phd in cultural anthropology

Anthropology

Ph.d. program.

• Graduate Studies

The graduate program in Brown’s anthropology department encourages a diversity of doctoral research agendas in socio-cultural anthropology, anthropological archaeology, and linguistic anthropology.

Our program balances a rigorous curriculum of core classes with more specialized training in advanced courses. Our graduate seminars and independent study courses provide an engaging and rigorous tutorial approach to training. Graduate courses offered this academic year are listed on  Courses@Brown .

Brown’s graduate program is primarily PhD granting; students are not admitted to the department solely to seek a Master’s degree. Doctoral students complete requirements for a Master’s degree during their course of study, as well as additional requirements described below.

Degree Requirements

Generally awarded as part of the overall requirements for a Ph.D.

Four core courses

• ANTH2010: Principles of Cultural Anthropology
• ANTH 2020: Methods of Anthropological Research (or equivalent)
• ANTH 2501: Principles of Archaeology
• ANTH 2800: Linguistic Theory and Practice
• Four approved electives
• A Master’s Thesis
• 12 additional elective courses beyond the 8 required for the Master’s Degree (or the fulfillment of equivalent through coursework at another university) 
• Preliminary examinations in three topics
• One year of teaching experience, usually as a teaching assistant
• Approved research proposal for doctoral research
• Foreign language requirement (if required by the candidate’s doctoral committee)
• Dissertation, based on independent field research

More detailed information about the program, including a general outline of the timeline for completing the program, can be found in the  Anthropology Graduate Handbook . 

Specialized Ph.D. Tracks

They choose a topic within Anthropological Demography as one of their preliminary examination topics, participate in the activities of the Working Group in Anthropology and Population, and attend the regular colloquia of the Population Studies and Training Center (PSTC). PSTC also has a set of requirements trainees must meet. Special fellowships are available to students in this program.

More information @ PSTC

The program offers specialized courses, funds field-based research, provides fellowships, hosts visiting faculty, and promotes collaborative research initiatives with partner institutions in the global south. The program builds on a core group of faculty internationally renowned for their research and scholarship in the area of development and inequality. Program activities are open to all PhD students at Brown. All trainees and fellows are eligible for summer fieldwork research grants.

More information @ Watson

Medical anthropology is a subfield of anthropology that seeks to understand human experiences of health, illness, and suffering. Medical anthropologists study topics such as global health, local health systems, indigenous medicine, violence and trauma, disability and the body, gender and sexuality, biotechnology, bioethics, and social suffering. Brown’s PhD program offers an array of opportunities for students seeking specialized training in medical anthropology. Brown’s anthropology faculty are actively engaged in researching a wide variety of topics within the subfield of medical anthropology, including HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, mental illness, reproductive health, gender and sexuality, violence and trauma, biotechnology, language and medicine, anthropology of drugs, and bio-archaeology.

For more information, contact  Professor Daniel J. Smith or  Professor Katherine A. Mason.

Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology

General info.

• Faculty working with students: 15
• Students: 18
• Students receiving Financial Aid: 100% for 5 years
• Part time study available: No
• Application terms: Fall
• Application deadline: December 5

Rebecca Stein Director of Graduate Studies Department of Cultural Anthropology Duke University Box 90091 Durham, NC 27708-0091

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (919) 684-4663 (Director of Graduate Studies Assistant: Jason Woerner)

Website:  http://culturalanthropology.duke.edu/

Program Description

The graduate program in Cultural Anthropology aims to provide students with a thorough grounding in both current theory and methods of research. Issues that concern the faculty include transnational and national processes; political economy and history; identity and ethnicity; popular culture, the media and advertising; culture and the individual; religion; public health; aesthetics; class, gender, and race relations; and environment and ecology. The program as a whole takes a comparative perspective that encourages field research in diverse societies, including the contemporary United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and the African Diaspora, South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Interdisciplinary work in other departments and programs is encouraged. 

• Cultural Anthropology: PhD Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
• Cultural Anthropology: PhD Completion Rate Statistics
• Cultural Anthropology: PhD Time to Degree Statistics
• Cultural Anthropology: PhD Career Outcomes Statistics

Application Information

Application Terms Available:  Fall

Application Deadline:  December 5

Graduate School Application Requirements See the Application Instructions page for important details about each Graduate School requirement.

• Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts required with application submission; official transcripts required upon admission
• Letters of Recommendation: 3 Required
• Statement of Purpose: Required (see department guidance below)
• Résumé: Required
• GRE Scores: GRE General (Optional)
• English Language Exam: TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test required* for applicants whose first language is not English *test waiver may apply for some applicants
• GPA: Undergraduate GPA calculated on 4.0 scale required  

Department-Specific Application Requirements (submitted through online application)

Statement of Purpose Guidelines The statement of purpose is an especially important part of the application because it gives applicants a chance to describe their research interests. There is no single way to write a good statement of purpose. However, you can download some sample statements of purpose (below) from a few successful applicants.

At the beginning of the statement of purpose, applicants must also list three keywords best describing their research interests and geographical area of study (for example: Mass Media, Indigenous Rights, Latin America). 

Download Sample Statements of Purpose  (doc - 70 KB)

Writing Sample Applicants must upload a roughly 10-20 page sample of relatively recent written work via the online application portal.

We strongly encourage you to review additional department-specific application guidance from the program to which you are applying: Departmental Application Guidance

List of Graduate School Programs and Degrees

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CollegeRank.net

Best College Rankings

30 Best PhD Programs Cultural Anthropology

Quick Highlights:

• Our #1 ranked school for a PhD in cultural anthropology is  University of Washington , followed by  Ohio State University .
• Ph.D. programs in cultural anthropology prepare students for diverse careers in academia , research, and applied fields.
• Specializations within these programs may include archaeology, sociocultural, and biological anthropology .
• Practical experiences, such as fieldwork and internships, complement the rigorous coursework .

The best Ph.D. in cultural anthropology can set you up for a lifelong career that has both excellent growth prospects and high earning potential, while also leaving you open to countless opportunities in a broad range of different fields. 

Cultural anthropology is a broad field of study that can lead to many different career paths. Let’s face it: the world is changing rapidly, and the anthropology field is also constantly expanding and looking for qualified experts. As a student who specializes in the development and movement of past and present human communities, you’ll be ready to take on leading roles in this dynamic industry.

Other popular roles include those based in the community, such as a career as a social worker. 

For graduate students whose specialization leans more greatly towards archaeology, you may find work curating and constructing exhibitions or directing the conservation of natural land or artifacts.

Alternatively, you could be designing educational programs. Other graduates find work in speech and language therapy, using their background in linguistic anthropology to understand and treat speech problems. 

Related (Campus):

• Best Bachelor’s in Public Administration Degrees
• Top Bachelor’s of Social Science
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• Top Bachelor’s Degrees in Public Policy
• Best Colleges for Sociology Bachelor’s

Related (Online):

• Best Online Anthropology Programs Bachelor’s
• Top Online Bachelor’s of Social Science

What Are the Best PhD Cultural Anthropology Degrees?

At CollegeRank , we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals. Please feel free to visit our dedicated methodology page for a step-by-step breakdown. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

University of Washington

Seattle, Washington

Average Net Price

Recently ranked at number 25 in a recent ranking of the world’s top academic universities, the University of Washington is home to over 50,000 students annually. With campuses based in Bothell, Tacoma, and Seattle, over 12,000 degrees at every level are conferred each year. 

At the University of Washington, you’ll be able to pursue a doctoral program in one of three concentrations, including:

• archaeology
• biological anthropology
• sociocultural anthropology

Each of these top anthropology graduate programs has its own set of requirements and admission criteria; for more information on each respective program, you can visit the above links to see the program page. 

As part of your graduate program, you also have the option of pairing additional courses or concentrations to enhance your experience and future employability. These include:

• a specialization in medical anthropology and global health
• a concentration in the area of statistics
• one of several graduate certificates in areas that include feminist studies, global health, or public scholarship. 

Resident tuition at the University of Washington costs $11,745 for state residents, while non-residents pay around $39,114. Housing and food costs vary from $4,458 to $17,316 depending on your living situation. This makes for a total annual cost of around $20,106 to $33,597 for residents and between $47,475 and $60,966 for non-residents.

Ohio State University

Columbus, Ohio

Established in 1870, Ohio State University welcomed its first graduating class in 1878. Today, the institution regularly ranks highly in numerous areas. Two of  these rankings are the top university among Ohio public institutions and the best choice for online undergraduate programs ( U.S. News & World Report ). 

The Ohio State University’s anthropology department includes 19 faculty who are actively contributing towards research projects in the fields of biological and cultural anthropology and archaeology. The graduate program heavily emphasizes thorough training to enforce theoretical concepts, in addition to training you in the use of modern methodologies that are designed to drive the discipline forward. 

As part of this cultural anthropology program, you will have the opportunity to work with these faculty members within established sites throughout the world. This could include working directly with communities across the globe and even primate communities. This could also include studying subject areas that include:

• Life history theory
• Human migration
• Political ecology

Tuition for graduate studies at Ohio State University is charged on a per-credit-hour basis. Each credit hour costs $755.50, with an additional $25.50 general fee per credit. These fees are for students who are also state residents; non-residents pay an additional surcharge of $1,622.56 per credit hour.

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

Students at the University of Arizona are known as ‘Wildcats’ and benefit from an education that comes from a highly regarded institution. The U.S. News & World Report recently ranked the University of Arizona as one of the top 40 public universities in the nation. UArizona also takes the 11th position for providing the best online bachelor’s degrees. 

Graduate students choosing this program will earn a Ph.D. in anthropology and linguistics (ANLI), which requires a solid educational background in both subject areas. You will study language in a social context, utilizing the university’s longstanding resources at the Department of Linguistics and School of Anthropology. As part of your application, you’ll need to explain how your prior experience and future interests align with these departments. 

Studying at the main university campus in Tucson, you’ll be based at the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences. Your core courses will cover areas such as:

• Psycholinguistics

These areas will prepare you for careers in fields such as teaching and research. 

For graduate programs at the University of Arizona, the average tuition costs including fees are around $13,200 for state residents or $39,600 for non-residents. For an accurate estimation of the tuition and fees you’re likely to pay for your program, you can use the university’s tuition calculator on their website.

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York

Outside of the classroom at UB, students have a wealth of opportunities. There are more than 600 clubs and organizations to participate in, in addition to a Division I athletics program. The campus also regularly hosts concerts and guest speakers who are experts in their respective fields. 

The University at Buffalo’s Ph.D. in anthropology combines specialized instruction in both teaching and research, including numerous field projects designed to give you hands-on experience. The graduate program includes a total of 72 credit hours of coursework, and you will also regularly participate in material and technical laboratory work. 

Your first year of study will focus mostly on coursework, requiring you to complete six mandatory courses in addition to a minimum of one course in each subdiscipline chosen. At the end of your second year of study, you’ll have completed a further eight courses of your choosing, as well as completed a research paper that applies the research skills you’ve gained from the program. 

Full-time graduate students pursuing a PhD program who are also residents of the state will pay around $10,526 per semester in tuition and fees. For non-residents, this total rises to around $28,196 per semester. There are, of course, additional fees for medical insurance, meal plans, and housing, which you can find via the links on this page. 

University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Founded in 1851, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus—part of the University of Minnesota System—welcomes around 50,000 students annually. Currently, nearly half a million living alumni call the University of Minnesota home.

Sitting on the banks of the Mississippi River, it is one of only five institutions in the country to have dedicated schools for engineering, medical, law, veterinary, and agricultural programs within a single campus. 

This Ph.D. in anthropology has three core areas of focus:

• Archaeology
• Biological anthropology
• Sociocultural anthropology

For admission into the program, you do not need to have a master’s degree, making this a particularly strong choice for those coming from a non-traditional educational background (provided that you have completed a bachelor’s degree program). 

The program comprises 36 academic credits and 24 thesis credits in total. You may also apply to transfer up to 12 graduate credits from an institution at which you have studied previously. For a more detailed description of the key study areas and the courses you can expect to take, check out the university’s program page. 

Graduate tuition varies based on your college of education or program. For students pursuing this Ph.D. in anthropology, the general graduate rate applies. As a resident, your annual costs including tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses will come to around $33,848. As a non-resident, this figure rises to around $54,588.

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University (TXST) calls its students Bobcats. Texas State Bobcats  have access to over 400 student groups in the arts, academic areas, and social scenes. But that’s not all; students also participate in a Bobcat Build event, which is a student-led community service project taking place every year.

Texas State University offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) major in applied anthropology through the Department of Anthropology. It’s a graduate program that closely examines subjects areas such as:

• Intercultural communication
• Grant writing
• Project management
• Data collection

Thus, graduates have many opportunities available to them outside of research and teaching, including a career as a project manager, for example. 

Your program’s requirements will heavily revolve around research techniques and theory and professionalism. You’ll be well-versed in utilizing modern tools for researching topics in-depth, understanding historical and contemporary theory in anthropology, and applying key skills such as ethical decision making and leadership.

Upon acceptance into this program, you will also be designated a dissertation advisor for guided study. Tuition and fees at Texas State University vary from program to program, but the average cost of tuition for a graduate resident is around $357.36 per credit hour. For non-residents, tuition is around $765.36  per credit hour. Various other fees apply, which you can find detailed here.

University of Illinois

Champaign, Illinois

Founded in 1867, the University of Illinois welcomes almost 50,000 students annually from over 100 countries around the world. According to the university website, this institution has also seen 29 Pulitzer Prize winners among its alumni, in addition to being ranked in the top 15 public universities in the nation. 

This Ph.D. in anthropology requires a minimum of 96 hours’ worth of graduate credit to complete, of which 64 hours must be completed at the Urbana-Champaign campus. Additionally, students do not need to have completed a master’s degree to be eligible. 

As part of this program, you will however be expected to take a two-semester course called An Introduction to Illinois Anthropology. This course provides an essential foundation and introduction to the discipline. You will also be expected to show a high degree of proficiency in one foreign language or ordinary proficiency in two. 

Your tuition at the University of Illinois can vary for graduate studies depending on the program you’ve enrolled in. However, the Ph.D. in anthropology is charged at the base graduate rate. For residents of Illinois, the base tuition rate stands at around $15,150 annually, or $32,600 for non-residents and international students. 

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

The University of Iowa was founded in 1847, which makes it Iowa’s longest-standing institution of higher education. Located close to the Iowa River, more than 30,000 students enroll annually. It has also been named on national rankings, including having 12 graduate programs that rank within the top 10 in their field nationally. 

In addition to gaining a strong foundation and broad, in-depth knowledge of the field of anthropology, this doctoral program involves specialized training in one or more of the subject’s key concentrations. What’s more, if you studied anthropology or similar at the master’s degree level, the faculty will develop a custom program for you based on your previous experience and coursework. 

As part of this degree, you’ll develop an annual portfolio that demonstrates how your knowledge, competencies, and research skills are progressing throughout your studies. You’ll also write and defend a dissertation prospectus, plus two extensive exam essays as part of the assessment process. To successfully graduate from the program, you’ll also be expected to conduct your own anthropological research project. 

Graduate tuition is charged at around $12,065 annually for residents or $31,012 for non-residents. Housing and meals cost $14,744, and books and supplies $650, regardless of residency. This makes for a total annual cost of around $27,459 or $46,406 respectively, excluding personal and transportation expenses.

The University of Texas at San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas

With an annual attendance of around 32,000 students, The University of Texas at San Antonio is the largest university in the San Antonio metropolitan region. Four campuses are spread across the state, including:

• The Main Campus
• Downtown Campus
• Hemisfair Campus
• Park West Campus

Through this program, you’ll gain specialized training in applying theory and research into practice, solving the environmental crises facing our modern world. As a student of environmental anthropology, you’ll study topics such as:

• Power relations
• The impact of socio-physical environments on both humans and primates
• How humans build and organize their environments

This doctoral degree in anthropology is led by a highly experienced faculty. Additionally,  specializations are broad and numerous, and you can read more about their expertise on the program page. It’s worth noting that many Ph.D. students are offered some degree of financial aid, and in addition all incoming Ph.D. applicants are automatically considered for teaching assistantships.

Graduate tuition at The University of Texas at San Antonio costs around $9,362 for residents of Texas or $27,310 for non-residents. To get a more accurate picture of your tuition and fees, you can download a comprehensive spreadsheet of tuition rates from the university’s website here.

Indiana University Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University Bloomington has one of the largest offerings of student recreation and engagement, with more than 750 student clubs and organizations for you to get involved with. For anthropology students, it’s also a great place to be; there are more than 380 study abroad programs available to choose from. 

This doctoral degree in anthropology offers a broad spectrum of study in all of the following anthropological subfields:

• Bioanthropology
• Linguistic anthropology
• Social-cultural anthropology

You will choose one of these areas of specialization, though you may also opt to take other courses or a minor within another field. 

Regardless of your specialization, you will be required to pass a qualifying examination as part of the foreign language requirement. During your studies, you will also be expected to participate in research and teaching activities to satisfy the requirements of the program. 

Locating up to date and comprehensive tuition and fees data for the University of Indiana Bloomington is difficult. However, they tend to be around average compared to the rest of the nation and below average compared to other universities within Indiana. You can use the tuition calculator on the university’s website for the most accurate picture of your tuition and fees.

Colorado State University

Fort Collins, Colorado

Colorado State University’s Department of Anthropology pledges to incorporate hands-on teaching and training into as many parts of the curriculum as possible. As such, there are three field schools linked to the department, which provide comprehensive instruction in three key areas:

• Cultural anthropology

This cultural anthropology PhD program is relatively new, having only been launched in 2018 at the Department of Anthropology. It was designed and taught by a faculty that specializes in three key fields of anthropology, in addition to both human and physical geography. 

The program curriculum will see students gaining knowledge that allows them to address important research questions. These questions apply to both anthropology and geography, apply modern geographic methods to fields of anthropology, and require critical analysis of the impact of place and space on the environment. 

Graduate tuition at Colorado State University is charged at $846.02 per credit hour for residents or $1,719.92 for non-residents. This useful comparative table on the university’s website gives you a full breakdown of tuition and associated fees for both residents and non-residents.

University of California, Irvine

Irvine, California

Since 1965, the University of California has been committed to enhancing lives through the provision of comprehensive academic programs and cutting-edge research. Today, students may choose from more than 150 majors and minors. The institution was recently named the number one university for “doing most for the American dream” by The New York Times . 

This PhD program focuses on both social and cultural anthropology, including a long-term period of independent fieldwork. More often than not, this fieldwork will take place outside of the United States. It may also require fluency in a foreign language, which is common for doctoral programs in anthropology. 

You’ll be supported by a strong faculty that will guide you in both theory and practice. Areas of expertise include legal, political, and economic anthropology and anthropology applied to medicine, science, and technology. However, the faculty are also open to innovative ideas and the ability to question existing or assumed theoretical methods.     

At the University of California Irvine, residents of the state will pay annual tuition of around $11,700 excluding fees. Non-residents pay a supplement of around $15,102.00, making for totals of $18,709 and $33,811 including all fees, respectively. A full breakdown of all expenses and fees is available from the university website.

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Founded in 1787 under the name Pittsburgh Academy, the University of Pittsburgh is a research university and a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). The AAU includes 63 universities within the United States that grant doctoral degrees. The University of Pittsburgh’s  writing program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation.  

This Ph.D. in anthropology requires around five years to complete and does not require a master’s degree for admission. With 72 credits of coursework, you will need to be fluent in at least one foreign language to be eligible for completion, in addition to completing written comprehensive examinations.

Upon admission into the program, you will be assigned a faculty advisor who will support you throughout your studies. This person will consult you on your choice of courses, in addition to providing guidance around your research activities and career aspirations. Your progress will be monitored throughout the program to best support you. 

The University of Pittsburgh has been ranked as the number one institution for value in all Pennsylvania universities and public colleges. To find detailed information about the graduate tuition rates and associated fees, you can use the tuition page on the university’s website, which breaks down expenses based on student type and residency.

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, New York

Located in Stony Brook, N.Y., Stony Brook University offers 209 graduate programs, with 59 doctoral programs among these. Founded in 1957, the university has over 25,000 students and 2,500 faculty members. There are also 20 NCAA Division I athletic programs, and many faculty members have earned prestigious awards in varied areas. 

This doctoral program in anthropological sciences is an interdisciplinary program that draws on the expertise of mixed faculties and resources from multiple departments, including:

• Anatomical sciences
• Ecology and evolution

You’ll be trained for varied careers in both teaching and research. It is one of the top-ranked anthropology programs in the U.S. according to the National Research Council. 

This program has been running for over 35 years since its inception in 1982. Students enrolled in the program will have access to a broad selection of state-of-the-art resources and laboratories, in addition to being assigned a dedicated, full-time graduate coordinator. For a full breakdown of the program’s four-year curriculum, you should consult this page on the university’s program website. 

The average tuition and fees for graduate programs at Stony Brook University is around $6.971 for residents of New York or $12,866 for non-residents and international students. According to the university’s website, U.S. News & World Report has ranked the university among the top 40 public universities within the nation for return on investment.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is located just five minutes away from Lake Michigan and just fifteen minutes from a vibrant downtown area. The institution has been nationally  recognized for its undergraduate research, while providing students numerous real-world opportunities to participate in internships and other preparative activities. 

This anthropology PhD program has been structured to provide students with a broad foundation in all areas of the discipline, including:

• Sociocultural
• Archaeological anthropology

However, there’s still scope for specialization in a particular discipline. It’s suited to students who want to pursue an academic career in the subject area, or students who want to apply anthropological concepts to their practice in another career. 

The program encourages cross-discipline research projects, with many students and faculty collaborating with other departments at the university, plus a number of other institutions across the nation and globe. You’ll undertake a dissertation while also being required to pass a number of preliminary examinations. 

Graduates who are residents of Wisconsin will pay around $12,220 tuition annually for a total of $27,046 including other fees and expenses. Illinois residents pay slightly more at around $32,396 in total. For other students, including those from other countries, this rises to around $40,476 annually. 

University of Tennessee Knoxville

Knoxville, Tennessee

Founded in 1794, The University of Tennessee Knoxville was the first public university to be founded west of the Appalachian Divide. It has been deemed as a place of high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and provides degree programs at every level of study. 

For admission into this graduate program, you’ll be required to hold an existing bachelor’s or master’s degree in anthropology; alternatively, a minor in anthropology will be sufficient provided that your degree is in a closely related field such as the sciences or social sciences, or geography. Your cumulative undergraduate or graduate GPA should also be above 3.3. 

As a student enrolled in this program, you will complete two semesters of full-time residence before you take your comprehensive doctoral examination. Minimum coursework requirements include the necessity to complete 48 credit hours if your previous college study was to an undergraduate level or 24 credit hours if you have a master’s degree. 

Graduate students at The University of Tennessee Knoxville can expect to pay around $13,380 as state residents or $31,798 as non-residents. For information on meal plans, housing, and other associated fees, you can check out the university’s one stop website here, or use the net price calculator.

University of Virginia

Charlottesville, Virginia

The University of Virginia dates back to 1819, having been founded by Thomas Jefferson. Today, it’s ranked as the second best value public university by Money Magazine (2020). It has also ranked within the top five national public universities according to U.S. News & World Report . 

This PhD program is designed to take your existing, foundation-level knowledge of anthropology and encourage you to develop your own personalized portfolio of research. By the end of the program, the intention is that you will contribute your own knowledge to the field through a combination of fieldwork, research activities, and writing. 

Your first year in the program will be almost entirely spent in understanding the necessary foundations in social theory. This foundation will be achieved through a number of elective courses that look at the history of the theory and contemporary discoveries. Year two involves collaborating closely with faculty members, and writing two essays to provide a critical analysis on the current state of the anthropology discipline. 

As a resident of Virginia, you’ll pay tuition of around $18,382 in your first three years of study, followed by around $5,728 in your fourth year. As a non-resident, these figures are $30,790 and $5,728 respectively. Additional fees include health insurance premiums and other expenses, which you can find more information on here. 

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Founded in the mid-1700s, the University of Pennsylvania enjoys low student-faculty ratios of just 6:1, thanks to its nearly 4,800-strong faculty. Student clubs and organizations number in the hundreds and provide a means to blow off steam between time spent in lectures.  

This graduate program in anthropology emphasizes the importance of independent research to a professional standard of competency in at least one subfield of anthropology. You’ll typically take around four units per term, with a requirement of at least twenty units—one unit per course—to complete the program. 

You’ll also be required to take the comprehensive examinations, a set of exams that you will undertake during the final week of May in your first year of study. Lasting for eight hours, these exams will test you on your first year courses and serve as a checkpoint for the second year of study. 

Many of the graduate school programs at Penn State are charged on a per credit hour basis, while others are charged at a flat rate. For an overview of the cost of attending the University of Pennsylvania, you can check out the university’s Graduate School of Education costs page here. 

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York City, New York

Located in New York City, Columbia University has close links with a huge array of resources that provide valuable experiences that can help boost your studies and employability after graduation. Founded in 1754, it is the longest standing institution of higher learning in New York State and the fifth oldest in the entire nation. 

Graduates of this anthropology PhD program commonly progress into teaching and research positions within universities. They also work within archaeological and museum positions. depending upon your career aspirations, you’ll have the choice of specializing in either archaeology or socio-cultural anthropology, while taking courses in other key subfields. 

Research facilities at this institution are extensive, including an archaeology laboratory. You’ll also benefit from the American Museum of Natural History, Museum of the American Indian, and numerous other well-known research hubs. These will both serve you in your completion of coursework and provide essential fieldwork experience. 

At Columbia University, the cost of graduate tuition is around is around $52,924. These categories include resident unit, extended residence, and matriculation and facilities. You can see a breakdown of these categories and what they mean here.

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

The first graduate to receive their Ph.D. from Harvard’s graduate department did so in 1873, with the institution quickly becoming known as one of the best institutions in the world. Truly, Harvard University is much coveted by prospective students across the globe. But it’s not all about academia; students benefit from a vast range of clubs and organizations, in addition to close links to Massachusetts. 

Students enrolled in this PhD anthropology program will focus on two subfields of the discipline: archaeology and social anthropology. Both of these specializations come with their own curriculums and set of examinations, with the department of anthropology also offering an MA in medical anthropology to interested students. 

More specifically, you’ll choose to specialize in one of the following areas:

• Archaeology of complex societies
• Archaeology of ethnicities and languages
• Archaeology, art, and religion
• Archaeology of human evolution
• Environmental archaeology / archaeological science

More information on each specialization can be found on the program page. Graduate school students are charged tuition based on a tiered system, which reduces over time throughout the program. For the first two years of your program, you’ll pay around $52,456. For the third and fourth years, you’ll pay around $13,638. A full breakdown of other expenses can be found on this website.

University of California, San Francisco

San Francisco, California

UC San Francisco is a leading institution for health service programs, with five Nobel laureates who have made significant contributions toward our understanding of major health conditions. According to U.S. News & World Report , the university’s programs and hospitals are regularly ranked among the top in the nation. 

This program sees collaboration between UCSF and UC Berkeley, combining one of the top medical universities in the nation and a leading arts and sciences institution. This dynamic combination provides a varied curriculum to Ph.D. students. You’ll study new and emerging concepts in medical anthropology, with no other programs offering such a unique curriculum. 

The faculty is highly experienced and will vary depending on your study location. The UC San Francisco campus comprises eight members of faculty from the university’s Department of Anthropology, History, and Social Medicine, whereas the UC Berkeley campus has an eight-strong faculty from the respective campus’ Anthropology Department.

State residents pay around $11,442.00 in tuition, while non-residents pay an additional $15,102.00. Including the associated fees, this makes for a total of $18,975 and $34,077 respectively. A full breakdown of all program tuition and fees can be found here.

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

Located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell University is a private institution whose mascot is the Big Red Bear. Almost 25,000 students make up the student body, supported by a faculty of nearly 1,700 professors. Founded in 1865, Cornell comprises 15 different colleges and schools, including four graduate and professional units. 

In addition to a fieldwork research proposal, this top anthropology graduate program in anthropology comprises an interdisciplinary curriculum that features just four courses. As a result, most students accepted into the program will either pair their studies with language-related courses or have a highly individualized program designed for them by the special committee. 

Some students who are admitted to this program will be lucky enough to receive financial aid covering the cost of five years of study on-campus. Priority admission is given to those whose primary reason for studying to the Ph.D. level is due to the lack of funding or career support available for students who have graduated with only a master’s degree. 

Doctoral degrees at Cornell University are charged at different rates of tuition depending on the subject area. You’ll pay between $10,400 to $14,750 per semester, or $20,800 to $29,500 per academic year. For more detailed and accurate estimates, follow the links at the top of the table on this page.

George Washington University

Washington, D.C.

The George Washington University Department of Anthropology was established in 1892 and is situated a short distance from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. A number of other valuable resources are also around the corner, including the National Parks Service, making this the perfect location for budding anthropologists. 

This anthropology doctoral program combines rigorous coursework with fieldwork and independent study. Specifically, you will work within a small group with an assigned faculty mentor. You will explore ethnographic concepts and conduct your own research studies that integrate numerous subfields within the discipline, including:

• Gender studies
• Museum studies

For admission into this program, your GRE scores will not be required nor taken into account; the university is of the opinion that the GRE can promote injustice among candidates. However, for certain funding options, you may still need to submit your scores for consideration for financial aid. 

The graduate school tuition and fees at George Washington University average at around $1,885 per credit, though this can vary based upon your individual college and program. Tuition at the graduate level is charged per credit hour, and you can find a full breakdown of tuition for each college and school via this link.

The New School

Founded in 1919, The New School brings together scholars, designers, artists, and other professionals. This combination creates a leading faculty that is committed to challenging the norm and innovating solutions. Students may choose from over 130 programs at a university that has been ranked first for being the most international university in the nation. 

Comprising 60 credits in total, this Ph.D. in anthropology is open to students who have completed a master’s degree in the same field at The New School. Graduating students will be prepared for careers in teaching or for their own creative independent research projects. 

As part of the PhD program, students will be encouraged to work on their own specializations by taking part in mandatory doctorate seminars and guided tutorial assignments. Guidance will be provided by an assigned member of faculty who will act as a mentor throughout your studies. 

Your program will be based at The New School for Social Research, which charges tuition on a per-credit basis. Each credit costs $2,260 for both MA or MS and Ph.D. students. Additional fees will apply, and you can find more information on fees on the university’s tuition, fees, and billing page.

Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island

At Brown University, there are 34 varsity sports teams and a huge variety of clubs and organizations in which to get involved. In addition to over 400 student clubs, there are also 60 public service groups and 4,100 intramural sports participants on-campus, plus Greek and program houses. 

This Ph.D. program covers three key subfields of the discipline:

• Socio-cultural anthropology
• Anthropological archaeology

The curriculum consists almost entirely of seminars at the graduate level, with independent study courses making up the rest. This drives students towards tutorial-based and independent learning that encourages a rigorous and discovery-based academic process. 

You’ll take four core courses, which are:

• Principles of Cultural Anthropology
• History of Ethnological Theory
• Principles of Archaeology
• Linguistic Theory and Practice

The remainder of your studies will allow you to choose 12 additional electives, giving you a highly individualized course of study that’s aligned with your career aspirations and interests.

Tuition for graduate studies at Brown University ranges between $59,254 and $71,312, varying from program to program. Additional fees include a health services fee, health insurance, student activity and recreation fees, and an academic records fee. More information and costs are available on the university’s website.

American University

Located in Washington D.C., The American University saw 89% of recent graduates participate in an internship during their studies, while 92% of all graduates were either working, enrolled in graduate school, or both. Comprising eight different schools and colleges, the university offers students access to over 200 registered clubs and organizations. 

This highly rigorous program will prepare you for a career as an anthropologist, offering in-depth study of issues that include:

• Urban anthropology
• Language and culture

Assessment will take the form of written research work, and oral and visual presentations. You’ll also learn how to obtain funding from external agencies for the purpose of research. 

With this exposure to the end-to-end research process, you’ll be geared for a successful career in anthropology. However, you can also specialize to a greater degree in archaeology if it aligns with your career plans. You’ll have the opportunity to work on issues both at home and abroad, and you will be given multiple opportunities to develop your skills in public anthropology, too. 

Graduate students at American University are charged a flat rate for all tuition, based on the number of credit hours taken. Tuition currently costs approximately $1,866 per credit hour, with payment normally due in January for students beginning their program in the fall. For a breakdown of mandatory university fees, you can consult the university’s tuition and fee information page.

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts

Situated on a 235-acre campus, Brandeis University is just a stone’s throw away from Boston, located in leafy suburbs. Established as a nonsectarian institution, Brandeis was founded in 1948 and has a total enrollment of around 3,591 for undergraduate programs and 1,967 for graduate programs. 

With this doctoral degree program, you will gain the in-depth training required to become either an archaeologist or professional anthropologist. This program’s areas of emphasis include archaeological and ethnographic field placements and comparative studies, among others. You’ll be able to choose an area in which to specialize based on your interests and goals. 

This is a highly competitive program that provides detailed career planning support for students who are admitted. You’ll be mentored throughout your time at Brandeis, taking part in workshops, mock job interviews, and other activities to prepare you for life after graduation. You’ll also design and deliver your own seminars, take part in reading groups, and present your own research at the American Anthropological Association’s yearly meeting. 

Average graduate tuition and fees typically comes to around $55,104. Brandeis University provides detailed information on graduate expenses here, including applicable fees and other useful advice. The most accurate estimates of your cost of attendance can be obtained by using the cost of attendance calculator on the university’s website.

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, Texas

Southern Methodist University (SMU) has a total attendance of around 12,000 students, which means that you’ll benefit from having small class sizes with excellent support. The institution comprises seven schools and colleges, and is known for being a distinguished hub of research activity and teaching. 

When you enroll in this anthropology Ph.D. program, you’ll choose to specialize in either cultural anthropology or archaeology. While archaeology students focus on New World archaeology, anthropology students can further specialize in medical anthropology or subfields related to globalization, depending on interests or career aspirations. 

Students focusing on New World archaeology will be guided by faculty with an interest in areas including complex societies across the Americas and early human civilizations. Your studies will examine subfields that include contemporary theories in archaeology. You will also spend a large amount of time on field placements across the Americas. 

Tuition at this university is dependent on the college under which you are studying. The average cost of attendance for graduate students at Southern Methodist University is around $47,256.70. A more accurate estimate of your program costs may be found by checking the individual department and college fees highlighted on this page.

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia

Situated within a picturesque neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia, Emory University is a highly regarded and top-ranking private research institution. Nearly $700 million in research funding is generated by the institution annually. It’s also one of just 65 universities within the Association of American Universities (AAU). 

Emory University’s department of anthropology has been ranked within the top 10 departments in the nation by the National Research Council. Combining cultural and biological anthropological studies, students focus on the key areas of “cultivating dialogues and combinations of people, interests, and ideas that cross, connect, and transcend the field’s received sub-disciplines”. 

It’s worth checking out this infographic, which features some useful and insightful information on the program and the activities that previous students and alumni have been involved in during their studies and after graduation. 

Based on the assumption that you’re enrolled in a full-time program of study taking 9 or more credit hours, your tuition will cost $21,900 per semester. The tuition and fees page does not highlight any specific supplemental fees for non-resident students, though it’s worth confirming with the university whether this would be the case.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can apply cultural anthropology to any field of human culture, which includes economy, food customs, family, and socialism. Graduates of these degree programs continue their research with careers in the public or private sector. Most work in social science fields. Common careers include becoming university professors, researchers, or curators in museums.

In many cases, obtaining a master’s degree is not a strict prerequisite for pursuing a PhD in Anthropology. Some anthropology PhD programs accept students directly from a bachelor’s degree program. Admission requirements can vary between universities and programs, but most do not offer a master’s degree.

It takes, on average, between 6-7 years to get a PhD in Cultural Anthropology. This includes completing coursework, conducting fieldwork, and writing and defending a dissertation. The exact timeline varies by program, individual progress, and the nature of your research.

With a PhD in Cultural Anthropology, you can earn an average of $83,870/year working in federal government jobs. Engineering services pay cultural anthropologists $70,100/year on average. If you work as a professor at a college or university, you can expect to earn an average of $85,000/year.

Academic rigor and standards are high with any PhD program, and this rings true for cultural anthropology. The workload is heavy, and students must commit themselves to research. Here are some aspects that contribute to the challenging nature of getting a PhD in Cultural Anthropology: • Competitive Admission • Coursework and Exams • Interdisciplinary Nature • Limited Funding Opportunities • Research Intensity • Time Commitment • Writing a Dissertation

Employment for anthropologists is expected to grow 4% through 2032. This rate is about as fast as the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. About 700 new jobs should result each year, on average, for the next 9-10 years.

Deciding if you should pursue a PhD in Anthropology depends on various factors, including your career goals, personal interests, and commitment to an extended period of academic study and research. If you want to teach at the college or university level, you’ll need a PhD. Most federal government jobs in the field also require PhDs.

The biggest employer of anthropologists outside academia is the federal government. These career paths include working in: • Cultural resource management • Defense and security sectors • International development • Legislative branch • Natural resource management Government jobs offers good pay. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that anthropologists working for the federal government make $83,870/year, on average.

PhD in Anthropology

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We will not be accepting applications to our doctoral program for AY 23-24 and AY 24-25. We hope that all prospective doctoral students will revisit our site regularly and look for updates on our doctoral program as we draw closer to reopening admissions for AY 25-26.

Doctorate with a Real-World Focus

In the PhD in Anthropology program, you will improve your intellectual and practical skills and apply your research findings to critical issues in contemporary society . You will explore the major arguments shaping classic and contemporary debates in anthropological theory; use key ideas from these debates to plan archaeological and anthropological research and analysis ; present your research findings in written, oral, and visual presentations; and learn how to seek external funding for research. By experiencing the complete research process, you will graduate prepared for your career as an anthropologist.

We provide rigorous training in urban anthropology; ethnicity; the anthropology of work; the anthropology of development; language, culture and cognition; gender and culture; cross-cultural quantitative analysis; and historic and public archaeology. Drawing from archaeology, linguistic anthropology, biological anthropology, and cultural anthropology, your coursework will emphasize anthropology's four-field tradition and utilize the cross-cultural and interdisciplinary resources within the College of Arts and Sciences and across the university.

Whether you concentrate on cultural/social anthropology or archaeology, you will reach beyond the university to work on real-world issues in the US and abroad, exploring policy-oriented questions as well as more traditional, academic themes. At the same time, you will find ample opportunities to develop skills in public anthropology . You will graduate as a public intellectual doing relevant work to promote social justice.

Public Intellectuals Making a Difference

Active and Engaged Faculty Mentors

Our faculty consists of cutting-edge, widely published scholars with a broad variety of research interests and exceptional strengths in public anthropology. Although they are respected leaders in academia, their work reaches beyond the university as they engage in archaeology, activism, and advocacy worldwide.

Our professors are dedicated to your success and provide personal attention and support to all students. Upon admission, you will be matched with a faculty advisor who will provide guidance and mentorship throughout your doctoral program by helping you design your program of study; choose your dissertation topic, field site, and research methods; analyze data; produce your final dissertation; and make important career choices.

Faculty Profiles

Opportunities For Change In The Capital City

Washington, DC, offers unlimited resources for practical learning, research, networking, and employment. Many graduates find fulfilling work with area museums, government agencies, and private institutions.

Our strategic DC location gives students access to the federal government, museums, think tanks, institutions, and national and international policymakers. Graduate students can present their own scholarship and build their professional networks at anthropology conferences at AU and nearby universities.

Our students distinguish themselves through their service , leadership, and ability to rethink global and domestic challenges. In DC, there are countless ways for you to get involved and make a difference in the world around you.

In our department, students train to be public intellectuals . Alumni are very successful and can be found in university, private-sector, and government positions around the globe. Our graduates have gone on to teach at respected schools in the US , including Northwestern University, George Mason University, and the University of Iowa. They also teach internationally at schools such as the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Other graduates work for government agencies like USAID and the National Park Service or for nonprofits like ACDI/VOCA, the Arkansas Archeological Survey, the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, and Historic Mount Vernon. Wherever they go, AU doctors of anthropology are known for their first-rate educations , political savvy, understanding of policy issues, and commitment to social justice.

Delande Justinvil

More about Delande

Anthropology PhD candidate Delande Justinvil is on a mission to protect Black burial grounds.

As a biocultural anthropologist, Delande researches the grounds and their history, analyzes remains from at-risk burials, and he advocates for their protection at both local and federal levels. During his time at AU, he helped curate the museum’s 2019 exhibition Plans to Prosper You,  collaborated with the Society of Black Archaeologists, and conducted dissertation research on recently discovered Black burials in Georgetown. 

What Delande finds most special about AU is the graduate student community. “Even with respect to my doctoral research, it was my friend Shannon Clark who in my first semester here really listened to what I wanted to do and connected me to the dedicated members of DC’s Historic Preservation Office. My colleagues and I show up for each other in ways that reflect how centering care and compassion as an ethical practice can be equally, if not more, rigorous than our respective — and brilliant — scholarly pursuits.”

Delande also praises Dr. Malini Ranganathan and the Antiracist Research and Policy Center (ARPC):

They have produced regular thought-provoking programming that deeply engages antiracist, feminist, and decolonial conversations both within and beyond the walls of the academy in ways that help me rethink and revise the critical approaches in my own work. In my eyes, the ARPC has really become somewhat of an intellectual anchor and integral component of the AU community.

Professor Thurka Sangaramoorthy , spent nearly a decade in Eastern Shore communities , interviewing immigrants working in the agriculture, poultry, and seafood industries for her most recent book, Landscapes of Care: Immigration and Health in Rural America (University of North Carolina Press, 2023). Now, with NIH funding, Sangaramoorthy and a team of researchers are seeking to better understand how environmental exposures and related policies and regulations are impacting the respiratory health of migrant seasonal farmworkers. 

Doctoral candidate Maya S. Kearney received the  2022 AAA Dissertation Fellowship for Historically Underrepresented Persons in Anthropology .

See PhD candidate Heba Ghannam the Middle East Institute's 2022 Arab Barometer Report: Attitudes and Trends toward Gender .

Hear prof Dan Sayers in the Ideas podcast: The Marrow Nature: A Case for the Wetlands .

Alumna Becca Peixotto was featured in American Magazine .

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• Why Support Anthropology?
• Course Requirements
• Undergraduate Research Papers
• How to Apply
• Graduate Courses
• Dissertations & MA Theses
• Research Overview
• Archaeology
• Biological Anthropology
• Social & Cultural Anthropology
• Department Statement on Racist Violence, May 2022
• Response to Black Senate Students
• Anthropology Department Statement on Race and Anti-Racism
• Graduate Student and Alumni Solidarity Statement
• Town Hall on Anti-Racism and Anti-Black Violence
• Prospective Students

PhD in Anthropology

The PhD program normally requires about five years, and is completely separate from the MA program. That is, students may enter the PhD program directly following their undergraduate degree, and do not necessarily earn a master's degree (although earning the master's degree can be incorporated into the PhD program without increasing the total length of time needed). Students who have already earned a master's degree elsewhere can often receive credit for previous coursework which may shorten the time needed to earn a PhD by as much as a year. Requirements for the PhD include 72 credits of coursework; a foreign language; three of four core courses (cultural anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, or anthropological linguistics); two quantitative methods courses (for students in archaeology and biological anthropology) or a course in field methods and a course in contemporary theory (for students in cultural anthropology); three graduate seminar electives; written comprehensive examinations; fieldwork or equivalent research; and the dissertation.

Complete PhD Requirements

Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences requirements for the PhD also apply. More information on requirements can also be found in the Anthropology Graduate Handbook . 

Advising and Supervision

A faculty advisor is assigned to each incoming student. Students are free to change their advisors at any time to a faculty member who has agreed to work with them. Students consult with their advisors on their course selections,  research and career plans; advisors monitor their advisees' progress in the graduate program.  Progress of all active graduate students is systematically reviewed by the faculty in each subdiscipline annually in the spring term. Students must petition the Graduate Studies Committee for approval of committees and at other points, as discussed below. Students may also submit petitions about other academic issues that may arise during their studies. Concerns of any kind may be discussed with advisors, the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee, and the Department Chair.

Course Credits

A minimum of 72 course credits in the Anthropology Department at the University of Pittsburgh is required for the PhD degree. Of these, at least 42 credits must be in formal courses (as opposed to readings courses, independent study, or thesis or dissertation credits). The remaining 30 credits may be any combination of formal courses, readings courses, independent study, and/or thesis and dissertation credits.

Generally, a full-time student will be enrolled in a minimum of three formal courses during fall and spring terms until the required 42 credits of formal coursework are attained. Full-time students may or may not register or take courses during the summer term. Reading or independent study courses, if taken prior to completion of the 42-credit minimum of formal courses, are generally taken during the summer term or in addition to the three formal courses that are the minimum for full-time students during the fall or spring terms.

A student may petition the Graduate Studies Committee to have courses taken outside of the University of Pittsburgh count toward the 72 credits required for the PhD. Students can transfer up to 30 credits from another approved degree-granting graduate program (12 towards formal coursework and 18 towards informal coursework).

Core Courses/Preliminary Examination

The core course system of the Department of Anthropology fills the role of the preliminary examination in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences requirements for the PhD. A broad foundation based on a general familiarity with all four subfields is considered to be highly beneficial to the practice of anthropology, and core courses are offered in the four subfields of anthropology: cultural anthropology, archeology, biological anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. PhD students are required to pass (with a grade of B or better) at least three of these four core courses, one of which must be the core course in the student's subdiscipline. (Linguistic anthropology students must complete the core courses both in linguistic anthropology and in cultural anthropology.) Full-time students are expected to pass the required core courses by the end of their first year in residence.

A student with an MA from another institution, or with a strong undergraduate background in one or more subdisciplines, may present transcripts and other relevant documents to petition the Graduate Studies Committee to waive the core course in that subdiscipline(s), as long as it is not a core course specifically required for the student's own subdiscipline. If not granted a waiver, after consultation with the instructor and review of the core course syllabus, a student can take the final exam (when it is normally given) instead of taking a core course for credit. A student may opt to selectively audit a core course to remedy weaknesses in only a few areas and then take the regular final exam. It should be stressed, however, that all exams will be evaluated in the same manner as those of students taking the course for credit.

Language Requirement

Before students advance to candidacy, they must demonstrate competence in a language other than English that is relevant to the student’s research. For common foreign languages (e.g. French, German, Spanish), the student may choose either to 1) pass with a grade of B or better the level 4 or 8 course offered by that language department, or 2) pass at a level determined by this department the examination for evaluating graduate students currently offered by that language department. In the case of languages for which such avenues of evaluation are not available, the student should consult the Graduate Student Handbook and their advisor, and (if necessary) petition the Committee on Graduate Studies for alternative forms of evaluation.

Graduate Elective Seminar Requirements

Students are required to take three graduate elective anthropology seminars. (Students in cultural anthropology who began the program prior to 2022 can satisfy this requirement with Anthropology 2750 (Seminar on Contemporary Theory); students in biological anthropology and archaeology who began the program prior to 2022 are exempted from this requirement.

Method Requirements

Students in archeology must pass with a grade of B or better Anthropology 2534 and Anthropology 2524 (Archeological Data Analysis I and II). Students in biological anthropology must pass with a grade of B or better: 1) Biostatistics 2041 and 2042 (Introduction to Statistical Methods I and II), or, for bioarchaeology concentrators =, Anthropology 2534 and Anthropology 2524 (Archaeological Data Analysis I and II). Archaeology and biological anthropology students may petition the Graduate Studies Committee to accept other courses in quantitative methods in lieu of these. Students in cultural and linguistic anthropology must pass with a grade of B or better Anthropology 2763 (Field Methods).They may petition the Graduate Studies Committee for approval of other courses to satisfy some of these requirements.

Comprehensive Examinations

After completing the core course requirement and prior to advancement to PhD candidacy, students must pass two comprehensive examinations designed to test breadth and depth of knowledge in the chosen areas of expertise. Students generally take their comprehensive examinations at the end of their third year of residence. A student who fails a comprehensive examination or who has not passed comprehensive examinations by the end of the fourth year of residence (fifth for students in the joint PhD/MPH program) may be dismissed from the program.

Each examination is designed and administered by a committee constructed by the student in consultation with the advisor or the chair of the comprehensive examination committee. The committee consists of at least three faculty members (at least two of whom must be in the department). One of these is designated as chair of the committee. Well in advance of the exam, students submit to the committee a bibliography of sources from which they intend to work. Members of the committee may recommend additional sources. The student must petition the Graduate Studies Committee for approval of the topic and committee for each examination.

The structure of the comprehensive examinations differs from subfield to subfield:

In  cultural & linguistic anthropology , one examination is in the student's ethnographic area (e.g., Africa, East Asia, Latin America, the Pacific). Students should demonstrate mastery not just of ethnographic work that is relevant to their projects, but also of the wider fields of literature that have informed anthropological study of their regions as identified by the members of the comprehensive exam committee. Reading lists should display historical depth and awareness of significant work in fields beyond cultural/linguistic anthropology. The second examination is of a more theoretical nature in a field chosen and defined by students in conjunction with their advisors. Examples are gender and sexuality, migration and transnationalism, medical anthropology, media anthropology, etc. For students focussed on linguistic anthropology, this exam should cover significant works relevant to the study of linguistic and cultural anthropology.

In  archaeology , one examination is on either a significant world area (e.g., Eastern North America, Mesoamerica, Europe) or a significant time period (e.g., the Paleolithic). The other is on the theory and history of archeology, with special emphasis on broad topics and questions of relevance to the student's research.

In  biological anthropology , one examination covers a significant world area and time period relevant to the student’s research. The second focuses on a coherent, substantive body of research with emphasis on broad topics and questions of relevance to the student’s researchIn linguistic anthropology, one examination is in the student's ethnographic area (e.g., East Asia, Latin America, the Pacific, etc.). Students should demonstrate mastery not just of ethnographic work that is relevant to their projects, but also of the wider fields of literature that have informed anthropological study of their regions as identified by the members of the comprehensive exam committee. Reading lists should display historical depth and awareness of significant work in fields beyond linguistic and cultural anthropology. The second examination is of a more theoretical nature in a field chosen and defined by students in conjunction with their advisors. This exam should cover significant works relevant to the study of linguistic and cultural anthropology.

Areas of Concentration

Students may designate cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, archaeology, or linguistic anthropology as an area of concentration, depending on which subdiscipline's degree requirements they satisfy. Alternatively, students may designate medical anthropology as an area of concentration if they have taken Patients and Healers, Medical Anthropology 1, Medical Anthropology 2, and 12 elective credits from a list of approved courses . The area of concentration will be officially recorded on the student's transcript, but does not appear on the diploma. In any case the degree awarded is not in the area of concentration but simply in anthropology.

Dissertation

Committee:  As soon as possible after completion of the core course requirements, and certainly by the third year in residence, prior to admission to candidacy, the student must establish a doctoral dissertation committee that will: 1) participate in the student's preparation of the dissertation research proposal; 2) administer the oral dissertation overview; 3) offer advice while the student is collecting field or laboratory/museum data as well as while the student is writing the dissertation; and 4) conduct the oral dissertation defense. This committee consists of at least three Graduate Faculty members from the Department of Anthropology, including the student's advisor, and at least one graduate faculty member from another department of the University or from another university. If a member of the graduate faculty of another university is selected, they must be approved in advance by the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research. The student must petition the Graduate Studies Committee for approval of the dissertation committee.

Overview:  Before actively pursuing dissertation research, the student makes an oral presentation of the intended project to the dissertation committee. The student gives the members of the committee a proposal at least one month ahead of time. The overview should not be the first discussion of the project between the student and committee members. If the committee members approve, their recommendation is forwarded to the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research. For research involving human subjects or animals, IRB or IACUC approval must be obtained before the student can be advanced to doctoral candidacy. A student who has not passed the dissertation overview by the end of the fourth year in residence (fifth year for students in the joint PhD/MPH program) may be dismissed from the program.

Dissertation Format: In addition to the standard dissertation format, students have the option to write their dissertations following the three-article format. 

Three Article Dissertation

Students should decide at the time of their overview examination whether to pursue the three-article dissertation format. This decision must be made in consultation with the members of the student’s dissertation committee. All members must unanimously agree to the student’s plan to complete a dissertation in the three-article format. Students can also choose the three-article format after the overview, or switch from this format to the regular dissertation format with committee approval.

This dissertation format will be comprised of three full-length articles of publishable quality within a peer-reviewed journal, an introduction, and a conclusion.

The articles are expected to develop various aspects of an overarching theme presented in the introduction. Additional papers may be added above the minimum of three if approved by the committee. The student must be the sole author or lead author on all articles. The student should be responsible for the conceptualization, data analysis, and writing of the articles.

Only one of the three articles can be an article that has been published or accepted for publication prior to the student’s overview at the discretion of the committee. If the article is co-authored, the student must be the first author. The published article must represent work undertaken while the student was enrolled in the PhD program and be related to their dissertation project. The student is responsible for securing necessary permissions from the copyright holder and other authors. See the Pitt Library for questions and assistance.

The goal of writing an article-style dissertation should be to publish the articles that appear in the dissertation. Journals to which articles are being submitted must be approved by the dissertation committee. Serving as an “editorial board” for the student, the committee will help select journals that will challenge the student and offer a reasonable chance of publication success. Dissertation papers can be submitted for publication while the student is ABD. If a paper is rejected by a journal during the dissertation process, the student may submit to another journal approved by the committee. In the case of a “revise and resubmit” during the dissertation process, major revisions to the paper that change the paper’s overall relationship to the dissertation topic must be approved by the dissertation committee. After the successful dissertation defense, any new submission or resubmission, including changes in the authorship or article content, will be at the discretion of the PhD graduate. 

The introduction of the dissertation should clarify the rationale for grouping the three articles together. It is expected to include a summary of the research problem the three articles tackle, the methodology used to answer the research question(s), the significance of the research, the theoretical foundations of the research introduced in the context of an overview of pertinent literature.

The conclusion should summarize the dissertation’s major findings. It should also reinforce the linkages between the chapters, tying together the three articles into a cohesive body of scholarship. The conclusion is a place where the student can restate and reinforce the through-line that connects the individual chapter. The conclusion might also present a plan for future research on the research problem(s) engaged in the dissertation.

Large datasets and specific methods discussed in a published paper but not presented in their entirety, or presented in supplemental sections, should be (if permissible) included as appendices as appropriate.

Public Presentation:  Each student presents a formal colloquium to the department based on the dissertation research. This may form part of the dissertation defense, or it may come at an earlier stage so that the experience may be of benefit as the ideas in the dissertation take shape.

Defense:  By the time of the oral defense of the dissertation, students will have prepared and presented to their committee members a final version of the dissertation. It is expected that there will be sufficient interaction between the student and the committee members that revisions subsequent to the defense will be minimal and minor. All members of the doctoral dissertation committee should be present at the defense. The procedures for the final oral examination are outlined in the requirements for the PhD degree of the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.

Policy on scheduling comps and defenses for summer months : Please note that graduate students are required to be registered during the academic term in which they take their comprehensive and overview examinations and defend their dissertations. Scheduling comprehensive examinations, overview examinations, and dissertation defenses for the summer months (May, June, July, and August) is strongly discouraged. Faculty are not obligated to facilitate or participate in milestone events in summer months.

Statute of Limitations

Dietrich School regulations stipulate that the PhD must be completed within 10 calendar years of initial matriculation (8 years for students entering with a Master's degree). They also stipulate that comprehensive examinations must be retaken if they were originally passed more than 7 years before completion of PhD requirements.

MA Degree (as part of PhD study)

An MA degree may be awarded during the course of a student's PhD program after completion of: 1) 30 course credits; 2) the language requirement; 3) the core course in the student's area of concentration; 4) course(s) that satisfy the MA method/theory requirement (see MA requirements); 5) an acceptable MA paper; and 6) fulfillment of all Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences regulations (e.g., at least 12 credits of course work, not including readings or independent study, must be at the 2000 level). The student selects at least three graduate faculty members (at least two of whom must be in the Department of Anthropology) to participate on the MA advisory and evaluation committee. The Graduate Studies Committee should be petitioned for approval of the committee composition and the MA paper topic well in advance of the expected date of completion.

Supplementary Statements

Review of Student Progress

Procedures for Satisfying the PhD Comprehensive Examination Requirement

List of Courses for Medical Anthropology Concentration

Ph.D. in Anthropology

Earn Your PhD in Anthropology

Our Ph.D. program in anthropology is designed to provide a broad background in the field with a primary emphasis on sociocultural anthropology, biological anthropology, or archaeology. The degree prepares students for careers in academia, consulting, or other applied professions in the discipline. 

The major foci of research and instruction in sociocultural anthropology include religion, law and politics, ethnicity, gender, history and anthropology, problems of social change and economic development, culture and the environment, cognition and culture, and medical/psychological anthropology. The study of the Islamic world, East and Southeast Asia, and Africa are the greatest strengths among our sociocultural faculty and students. 

In biological anthropology, our faculty and students primarily study living and fossil human and non-human primates, including their evolutionary morphology, behavior, genomics, and sensory adaptations. For more information on ongoing research in biological anthropology, visit our laboratories page . 

Finally, the major foci in archaeology include human-environment interactions, urbanism, households, and material culture viewed in deep historical perspective. Faculty and students are primarily interested in Mesoamerica, North America, and the Mediterranean. To learn more about research and fieldwork in archaeology, click here .

PhD Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate mastery of the fundamentals of the traditional four subfields of American anthropology (social/cultural anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, and linguistic anthropology) sufficiently to make them effective and competent teachers of introductory undergraduate courses in general anthropology, social/cultural anthropology, and/or biological anthropology.
• Demonstrate the ability to conceive, plan, propose, carry out, and write up a major piece of anthropological research, related to current theoretical discourse in their chosen subfield and constituting a significant contribution to the discipline.
• Be able to make compelling and interesting presentations of their ideas and findings to audiences of professional anthropologists in several forms—oral, written, and graphic.
• Carry out all these tasks in a manner consonant with the highest prevailing standards of ethical and professional conduct in research and teaching.

Each year, Boston University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS) offers incoming Ph.D. students Dean’s Fellowships, which include full tuition, a living stipend, and health insurance for five years; along with a new summer stipend beginning in 2021.

For more information on financial aid for doctoral students, visit the GRS page on fellowship aid .

Graduate Study

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The Department of Anthropology at the University of Chicago offers doctoral programs in sociocultural and linguistic anthropology and in archaeology.

The program in sociocultural and linguistic anthropology offers opportunities to pursue a wide range of ethnographic and theoretical interests. While the Department does not emphasize a particular theoretical perspective, it is well known for its attention to classic problems in social theory along with an engagement with the latest developments in theories of history, culture, politics, economics, transnational processes, space and place, subjectivity, experience, and materiality. 

Shared topical interests among its members include culture and colonialism; postcoloniality and globalization; gender and sexuality; historical anthropology; history and social structure; politics and law; political economy; religion; ritual; science and technology; semiotics and symbolism; medicine and health; and subjectivity and affect. Africa, the Caribbean, East Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Oceania, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the United States of America are among the geographic areas of faculty research.  

Coursework and study with faculty in other departments enable the student to pursue interdisciplinary interests, language training, and other regional studies.

The archaeology program enables students to articulate archaeology, history, and sociocultural anthropology, with emphasis on the integration of social and cultural theory in the practice of archaeology.

Current faculty specialize in the archaeology of Latin America (the later prehistory and colonial periods of the Andes and Mexico), Europe and the Mediterranean (the “Celtic” Iron Age and Greco-Roman colonial expansion), the Southeastern U.S. (urban history, colonialism, landscapes), East and Southeast Asia (from the Neolithic to the early colonial periods), and West Africa (history, landscape, complexity and political economy), as well as ethnoarchaeology in East Africa and experimental archaeology in South America.

Research interests include: urbanism; state formation; colonialism; industrialization; art and symbolism; spatial analysis; politics; ritual and religion; human-environment interactions; agricultural systems; material culture; economic anthropology; political economy; the archaeology of the contemporary; and the socio-historical context and the history and politics of archaeology. Faculty members have ongoing field research projects in Bolivia, Mexico, China, Cambodia, France, Senegal, and the United States (New Orleans). The program in anthropological archaeology also has strong ties to many other archaeologists on campus through the  UChicago Archaeology Nexus (UCAN) .

Teaching in physical anthropology, mainly directed towards evolutionary anthropology and primatology, is offered by Russell Tuttle.

In addition to linguistic anthropology as a sub-field within the Department of Anthropology, there is also a joint Ph.D. program available to students who are admitted to both the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Linguistics . Administratively, the student is admitted to, and remains registered in, the primary, or “home” department, and subsequently seeks admission to the second department in joint residence status. Students approved to pursue the joint degree program must complete the requirements of both departments, including the distinct introductory and advanced courses stipulated by each, the departmental qualifying examination in appropriate special fields, and the language requirements, including additional foreign languages for the Linguistics Ph.D. The student’s dissertation advisory committee consists of three or more members of the faculty; at least one must be a member of the Department of Anthropology but not of the Department of Linguistics, and at least one in Linguistics but not in Anthropology. After approval by the advisory committee, the student’s dissertation proposal must be defended at a hearing open to the faculty of both departments. Generally, an Anthropology student may apply to Linguistics for the joint degree program at the end of the second year or later, after having successfully completed the first-year program in Anthropology and the core (first-year) coursework and examinations in Linguistics. However, students should declare interest in the Joint Degree Program on the initial graduate application to the Department, and should discuss this interest personally with linguistic anthropology faculty soon after arrival on campus.

Although Anthropology has no other formal joint degree programs, students admitted to Anthropology may subsequently petition the University to create a joint program with another department. For instance, there is considerable precedent for pursuing a joint Ph.D. in Anthropology and History . To create this joint program, Anthropology students spend their first year taking the required first year courses in the Anthropology Department; in the second year, they take a two-quarter history seminar and write an anthropologically-informed Master’s paper in coordination with that seminar which will be acceptable to both Departments. The Master’s degree is awarded by one of the two departments and is accepted for equivalence by the other. The Anthropology student then applies for admission to History at the end of the second year or later, having already demonstrated a proficiency in both disciplines. Applicants to Anthropology who are interested in a joint degree program with History should declare interest at the time of the initial application.

Also by petition, it has been possible for students to create other joint Ph.D. programs. In recent years, individual programs combining Anthropology and Art History , South Asian Languages and Civilizations , East Asian Languages and Civilizations , Slavic Languages and Literatures , Conceptual and Historical Studies of Science , and Cinema and Media Studies have been created. An M.D./Ph.D. program is coordinated through the MeSH program in the medical school. A J.D./Ph.D. with the University of Chicago Law School or another law school is also possible, and we have facilitated joint degrees with the School of Social Services Administration at the University of Chicago.

Such individually-created joint degree programs begin in the second year of graduate studies or later. In all cases, students complete the separate program requirements for each degree, with no additional residence requirement, and write one Ph.D. dissertation that separately meets the dissertation requirements of each department. The specifics of each joint degree program, such as any requirements that may be jointly met, any overlapping examination areas, and the composition of the dissertation committee, are agreed upon by both departments at the time of the petition.

Students interested in pursuing an ad-hoc Joint Ph.D. should consult with the Dean of Students Office to understand the application process.

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PhD in Anthropology: Sociocultural Anthropology

Program overview.

Admission | MPH/PhD | Program Structure  | Ethical Conduct

The graduate program in sociocultural anthropology is designed to train professional anthropologists to work in either academic or non-academic settings. Each student is expected to achieve high levels of competence in the theories and methods of the discipline through successful completion of a series of requirements, as outlined below.

To obtain a PhD, the student must:

• Complete the first-year core curriculum, which includes core courses in sociocultural anthropology history and theory, with a minimum grade of 3.5 in each, and meet the requirements of the first-year portfolio evaluation.
• Complete the second-year sequence in ethnographic methods, and research design with a minimum grade of 3.5 in each.
• Complete a research competency paper that has passed review by the student's pre-Masters’ Supervisory Committee by the end of the eighth quarter of full-time work in the program, and completion of nine ANTH 600/700 credits in conjunction with this requirement. Upon completion of steps 1- 4 the student will obtain a Master of Arts (MA) in Anthropology: Sociocultural Anthropology.
• Demonstrate basic competence in a language other than the candidate's native language.
• Pass the General Exam.
• Make a formal presentation about the project at a dissertation colloquium.
• Conduct ethical and methodologically sound dissertation research.
• Acquire training and experience in teaching at the university level.
• Complete a PhD dissertation that is approved and signed by the supervisory committee.
• Pass an oral defense of the dissertation (also called the Final Exam).
• Satisfy all Graduate School requirements (see the UW Graduate School ).

Sociocultural Anthropology is looking for graduate students whose research interests can be supported by our faculty expertise, and who show promise for success. We desire to build a more diverse field of sociocultural anthropology and are committed to recruiting students who could contribute to these efforts. We strongly suggest that prospective students review the profiles of current faculty for areas of common interest, and email prospective faculty mentors to discuss plans.  Prospective graduate students must have completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree before enrollment, but this degree does not have to be in anthropology. During the process of earning the PhD, students will also earn a Master of Arts (MA) in Anthropology: Sociocultural Anthropology. 

Applicants are not required to submit GRE's.  The next admission cycle for Sociocultural Anthropology will be for Autumn 2026 enrollment. Applications open on September 1st, 2025 and must be submitted by December 15, 2025.  Applicants may apply for and be admitted for autumn quarter only. Offers of admission are usually mailed prior to the first of March. Those receiving offers of admission must respond by April 15.  Please visit the Graduate School's  Admission Requirements   page for a complete list of requirements. Visit Anthropology's Graduate Admissions page for admission information specific to our department. Please visit Apply Now to submit your application. For information about English language requirements please review Policy 3.2: Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements . For information about funding, please visit the department's  Graduate Student Funding  page.

MPH/PhD Concurrent degree program

This concurrent degree program offers interdisciplinary curriculum in the fields of public health and anthropology. Students who complete this program will receive two degrees, a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Anthropology. Students will matriculate into one of four MPH tracks and complete either the Sociocultural OR Biological Anthropology PhD track programs. For more information about this option please visit MPH/PhD Program .

Statistics Concentration

Graduate student pursuing a PhD in anthropology may also consider completing a  Statistics Concentration in Anthropology .

Ethical Conduct

Sociocultural students must demonstrate high standards of ethical behavior. Breaches of ethics and/or irresponsible behavior in any of the following areas (at any time in the program) will be considered evidence that the student should not remain in the program.

• Ethical conduct in one’s academic life.  Students are expected to strictly adhere to the university’s guidelines for ethical academic conduct, including its policies on plagiarism and integrity of research. Please see the university’s code of student conduct  for a complete list. 
• Ethical conduct as a researcher.  Field research in anthropology requires sensitivity, honesty, and an awareness of the potential ethical hazards of studying the lives of others. Students are expected to adhere to the AAA and  HSD  guidelines for protecting human research subjects. This includes avoiding deceptive or covert research, behaving with consideration and respect toward one’s research participants and their communities, respecting the laws of the country in which a student conducts research, and taking responsibility–to the extent possible–for the uses to which the research is put.
• Ethical conduct as a teacher.  A University of Washington Faculty Senate resolution notes that teaching requires “respect for the dignity of others and their right to free speech,” “intellectual honesty,” and “a proper environment for learning.” As a member of the Department of Anthropology, each student is expected to adhere to these and other standards for ethical conduct, including those mentioned under personal ethics. 
• Ethical conduct toward the discipline of anthropology.  Students are expected to fulfill their obligations to funders and sponsors, and to conduct themselves in the field so that their behavior does not have negative consequences for researchers who come after them or for the reputation of anthropology as a discipline. It is also expected that when the time comes to seek employment as an anthropologist and to publish their work, that students will do so with integrity and intellectual honesty.

Program Structure & Standards for Evaluation

Advisor & Supervisory Committee |  First-Year Core Curriculum & Evaluation |  Annual Evaluations | Second-Year Sequence | Demonstration of Research Competency  | Basic Competence in a Foreign Language  | General Exam  | Dissertation Proposal & Colloquium  | Teaching Experience  | Dissertation  | Oral Defense (Final Exam)

Advisor & Supervisory Committee

Upon entry, all first-year sociocultural graduate students are invited to select or be assigned a faculty advisor who will advise them until they determine which faculty member will serve as the chair for their Supervisory Committee. Students are allowed to invite their faculty advisor to become their Supervisory Committee Chair. The chair must be chosen no later than the end of the fourth quarter of full time work in the program. 

Please refer  Policy 4.2: Supervisory Committee for Graduate Students for a complete list of Supervisory Committee composition requirements. Faculty become official members of the committee when (1) the student submits a completed form for establishing a PhD Supervisory Committee  to the Graduate Program Assistant, and (2) the Graduate School responds by officially inviting all proposed committee members to serve as members of the supervisory committee. Sociocultural anthropology requires that a full PhD Supervisory Committee be in place before the end of the sixth quarter of full-time work in the program. At least three members of the Supervisory Committee will also serve on the PhD dissertation Reading Committee. Students should contact the Graduate Program Assistant if they would like to change the composition of their committee after it is officially established.

First-Year Core Curriculum & Evaluation

Core sequence in anthropological theory  , 400- or 500- level sociocultural anthropology courses, first-year portfolio .

• a brief self-assessment of the first year, and forward-looking plan of study
• coursework completed during the first year, including at least one 15-20 page paper that examines some material (textual, ethnographic, historical, visual, etc) in terms of a current debate within anthropology, and sets forth an argument.  
• evidence of teaching (if any)
• evidence of conference participation or other professional activities (if any)
• evidence of applications submitted for fellowships, grants or other opportunities (if any)

Detailed guidelines for the portfolio and its evaluation will be provided to students at the start of fall quarter.

First-Year Evaluation

• The student has demonstrated careful and critical reading of course materials. They are able to state the major points of the reading and make effective connections with other course materials. In cases where the student has encountered difficulties with course content, they have sought out the instructor for recommendations for remedial reading or clarification.
• The student has contributed effectively to class discussions. The student shows a willingness to engage with the course materials and is developing skills of good communication and citizenship in scholarly exchange. In cases where English is a second language or where there are other difficulties inhibiting participation, the student has communicated this to the core course instructors and sought recommendations to remedy the problem or has negotiated accommodations in redefining appropriate expectations.
• The student has demonstrated the ability to write well or is making significant progress in developing good writing skills. In cases of writing difficulties, the student has pursued recommendations to remedy the problem.

Annual Evaluations

Once the student has passed the first-year evaluation, their progress through the program will be evaluated annually at the end of each academic year by the sociocultural faculty as a whole and the results of that evaluation will be communicated to the student in writing by the student’s committee chair.

Second-Year Sequence 

Core sequence in ethnographic methods and research design .

During the second year in the program, all sociocultural students must complete the required seminar sequence in ethnographic methods (ANTH 550; 5 credits, autumn) and research design (ANTH 551; 5 credits, winter) and must obtain a minimum grade of 3.5 in each.  The purpose of this requirement is to help students develop the research and writing skills they will need in order to successfully complete a dissertation.  Core course grades are awarded as follows: 

400- or 500-level Sociocultural Anthropology Courses 

Demonstration of research competency.

Prior to the end of the eighth quarter of full-time work in the program, each student must have successfully completed a substantial research paper on a topic that is to be developed in discussions with their pre-masters Supervisory Committee and 9 credits of ANTH 600. The research competency paper must demonstrate the student’s ability to do original research, although it need not be fieldwork based. This requirement can also be met by successfully completing an MA thesis in anthropology, and 9 credits of ANTH 700. Students must submit a Master's Degree request (non-thesis) in MyGrad .  Please refer to the Procedural Steps to Degree page for details about how to submit requests in MyGrad.  Once the Graduate Program Assistant is informed that the student has completed their Research Competency paper and fulfilled all related degree requirements, the request will be approved. A copy of the approved research competency paper should be sent to the Graduate Program Assistant. 

If an incoming student has earned an MA in anthropology (or a related discipline) within five years prior to the date of admission, they may petition for the MA thesis to be accepted in lieu of the research competency paper. Approval of such a petition is at the discretion of the student's pre-masters supervisory committee.

Research Competency Paper Details:

• It is expected that an RC paper should be the length of a publishable article. In other words, it should not be as long as many MA theses, but should be about 25-40 pages (double-spaced) in length
• The topic for research should be developed by the student in consultation with their pre-masters supervisory committee
• The RC paper must be evaluated through feedback and approved by a student’s pre-masters supervisory committee members .
• The RC paper does not need to be based on primary ethnographic research. Many RC papers are based on library research as a prologue to ethnographic research. Students are encouraged to use archival material, to the extent that it is available for access with the assistance of modest grant and/or graduate school travel funding
• An RC paper should be an attempt at a publishable article based on applying theory or concepts to data. Neither a literature review nor a research proposal may be used to meet the RC requirement. Students should strive to complete a product worthy of publication, however, publication of the RC paper is not a requirement.
• A student may opt to write a formal MA thesis rather than writing an RC paper. In such cases, students must adhere to all the guidelines set out by the Graduate School for eventual submission, including the completion of 9 credits of Anth 700. Submission information needed for completion of a thesis MA can be found here: http://grad.uw.edu/for-students-and-post-docs/thesisdissertation/

Basic Competence in a Foreign Language

Each student must demonstrate basic competence in a language other than their native language. By no later than the end of the fifth quarter of full-time work in the department or by two years after the date of entry into the program (whichever is sooner), each sociocultural graduate student, in consultation with their committee chair and other members of the supervisory committee, must formulate, justify, and submit to the Graduate Program Assistant, a plan for meeting this requirement. This plan should indicate (a) what the language is, (b) why it was picked, (c) how the student's competence will be determined, and (d) when the student is to complete this requirement.

General Exam

Students must establish a Supervisory Committee before completing their general exam. The general exam is the method used to determine whether or not advanced graduate students have the skills and knowledge necessary for undertaking original dissertation research in, and otherwise being a doctoral candidate in, sociocultural anthropology. There are two parts to this examination: (1) a written exam, which consists of either a timed examination (usually 6-8 hours long, but the exact length is to be decided by the supervisory committee in consultation with the graduate student) or a one week take-home exam, and (2) an oral examination. The examination is to emphasize the sociocultural theories, methods, and ethnographic knowledge that constitutes four areas of the student's primary areas of specialization established by mutual agreement of the student and their Supervisory Committee.

This exam must be attempted no later than the ninth quarter of full time work or no later than five years after the date of entry into the program (whichever is sooner) if the student is to remain in good standing. On the basis of the performance, the Supervisory Committee  will recommend that the student be either:

• advanced  to candidacy
• re-examined  after a further period of study; or
• dropped  from the Ph.D. program.

General Exam Details:

• Students must submit a Doctoral (General Exam) request in MyGrad prior to the exam. Please refer to the Procedural Steps to Degree page for details about how to submit requests in MyGrad.
• Students will develop reading lists around 4 topics negotiated with their Supervisory Committee . The reading lists will be further developed in consultation with the student’s Supervisory Committee , and will go through several drafts
• Final reading lists tend to be 2-3 pages of bibliography per topic. However, reading lists may be longer or shorter dependent upon individual factors.
• The format of the written exam (whether a 2 day-timed test or a take home exam) must be decided by the student in consultation with their Supervisory Committee at the beginning of the quarter in which the exam is to be taken.
• The written general exam must be completed at least one week prior to the oral portion of the exam.
• All members of the committee must be present (enough to make quorum) including the GSR.
• Written exams will consist of 1-3 questions per topic, with students required to answer 1 question per topic.
• Written answers will vary in length depending on whether the student opts to take the 2 day timed test, or the one week take home. Answers will likely be between 12 and 20 double-spaced pages including the bibliography.

The PhC is normally conferred once the student receives a Pass on their General Examination, and all department and  UW Graduate School requirements are met. Once the Graduate Program Assistant is informed that the student has completed their General Examination and fulfilled all related degree requirements, the exam request will be approved.

Dissertation Proposal & Colloquium

Upon advancement to candidacy, each student in the PhD program in sociocultural anthropology must prepare, in consultation with their Supervisory Committee , an acceptable proposal for dissertation research. Usually dissertations are grounded in an extended period of field research. The proposal must follow human subjects protocols and pass review by the Human Subjects Review Committee.

At a time no later than two quarters after passing the General Exam, the student must make an oral presentation of the dissertation proposal at a sociocultural dissertation colloquium. In this context, in a format typical of panels at professional meetings, the student is to indicate the intent of the project and the methods to be used. 

Colloquium Guidelines

The student will speak for about 40 minutes, followed by about 40 minutes of discussion. It is important that the student presentation not run overtime to allow for discussion.

The student presentation should cover the following:

A statement of the research question

An introduction to the place of research (including some images if available)

A description of the research methods and how they address the question

A discussion of the special challenges that the student anticipates having to face in the field.

Teaching Experience

Before the final oral defense is scheduled, the candidate is required to have training and experience in teaching, preferably anthropology, at the post-secondary level. This experience and training can be gained in various ways, subject to the approval of the supervisory committee. These teaching efforts are to be formally evaluated by methods deemed appropriate by the student and their supervisory committee, which usually include student and/or peer evaluations.

Dissertation

Students must register for a minimum of 27 credits of Dissertation Writing (ANTH 800) over a period of at least three quarters.

The student must complete a dissertation based on primary research, which is judged by the Reading Committee Members  to constitute a substantial and original contribution to anthropological knowledge. Once complete, the candidate must submit the dissertation to the Reading Committee .  For information about how to submit a dissertation, visit the Dissertation Submission  page and the Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs): Overview . 

Oral Defense (Final Exam)

Upon the recommendation of the Reading Committee , the candidate will schedule the final oral defense of the dissertation, covering any of the relevant issues raised in and by the dissertation. Students must submit a Doctoral (Final Exam) request in MyGrad  prior to the exam .  Please refer to the Procedural Steps to Degree page for details about how to submit requests in MyGrad.  The oral defense must be held within ten years of the date the student entered the graduate program in Anthropology at the University of Washington.  Please visit the   Final Examination: Dissertation Defense  for details.

Please take note of any relevant deadlines on the Graduate student dates & deadlines and the Academic Calendar .

Please visit the Graduation Requirement page for a comprehensive list of University requirements. 

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