duke anthropology phd

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CulAnth 801S: Graduate Theories Seminar: Finding Articles

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These are only a few of the anthropology-related journals—in print and online—in the library's collection. 

• American Anthropologist
• American Ethnologist
• Annual Review of Anthropology
• Cultural Anthropology
• Current Anthropology
• Human Organization
• Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute

Worldcat A database that contains more than 40 million records describing items owned by libraries around the world.

Literature Surveys

• Annual Reviews This link opens in a new window Search for review articles in biomedical and life sciences, physical sciences and social sciences
• Search just the Annual Review of Anthropology

Key Anthropology Databases

• Anthropology Plus This link opens in a new window Search for journal articles, reports, edited works, and obituaries in anthropology
• AnthroSource This link opens in a new window Search for journal articles in Anthropology
• Sociological Abstracts This link opens in a new window Search for international literature in sociology and related social and behavioral sciences disciplines
• Sociology Source Ultimate This link opens in a new window Search for articles in the field of sociology

Search for journal articles, books, reports and conference proceedings for many subjects

Search a collection of important scholarly journals representing a range of disciplines.

• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global This link opens in a new window Search dissertations and theses from colleges and universities around the world from 1743 to present. Full text theses from 1997-present

Finding full text with Get it at Duke

Review the slides above to learn how to:   

• Look for a full text option in a database

Find a Database

The library subscribes to hundreds of specialized databases on subject areas ranging from engineering to anthropology:

• Browse databases by subject
• Browse research guides by subject

ANTHROPOLOGICAL LITERATURE

Harvard has released a guide for " Using the Anthropological Literature E-Resource ."   It includes video tutorials about searching and links to current research in the field of anthropology. This site is open to everyone.

Anthropology Plus Brings together, into one resource, Anthropological Literature from Harvard University and Anthropological Index, Royal Anthropological Institute from the UK.

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PhD Admissions

Esteemed faculty. interdisciplinary research..

When you join the thriving, interdisciplinary research community at Duke BME, you gain access to unique opportunities in translational research.

Come to Duke and Durham, and get a PhD experience like no other.

Guaranteed Funding

Duke provides significant financial support to PhD students. And that’s just the beginning. There’s mentorship and career exploration support, too.

Generous Stipend

Guaranteed pay, 12 months a year, for the first five years

Paid Tuition

Covered by Duke during the first five years of study

For the first five years, Duke pays all mandatory fees

Insurance Coverage

For six years, Duke pays your health and dental premiums

A Legacy of Innovation

For more than a half-century, Duke BME been consistently recognized as the leader in high-impact biomedical engineering. Our secret: Uncommonly synergistic collaborations with our peers in Duke’s highly-respected medical research enterprise.

Signature Discoveries

• Real-time 3-D ultrasonic imaging
• Low-cost portable cervical cancer screening
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• CRISPR to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• The “Pratt Pouch”—A drug-delivery device named by WHO an innovative global health technology

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5 years of stipend—plus six years of health and dental coverage

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Apply before the first Monday in December .

Start Your Application

Go to Duke’s secure online platform

Help With Your Application

Engineering Graduate Ambassadors are Duke students who help applicants navigate the PhD application process. Help includes 1:1 advising and exclusive webinars.

PhD Contacts

Jamel Forbes

Staff Specialist, PhD Program

Danielle Giles

Assistant Director of Graduate Studies

Kathryn Radabaugh Nightingale

Director of Graduate Studies, Theo Pilkington Distinguished Professor of BME

Research Themes

Biomechanics & Mechanobiology, Biomedical Imaging & Biophotonics

Research Interests

Ultrasonic and elasticity imaging; image-guided therapies; biomechanical tissue modeling; ultrasonic bioeffects.

Ready to Join Us?

Cultural Anthropology: PhD Career Outcomes Statistics

PhD Program

Accelerate progress.

Adapting to rapid change requires unwavering conviction. And that goes double for creating it. Make a global impact and leave the world a better place than you found it. A PhD can get you there.

The Duke Difference

World-class research.

Cultivate new possibilities in computer engineering, engineering physics and microelectronics.

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An early introduction to research with a team that’s dedicated to your success.

Interdisciplinary Environment

Cross-disciplinary approaches foster innovation. Experience our unique learning and research ecosystems.

Comprehensive Mentorship & Support

Comprehensive mentoring is a cornerstone of the Duke ECE PhD experience. Once admitted, we help you assemble your Advising Team. Your team will include your research adviser, your departmental adviser, the director of graduate studies, a five-member dissertation committee, and the department chair.

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The information below is a summary of the formal degree requirements for the PhD in ECE.

Requirements Overview

• Complete approved courses for PhD degree
• Complete  Responsible Conduct of Research  (RCR) training
• Complete the Qualifying Examination (QE)
• Establish and meet with a Supervisory Committee
• Complete the Preliminary Examination
• Complete two Teaching Assistantship assignments
• Prepare and defend a dissertation [ dissertation guidelines ]
• Complete the  Final Examination

For students  matriculating with a bachelor’s degree , a minimum of 10 courses are required, as follows:

• Six graduate-level courses in ECE (500-level or higher)
• Two approved graduate-level technical electives (500-level or higher, technical in nature, and chosen to provide a coherent program of study)
• Two approved electives (chosen to provide a coherent program of study)

For students  matriculating with a master’s degree from another institution , a minimum of five (5) courses are required, as follows:

• Three graduate-level courses in ECE (500-level or higher)
• One approved graduate-level technical elective (500-level or higher, technical in nature, and chosen to provide a coherent program of study)
• One approved elective (chosen to provide a coherent program of study)

A program of study detailing the planned/completed coursework must be approved at the Qualifying Exam (bring to exam with advisor’s signature) and Preliminary Exam stages of the PhD.

Access the  ECE PhD Program of Study

Important Notes:

• Courses must be worth 3 (or more) graduate semester hours
• Courses must be graded (Credit/No Credit or audited courses may not count toward the Program of Study)
• ECE 899 Independent Study can be used to satisfy only the Approved Elective requirement
• Undergraduate Courses (numbered 499 or lower) require DGS and Graduate School permission for enrollment and may have special restrictions
• Overall Program of Study must indicate adequate breadth, including some courses distinctly outside student’s main curricular area and research topic
• Course selection must be formally approved by a student’s adviser and the DGS through the submission and approval of a Program of Study (Qualifying Exam committee approves the first draft version as part of the exam process)
• Student must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to remain in good standing and to graduate

Qualifying Examination

The purpose of the Qualifying Exam is to assess the potential to succeed in the PhD program by having students demonstrate:

• Reading and deeply understanding three selected papers in the field
• Understanding the strengths and shortcomings of the three papers
• Understanding why the particular problem space defined by the three papers is important
• Generating sound research ideas based on the strengths and shortcomings of the three papers
• Writing and presenting information supporting the points above

Qualifying Exam Details

• Qualifying Exam Guidelines
• QE Student Procedural Guidelines (step-by-step how-to document)
• QE Details Approval/Submission Form

Supervisory Committee

The supervisory committee is formed in preparation for the preliminary examination and must consist of at least five members (including the student’s advisor), at least three of which must be graduate ECE faculty members.

In addition, as required by The Graduate School, at least one (1) member of the committee must be from either another department or a clearly separate field of study within the Duke ECE Department. Committees are proposed using the  Committee Approval Form .

Note:  While the Graduate School’s Committee Approval Form lists a minimum of four (4) committee members, the ECE Department requires five (5) committee members.

Teaching Assistantship

All PhD students must complete two semesters of a Teaching Assistantship (TA) prior to graduation. We provide training before you enter an undergraduate classroom for the first time.

The student is expected to complete this requirement sometime during his or her third through the eighth semester. Teaching Assistantships will be assigned by the DGS based on the background and interests of the student and the current department needs.

Teaching Assistantships are expected to require 10 hours per week on average and may involve such activities as organizing and leading discussion sections, grading homework and quizzes, assisting in the development of course materials, supervising laboratory sessions and so forth.

TA training information »

Preliminary Examination

The preliminary examination, which must be completed by the end of academic year three, consists of (1) a written dissertation research proposal and 2) an oral presentation and defense of this proposal to an approved five-member faculty committee.

The written dissertation research proposal should consist of a 10-page (maximum) report plus appendices providing additional supporting information as well as an anticipated timeline for completion of all PhD degree requirements.

The oral presentation, approximately 45 minutes with extra time allotted for questions posed by the committee throughout and after the presentation, should reflect the contents of the report.

• Preliminary Exam Description
• Preliminary Exam Student Procedural Guidelines
• Graduate School PhD Committee Approval Form
• Preliminary Exam Details Form
• Preliminary Exam Outcome Form
• Preliminary Exam Rubric

Final Examination

The student must follow the Graduate School’s guidelines for submitting the dissertation and scheduling the Final Examination, including submitting the departmental defense announcement to the ECE Graduate Office and uploading the dissertation at least two weeks prior to the defense.

• Final Exam Student Procedural Guidelines
• Graduate School Guide for Electronic Submission of Theses and Dissertations
• Graduate School PhD Committee Change Form
• Final Exam Details Form
• Departmental Defense Announcement

Note:  Details concerning important dates and deadlines, filing of intention to graduate, committee approval, and additional details may be found in the  Graduate Bulletin .

PhD Contacts

Angela Chanh, M.Ed.

Assistant Director of Graduate Studies

Michael E. Gehm

Director of Graduate Studies, Professor of ECE

Kevyn Light

Senior Program Coordinator

Graduate Program Coordinator

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Graduate Program

Graduate Anthropology Program Overview

Anthropology has been taught at the University of Oklahoma since 1905 and became its own department in 1927. Celebrated faculty like Morris Opler and Robert Bell established the Department as a leader in the scholarly study of Native North America. In addition to a continued focus on Native North America with research specilizations in the southwest, southeast, and plains of North America, the Department maintains a stong emphasis on Latin America, complemented by individual faculty interests in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Graduate students receive rigorous training in the four sub-fields of anthropology: sociocultural, archaeological, biological, and linguistic.  

With twenty-seven full-time professors and about fifty graduate students, graduate students receive personalized attention from faculty mentors while benefitting from the resources of a large research university. The program pages below detail specific relationships and opportunities at internal and external institutions. Our graduates have been successful in securing tenure-track academic jobs as well as positions in cultural resource management, museums, and government agencies.  Individual faculty  are happy to provide more information on their research and on the anthropology graduate program as it relates to your subdiscipline of interest.

Financial support usually consists of half-time graduate assistantships, typically as a grader for an undergraduate class or research assistant for a faculty member. Ph.D. and advanced M.A. students may teach their own classes with opportunities for both in-person and online formats. We fund M.A. students for a maximum of two years and doctoral students for a maximum of four years beyond the M.A. degree. Our students have also been successful in obtaining external funding. For information on tuition and fees, visit the  Bursar's Office .

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Degrees & Courses

We offer an M.A. in Anthropology, an M.A. in Anthropology with a concentration in Linguistics, an M.A. in Anthropology with a concentration in Socio-Cultural Anthropology, an M.A. in Applied Medical Anthropology (non-thesis) and an accelerated BA in Anthropology/MA in Anthropology with a concentration in Socio-Cultural Anthropology. We currently offer a PhD in Anthropology with concentrations in Archaeology, Socio-Cultural Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Human Health and Biology (HHB). Archaeology concentration students without an M.A. and HHB students applying on an M.A. terminal track or as a precursor to a Ph.D. in HHB degree should apply to the M.A. in Anthropology.

  Graduate Degrees

  Graduate Courses

Graduate Student Handbook

The Anthropology Graduate Student Handbook is an invaluable tool for MA and PhD students and their advisors, as well as prospective students. It provides a helpful roadmap for the details and requirements of each degree program.

Anthropology Graduate Student Handbook (pdf)

Graduate Program Requirements

Required courses, [# hours]; total = 30 credit hours

A student must take ANTH 5001 Professionalization in Anthropology [1 credit]

• ANTH 5223 Foundations of Social Thought (core) [3 credits]
• ANTH 5363 Linguistic Anthropology (core) [3 credits]
• ANTH 6633 Theory and Method in Biological Anthropology (core) [3 credits]
• ANTH 6713 Archaeological Theory (core) [3 credits]
• Electives as approved by the Graduate Liaison and Advisor [15-18 credits]
• Thesis [2-5 credits]

The M.A. in Anthropology requires 30 credit hours, including three core classes, elective seminars, and 2-5 hours of thesis credits. Please see the OU course catalog for a list of anthropology courses.

Anthropology Current & Upcoming Courses

Graduate College Bulletin

MA Anthropology Degree Checksheet

Candidacy and Committee Requirements

Admission to candidacy is required the term before a student expects to defend their thesis (the first Monday in October for Spring graduation; the first Monday in April for Fall graduation). Anthropology has specific candidacy forms available at the Graduate College website .

M.A. committees are composed of three members of the graduate faculty in the Department of Anthropology. Please work with relevant faculty to determine an appropriate committee, keeping in mind that there may be specific limitations you need to consider in forming your committee. When you file a list of your committee members with the department's Graduate Liaison, be sure to verify that any specific limitations have been met.

Required courses, [# hours]; minimum total = 30 credit hours

A student must complete these two core classes in Socio-Cultural Anthropology, and receive at least a B:

• ANTH 5123 Contemporary Culture Theory [3 credits]
• ANTH 5223 Foundations of Social Thought [3 credits]

A student also must take one of the following core classes. Usually the Linguistics core is recommended, but the decision about which core class to take should be done in consultation with the student's Advisor. A minimum of a B is required:

• ANTH 5363 Linguistic Anthropology [3 credits]
• ANTH 6633 Method and Theory in Biological Anthropology 3 credits]
• ANTH 6713 Archaeological Theory [3 credits]

A student must complete one of the Research Methods courses:

• ANTH 5153 Ethnography of Communication [3 credits]
• ANTH 5213 Ethnographic Methods [3 credits]
• ANTH 5253 The Anthropology of Communities [3 credits]
• ANTH 5433 Ethnographic Writing [3 credits]
• ANTH 5513 Applying Anthropology to Contemporary Social Problems [3 credits]

Finally, the student must take

• Electives as approved by the Graduate Liaison and Advisor [12-15 credits]

The M.A. in Anthropology with a Concentration in Socio-Cultural Anthropology requires 30 credit hours, including three core classes, a Research Methods class, elective seminars, and 2-5 hours of thesis credits. Please see the OU course catalog for a list of anthropology courses. If you would like to view this specific Degree Sheet, you can find it below. 

MA Sociocultural Anthropology Degree Sheet

The accelerated Anthropology B.A. + M.A. in Sociocultural Anthropology is designed for academically successful undergraduate anthropology majors with an interest in sociocultural anthropology. The combined B.A. + M.A. degrees are designed to be finished in five years, with undergraduate coursework completed at the end of year three of the program. Students accepted into the program begin taking graduate-level coursework during their senior year. Requirements for the B.A. are the same as those of the standard B.A. in Anthropology, with 13 “shared” hours counting towards both the B.A. and M.A. degree requirements. The M.A. degree includes a thesis, giving students an opportunity to conduct original in-depth research.

Required courses, [# hours]; total = 137 credit hours (combined degree)

13 shared hours count as both Graduate and Upper-Division credit. 

Undergraduate Major Requirements (Anthropology coursework) [36 credits total]

Some courses required for the major may also fulfill University General Education and/or Dodge College of Arts & Sciences Requirements.

o   ANTH 2203 Global Cultural Diversity [3 credits]

o   ANTH 2303 General Linguistics [3 credits]

o   ANTH 3113 Principles of Archaeology [3 credits]

o   ANTH 3203 Introduction to Biological Anthropology [3 credits]

o   ANTH 3011 Anthropology Cornerstone I: Introduction to the Major [1 credit]

o   ANTH 3021 Anthropology Cornerstone II: Research and Writing [1 credit]

o   ANTH 3031 Anthropology Cornerstone III: Professionalization [1 credit]

o   ANTH 4113 Anthropology Capstone [3 credits]

o   Anthropology Electives [18 credits]

Graduate Requirements [30 credits total]

All students must take the following core courses, and receive at least a B:

o   ANTH 5001 Professionalization in Anthropology (shared) [1 credit]

o   ANTH 5123 Contemporary Culture Theory (shared) [3 credits]

o   ANTH 5223 Foundations of Social Thought (shared) [3 credits]

o   ANTH 5363 Linguistic Anthropology [3 credits]

o   ANTH 6633 Method and Theory in Biological Anthropology [3 credits]

o   ANTH 6713 Archaeological Theory [3 credits]

Research Methods (3 required credit hours)

Choose from:

o   ANTH 5153 Ethnography of Communication [3 credits]

o   ANTH 5213 Ethnographic Methods [3 credits]

o   ANTH 5253 The Anthropology of Communities [3 credits]

o   ANTH 5433 Ethnographic Writing [3 credits]

o   ANTH 5513 Applying Anthropology to Contemporary Social Problems [3 credits]

Thesis (2-5 credits required)

o   ANTH 5980 Research for Master’s Thesis [2-5 credits]

Electives (12-15 hours required)

Electives coursework is selected in consultation with the student's advisor and committee. No more than 6 hours from outside Anthropology may be applied. (3 hours shared)

Please see the OU course catalog for a list of anthropology courses. If you would like to view this specific Degree Sheet, you can find it below.

BA+MA Sociocultural Anthropology Degree Sheet

• ANTH 5001 Professionalization in Anthropology [1 credit]
• ANTH 5053 Morphology [3 credits]
• ANTH 5153 Ethnography of Communications [3 credits]
• ANTH 5363 Linguistic Anthropology [3 credits] and receive at least a B.
• ANTH 5980 Research for Master's Thesis [2-5 credits]

The M.A. in Linguistic Anthropology requires 30 credit hours, including four required classes, 15-18 hours of elective seminar credits, and 2-5 hours of thesis credits. Please see the OU course catalog for a list of anthropology courses. Please consult the Graduate Bulletin, which is updated annually on the Graduate College website, for more general requirements and limitations. If you would like to view this specific Degree Sheet, you can find it below.

MA Linguistic Anthropology Degree Sheet

* This program is Non-Thesis only

Required courses, [# hours]; total = 34 credit hours

A student must take the following Core classes in Anthropology, and receive at least a B:

• ANTH 5123 Contemporary Culture Theory [3 credits] 
• ANTH 5223 Foundations of Social Thought [3 credits] 
• ANTH 6633 Method and Theory in Biological Anthropology [3 credits] 
• ANTH 6843 Foundations of Bio and Medical Anthropology [3 credits] 
• Or an alternative as approved by the student's Chair and Committee [3 credits]

A student must also take one of the following Ethnographic Methods courses:

• ANTH 5213 Ethnographic Methods [3 credits]
• ANTH 5253 The Anthropology of Communities [3 credits]

A student must complete one of the following Statistical Methods courses:

• ANTH 4713 Statistical Concepts in Anthropology (taken for Graduate Credit) [3 credits]
• BSE 5163 Biostatistical Methods I (HSC course)
• HES 5963 Statistical Applications in Health and Exercise Science [3 credits]
• SOC 5283 Fundamentals of Sociological Statistics [3 credits]
• Or alternative as approved by the student's Chair and Committee [3 credits]

A student must also complete one of the following Culture and Health courses:

• ANTH 5323 The Anthropology of Aging [3 credits]
• ANTH 5393 Anthropology and the Health of Indigenous People [3 credits]
• ANTH 5643 Psychiatric Anthropology [3 credits]
• ANTH 5823 Medical Anthropology [3 credits]

Finally, a student must complete each of the remaining courses:

• ANTH 5001 Professionalization in Anthropology [1 credit]
• ANTH 6310 Internship in Applied Medical Anthropology [6 credits]
• Elective coursework selected in consultation with the student's Chair and Committee [3 credits]

Please see the OU course catalog for a list of anthropology courses. Please consult the Graduate Bulletin, which is updated annually on the Graduate College website, for more general requirements and limitations. If you would like to view this specific Degree Sheet, you can find it below.

MA Applied Anthropology Degree Sheet

There are three tracks in the Ph.D. Program in Anthropology: Archaeology, Human Health and Biology, and Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology. Beyond the 30 credits required for the M.A. (including the core classes if they have not been previously taken), these tracks generally require an additional 30 hours of coursework and 30 hours of dissertation research. There are specific additional required courses within each track. Please see the lists below for a summary of this information.

General exams are to be completed in (or immediately following) the last term of formal coursework as detailed on the Advisory Committee Report. Following successful completion of the exams, students complete 30 hours of dissertation research credits.

Ph.D. committees must consist of at least three members of the graduate faculty in the Department of Anthropology (with one from outside the student’s primary subfield) and one faculty member from outside the Department but within the University. Please work with relevant faculty to determine an appropriate committee. There may be specific limitations you need to consider in forming your committee. When you file a list of your committee members with the department's Graduate Liaison, be sure to verify that any specific limitations have been met. Various forms are also available through the  Graduate College website .  A list of current and upcoming courses and individual degree checksheets can be found below.

Sociocultural and Linguistics Ph.D. 

Required courses, [# hours]; total = 90 credit hours

•  ANTH 5001 Professionalization in Anthropology [1 credit]
•  ANTH 5223 Foundations of Social Thought (core) [3 credits]
•  ANTH 5363 Linguistic Anthropology (core) [3 credits]
•  ANTH 6713 Archaeological Theory (core) [3 credits] OR ANTH 6633 Method and Theory in Biological Anthropology [3 credits]
• ANTH 6223 Community Engaged Anthropology [3 credits]
• ANTH 5433 Ethnographic Writing [3 credits]
• ANTH 5543 Research Design [3 credits]
• ANTH 6980 Dissertation [29 credits]

Convergence Area

• At least 9 hours must be taken in a convergent area outside of Anthropology as approved by the student's committee. [9 credits]

Choose one of the following sets of course options:

Sociocultural Anthropology

• ANTH 5213 Ethnographic Methods OR ANTH 5253 The Anthropology of Communities [3 credits]

Linguistic Anthropology

• ANTH 5153 Ethnography of Communication [3 credits]

Other Electives

• Electives as determined by student's committee [27 credits]

Sociocultural and Linguistics Ph.D Degree Checksheet

Archaeology Ph.D.

Required courses [# hours]; total = 90 credit hours

•  ANTH 5543 Research Design [3 credits]
•  ANTH 6713 Archaeological Theory (core) [3 credits]
•  ANTH 6633 Theory and Method in Biological Anthropology (core) [3 credits]
•  ANTH 6803 Advanced Archaeological Theory and Research [3 credits]
•  Electives as approved by the Graduate Liaison and Advisor (ANTH 5413 Public archaeology is strongly encouraged) [42 credits]
•  Dissertation [29 credits]

Archaeology Ph.D. Degree Sheet

Human Health and Biology Ph.D.

• ANTH 5223 Foundations of Social Thought (core) [3 credits] 
•  ANTH 6843 Theoretical Foundations of Biological and Medical Anthropology [3 credits]
•  Two Methods course selected from this list or at advisor’s discretion [6 credits]

Optional Methods classes include: ANTH 5083 Quantitative Methods in Anthropology, ANTH 5153 Ethnography of Communication, ANTH 5213 Ethnographic Methods, ANTH 5253 The Anthropology of Communities, ANTH 5343 Anthropological Demography, ANTH 5423 Introduction to Population Genetics, ANTH 5543 Research Design, ANTH 5593 Spatial Methods and Technologies in Anthropology, BSE 5013 Applications of Microcomputers to Data Analysis, BSE 5163 Biostatistics Methods I, BSE 5173 Biostatistics Methods II, BSE 5663 Analysis of Frequency Data, BSE 6643 Survival Data Analysis, COMM 5313 Qualitative Research Methods

•  Electives as approved by the Graduate Liaison and Advisor [25-39 credits]
•  Dissertation [29-43 credits]

Human Health and Biology Ph.D. Degree Checksheet

Funding and Awards

Graduate students in the Anthropology Department can apply for funding through multiple mechanisms. These are described below.

For information on tuition and fees, you may use the Office of the Bursar tuition estimator . Also, please let the department's Graduate Liaison know if you are a McNair scholar , as the deadline for McNair applicants is earlier than OU's general deadline for applications to the graduate program. For general inquiries about financial aid, please visit the website of OU's Financial Aid Office .

Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships

The department offers multiple graduate teaching assistantships (GTAships). These are semester-long appointments at 20 hours a week. Some GTAs support faculty who teach large courses; others teach online or face-to-face classes. GTAships are awarded competitively using information from the graduate applications and annual evaluations. The tuition waivers that accompany graduate assistantship awards are described here .

Please contact individual faculty members about the potential for grant funded research assistantships.

Research and Travel Awards

The Anthropology Department offers several awards for graduate student research and travel. These are awarded competitively, with applications due on October 1 and March 1 annually . To apply, download and fill out the Anthropology Scholarship Form. Students can use those funds to support travel that has already occurred. More information about these awards is given below. We expect students who apply for departmental research and travel funds to also apply for funds from one of the following: the Graduate College , the Graduate Student Senate , and/or the College of Arts and Sciences .

Examples of travel or research for which students may apply for support include:

• Travel to present research at a conference;
• Funds for a significant component of a research project, for example, travel or material expenses 
• Funds to seed research or collect pilot data 

Awardees must work with the department staff assistant before any travel is arranged to be certain that university requirements are met.

Morris E. Opler Memorial Scholarships

Graduate students may apply for an Opler scholarship. Lucille Ritter Opler established this endowed fund in memory of her husband, Dr. Morris E. Opler, to provide scholarships to deserving anthropology students at the University of Oklahoma. Morris Opler was a leading scholar of Native North America. A specialist on Apachean people, he authored numerous articles in scholarly journals and wrote several books on the culture and history of the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, and Plains Apache (Kiowa Apache). Dr. Opler was a member of the University of Oklahoma Department of Anthropology faculty for nearly two decades, having served here after a distinguished teaching and research career at Cornell University. Much respected for his knowledge and teaching ability, he retired as Professor Emeritus from the University of Oklahoma in 1977 and passed away in 1996. Among his many honors, Dr. Opler was past President of the American Anthropological Association.

Rain Vehik Award

The Rain Vehik Memorial Fund honors archaeologist Dr. Rain Vehik. Dr. Vehik had a long and productive career in Plains archaeology that included positions at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, the University of North Dakota, and in Oklahoma. In Oklahoma, he served as head of the Archaeological Research and Management Center, worked with the Oklahoma Archeological Survey, and taught for the OU Department of Anthropology. The Rain Vehik Award offers funds to students to participate in scholarly conferences and workshops. Higher priority is given to students attending the annual Plains Anthropological Conference. This award is open to both graduate and undergraduate students. Each student is eligible for only one award per academic year.

Gilman-Minnis Scholarship in Archaeology

The Gilman-Minnis Scholarship in Archaeology was estalished by Dr. Patricia Gilman and Dr. Paul Minnis. Drs. Gilman and Minnis were faculty in the OU Department of Anthropology for many years, retiring in 2015. This scholarship offers funds to support archaeology graduate students' research projects. Typically, these funds are awarded only in the spring.

Anthropology Graduate Student Association (AGSA)

AGSA (pronounced /ægsə/) brings together Anthropology graduate students for the purpose of aiding in their professional development within the discipline. AGSA's Speakers Bureau invites scholars to give public lectures related to the interests of the department and conducts fundraisers to be able to afford these events. AGSA also coordinates professional development workshops with graduate students and faculty on topics of interest to current graduate students.  To learn more about current graduate students in Anthropology at OU, the organization, and events check out the AGSA website .  If you have any questions about AGSA, please e-mail one of our officers.

Applying to the Anthropology Graduate Program

The Anthropology department welcomes applications from students with bachelor’s degrees in any field. However, we encourage applicants to gain exposure to all of the subfields of anthropology . Students with a master’s degree from another institution may transfer up to 30 credit hours toward a Ph.D. degree. Students are encouraged to use the Office of the Bursar tuition and fee estimator for cost information. Applicants are not required to take the GRE. If you have taken it, please do not send us your scores, as they will be redacted from your application. Please contact the Graduate Liaison, Matthew Pailes ( [email protected] ), with any questions concerning this. Most important in the decisions for admission are the undergraduate transcript, the statement of purpose, and the two letters of recommendation. The department requires a single writing sample, which needs to be sole authored by the applicant. This could be an essay, term paper, seminar paper, thesis, or article, and should be related to anthropology or associated field.

Faculty look for an appropriate fit between the applicants’ intellectual interests and the research strengths of the department. To that end, we require that applicants contact potential faculty advisors before submitting their completed applications. 

Not all faculty members can chair graduate student committees. Graduate students (current and applying) should check faculty members' Graduate Faculty Appointment Status and adhere to Graduate College and department guidelines when assembling their committees.

The University of Oklahoma uses an integrated electronic application, available here , for its graduate programs. The Department admits applicants once a year to start in the Fall Term. Our next deadline is December 15, 2023. If you are a McNair scholar, please let us know promptly, as the deadline for McNair applicants is earlier than the OU graduate deadline.

Direct any questions to the  Graduate Liaison .

To apply to the graduate program, please visit the Graduate College webpage:

Graduate Degree Application  

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