offered: Ph.D.
• Funding: Full six year funding program
• Cohort Size: Generally three or four students per year
• Application Deadline: December 1
• Enrollment: Subsequent fall semester
• Requirements:
  • Language and course requirements
  • Comprehensive exams
• Terminal Masters Degree: Optional, at the discretion of the exam committee and the DGS, with possible additional exams or written work.