Graduate Program in Anthropology
The Anthropology Department takes pride in maintaining a holistic perspective, bridging the four traditional fields that have composed the discipline: sociocultural, archaeological, biological, and linguistic anthropology. Both graduate students and faculty conduct research that cut across the four-fields, and extend anthropological investigations into other disciplines.
The Anthropology Department’s quality of research is highly ranked nationally. We value both academic and applied research, empirically based and theoretically and methodologically informed, including quantitative and qualitative research questions. We are committed to international and intercultural research and education.
The graduate program is a mentoring program emphasizing the PhD degree. Students are mentored by faculty advisors, together with supervisory committees chosen by students with the advice of advisors. Graduate students are expected to be in residence to attend classes and seminars, and receive individualized training. Distance-education graduate degrees are not offered. Students formally report on their progress each year, and the progress of each graduate student is evaluated by the faculty in their primary field.
Students are admitted to the graduate program based on their intellectual match with faculty interests, and are encouraged to develop their own research initiatives rather than follow a standard curriculum. Applicants should articulate their proposed field, area of research, and research topics for advanced study, and identify potential faculty mentors. Upon admission, it is their responsibility, in consultation with their supervisory committee, to select an appropriate program of study.
Students receiving graduate degrees are well-prepared intellectually and professionally for success in a wide variety of careers, and become leaders in developing the next generation of anthropology. The department offers teaching experience and resources for presenting conference papers, submitting grant proposals, conducting fieldwork, and other activities appropriate to their professionalization. Graduate students are welcome to contribute to discussions in departmental meetings, and serve on some departmental committees.
Specialized Programs of graduate study include:
