social anthropology phd harvard

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• Dissertation Prospectus - Social Anthropology

All candidates must, in consultation with their advisors, select a dissertation topic and describe their proposed doctoral research in a prospectus. The prospectus should:

• Give a concise statement of the problem to be addressed in the dissertation or of the hypotheses it proposes to test. 
• Provide a literature review that draws on their reading lists and field essays.
• Provide a clear research design.
• Address the project with appropriate research methods.

The prospectus will normally be written in the G3 year after the general examination , drawing on their work in the Research Design/Proposal Writing course.

The candidate will discuss and defend the prospectus before his or her dissertation committee. The prospectus defense should take place prior to the beginning of dissertation fieldwork. Completion of the Human Subjects compliance forms and approval of them by Harvard’s Institutional Review Board must be completed before dissertation field work can begin (see the IRB website ).

No more than 25-30 double-spaced pages, exclusive of the bibliography and any figures.

Upon successful defense of the prospectus, all students are required to present their prospectus projects in the Spring Anthropology Prospectus Symposium normally held annually in early May.

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• MA Medical Anthropology
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Anthropology Research

• Social Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Human Evolutionary Biology
• Medical Anthropology

Susan Gilman, Library Liaison for Anthropology

If you have questions or would like to discuss your research, email me ( [email protected] ) or book an appointment !

Background Information

• Annual Reviews   (Harvard Key required): Searches review articles, including the Annual Review of Anthropology.
• Oxford Bibliographies  (Harvard Key required): Articles that are written and reviewed by scholars, which provide an overview of a topic and an annotated bibliography.​
• Very Short Introductions Online   (Harvard Key required): Concise introductions to a diverse range of subjects. 

Books / Book Reviews

• Anthropology Plus  (Harvard Key required): A good source for finding book reviews, both historical and current. 
• Google Books  (some content free / open access): A useful tool for searching within books and seeing book previews. 
• HOLLIS  (some content  free / open access): Contains information about the many different types of items held in the Harvard Library.

Articles / Review Articles

• Academic Search Premier  (Harvard Key required): A general-purpose database covering scholarly journals as well as more mainstream publications.
• Anthropology Plus  (Harvard Key required): Searches the major literature, including journals, in anthropology and related fields. 
• AnthroSource  (Harvard Key required): Searches journals published by the American Anthropological Association.
• Google Scholar  (some content free / open access): Searches many different types of publications across a variety of disciplines. Learn how to connect Google Scholar to your library access. 
• JSTOR  (Harvard Key required): Searches many different types of publications across a variety of disciplines.  
• View More:  Harvard Library Databases Search Page : See all of the Harvard Library's databases. 

Ethnographies

Anthropological Fieldwork Online  (Harvard Key required): Contains primary sources related to landmark ethnographies written by anthropologists like Bronislaw Malinowski and Ruth Benedict.  Anthropology Online  (Harvard Key required): Brings together a wide range of written ethnographies, field notes, seminal texts, memoirs, and contemporary studies. Ethnographic Video Online  (Harvard Key required): A large video streaming library of ethnographic films and documentaries.  Google Books  (some content free / open access): A useful tool for searching within books. Once you find a book that you are interested in, check HOLLIS to see if Harvard owns it. When searching, include the terms ethnography or ethnographic.  HOLLIS  (some content free / open access): Contains information about the many different types of items held in the Harvard Library. When searching, include the terms ethnography or ethnographic. ​ HRAF World Cultures  (Harvard Key required): Contains a variety of primary source materials on over 400 cultures. 

Images / Film

• ARTstor  (some content free / open access): Contains images from museums, libraries, and archives from all over the world. 
• Ethnographic Video Online  (Harvard Key required): A large video streaming library of ethnographic films and documentaries.  ​
• Google Arts & Culture  (free / open access): Contains images from over 130 museums from around the world.
• HOLLIS  Images  (some content free / open access): Includes content from archives, museums, libraries, and other collections throughout Harvard University.

Dissertations / Theses

• DASH  (free / open access): Harvard's central, open-access repository for research by Harvard community members. Contains Harvard anthropology dissertations from 2012-present and some undergraduate theses.
• HOLLIS  (some content free / open access): Find dissertations and theses written by scholars from Harvard. 
• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses  (Harvard Key required): Find dissertations and theses written by scholars from North American universities. Most post-1990 titles are available with full-text.
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Except where otherwise noted, this work is subject to a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , which allows anyone to share and adapt our material as long as proper attribution is given. For details and exceptions, see the Harvard Library Copyright Policy ©2021 Presidents and Fellows of Harvard College.

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Social Anthropology

Entry requirements.

A previous background of study in anthropology is not a prerequisite for admissions. However, successful candidates, whether they have studied anthropology previously or not, must be able to state clearly their interests in anthropology and demonstrate familiarity with intellectual issues in current anthropological theory and method. Generally, successful applicants have a strong background in either a geographic, cultural region and/or a particular topical or theoretical interest in anthropology. The personal statement is required as part of the application and should make such backgrounds and interests very clear. Prior preparation in languages related to an applicant’s intended area or areas of specialization is advantageous. Current language abilities should be explained in the application essay. Students in the graduate program are required to demonstrate that they have sufficient abilities for research in both a language they will use for conducting fieldwork and in a language in which there is a body of anthropological writing relevant to their proposed research.

Months of entry

Course content.

The graduate program in Social Anthropology focuses on issues of globalism, ethnic politics, gender studies, “new” nationalisms, diaspora formation, transnationalism and local experience, medical anthropology, linguistic and semiotic anthropology, and media. Our mission is to develop new methodologies for an anthropology that tracks cultural developments in a global economy increasingly defined by the Internet and related technologies. Our graduate students (drawn from over 30 countries) expect to work in the worlds of academe, government, NGOs, law, medicine, and business. 

Knowing that material culture is a key element in the study of globalism and the new world economy, we work closely with staff from Harvard’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, who share our interests in redefining the study of popular culture, art, and the origins of industrial society. Research at the museum also makes it possible for us to maintain close ties to our departmental colleagues in the archaeology program. 

Fees and funding

5 years’ funding is guaranteed to all Harvard PhD students. British citizens who are – or will be – graduates of British universities should check out both Kennedy Scholarships and Frank Knox Fellowships Both of these awards typically offer full tuition and health insurance coverage and a generous stipend towards living expenses. They are offered annually in competition. A Frank Knox Fellowship can be particularly welcomed during the early stages of a doctoral degree and both awards offer considerable personal support from their networks. Please note that you will need to submit your application to either or both awards ahead of the deadline for your Harvard application. Kennedy Scholarship and Frank Knox Fellowship applications are to be made online via their websites between mid-August and late-October in the same application season as you will submit your application to Harvard. Please also note they are totally separate from, and independent of, admission to the program. Awards made at interview in London in January are provisional, pending confirmation of a place on the course. See both websites for full information.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

• Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

FALL COURSE REGISTRATION  is open through August 29. Explore courses today.

Anthropology Degree Requirements

The  Master of Liberal Arts, Anthropology degree field is offered online with 1 on-campus requirement at Harvard University. Weekend on-campus courses are available.

Getting Started

Explore admissions & degree requirements.

• Course curriculum and the on-campus experience
• Admissions: eligibility and earning your way in
• Completing your degree

Begin Your Admissions Path This Fall

Enroll in your first admission course. Registration is open July 22–August 29.

Learn how to register →

Required Course Curriculum

Online core and elective courses

On-campus Engaging in Scholarly Conversation course

Capstone or thesis

12 Graduate Courses (48 Credits)

Many of our anthropology offerings focus on identity and social justice, making it an ideal option for professionals in the fields of education, community development, public service, public health, NGOs, as well as management and diversity, inclusion and belonging.

As part of the program curriculum, you pursue either a thesis or capstone track. You can further customize the program by choosing the anthropology and elective courses that meet your learning goals.

The primarily synchronous online format ensures real-time engagement with faculty and peers.

Required Core & Elective Courses View More

• SSCI 100A Proseminar: Introduction to Graduate Studies in Anthropology and Psychology
• 4 anthropology courses
• 1 anthropology seminar
• This 4-credit requirement is fulfilled by completing 2 two-credit Active Learning Weekends or 1 three-week summer course.
• EXPO 42b Writing in the Social Sciences is an elective option.

Browse Courses →

Thesis Track View More

The thesis is a 9-month independent research project where you work one-on-one in a tutorial setting with a thesis director.

You enroll in the following additional courses for the thesis track:

• ANTH 497 Crafting the Thesis Proposal in Anthropology Tutorial
• ANTH 499AB ALM Thesis in Anthropology (8 credits)

Recent Thesis Topics:

• Maya Vase Rollout Photography’s Past, Present, and Potential in a Cross-Discipline Digital Future: A Proof-of-Concept Study
• When Witches Mourn the Dead: Grieving Rituals of Contemporary Witchcraft in New England
• From Memes to Marx: Social Media as the New Frontier of Ruling Class Dominance

Capstone Track View More

The capstone track focuses on a capstone project and includes the following additional courses. You choose between two precapstone and capstone topic areas.

• 1 anthropology elective
• SSCI 597B Identity Precapstone: Theory and Research
• SSCI 599B Identity Capstone: Bridging Research and Practice
• GOVT 597A Precapstone: Strategies to Advance Social Change
• GOVT 599A Social Justice Capstone: Equity and the Struggle for Justice

Capstone experience. First, in the precapstone, you gain foundational preparation through critically analyzing the scholarly literature. Then, in the capstone, you execute a semester-long research project with guidance and support from your instructor and fellow candidates.

Capstone sequencing. You enroll in the precapstone and capstone courses in the same topic, in back-to-back semesters (fall/spring), and in your final academic year. The capstone must be taken alone as your sole remaining degree requirement. Capstone topics are subject to change annually.

Recent Capstone Topics:

• Addressing Sexism in Video Game Culture: Empowering Female Players through a Mobile Application for Inclusivity, Visibility, and Support
• Bermuda Wrecks Conservation Through Public Archaeology, Technology and Ease of Access: The “Bermuda Wrecks” Smartphone Application
• Advocating for Healthy Habits in the Digital Age of Education

Optional Graduate Certificate View More

You can choose to concentrate your degree studies to earn a Social Justice Graduate Certificate along the way.

Harvard Instructor Requirement View More

For either the thesis or capstone track, 8 courses (32 credits) of the above courses need to be taught by instructors with the Harvard-instructor designation. The thesis courses are taught by a Harvard instructor.

On Campus Experience

Choose between the accelerated or standard on-campus experience.

Learn and network in-person with your classmates.

Nearly all courses can be taken online, but the degree requires an in-person experience here at Harvard University where you enroll in Engaging in Scholarly Conversation (ESC).

Join your fellow degree candidates for this interactive course that highlights the importance of true graduate-level analysis by training you in the skills of critically engaging the scholarly literature in your field of study.

Choose between two on-campus experience options:

• Accelerated on-campus option: ESC is offered in two, 2-credit Active Learning Weekends. We strongly advise you complete the two weekends in the same academic year with same instructor (part one in fall and part two in spring).
• Standard on-campus option: ESC is offered in one 3-week Harvard Summer School session. This option is ideal for those who want a more traditional on-campus experience. HSS offers, for an additional fee, housing, meal plans, and a prolonged on-campus experience here at Harvard University. Learn more about campus life at Harvard .

You register for ESC after completing the proseminar with a grade of B or higher and prior to either the Crafting the Thesis Proposal tutorial or the precapstone to support your final research project. Ordinarily, students wait until they are officially admitted before enrolling in this requirement, as it does not count as one of the three, 4-credit courses required for admission.

You have two attempts to earn the required grade of B- or higher in ESC. A withdrawal grade (WD) counts as an attempt.

Whether working on a paper at one of the libraries or shopping at the Harvard Coop, I always felt like I belonged.

On attending Engaging in Scholarly Conversation in the active learning weekend format.

International Students Who Need a Visa View More

To meet the on-campus requirement, you choose the Standard on-campus option and study with us in the summer. You can easily request an I-20 for the F-1 student visa for Harvard Summer School’s 3-week session. For more details, see International Student Study Options for important visa information .

In-Person Co-Curricular Events View More

Come to Cambridge for Convocation (fall) to celebrate your hard-earned admission, Harvard career fairs offered throughout the year, HES alumni networking events (here at Harvard and around the world), and, of course, Harvard University Commencement (May).

Confirm your initial eligibility with a 4-year bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent.

Take three courses in our unique “earn your way in” admissions process that count toward your degree.

In the semester of your third course, submit the official application for admission to the program.

Below are our initial eligibility requirements and an overview of our unique admissions process to help get you started. Visit the Degree Program Admissions page for more details.

Initial Eligibility View More

• Prior to enrolling in any degree-applicable courses, you must possess a 4-year regionally accredited US bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent. Foreign bachelor’s degrees must be evaluated for equivalency.
• If English is your second language, you’ll need to prove English proficiency before registering for a course. We have multiple proficiency options .

Earning Your Way In — Courses for Admission View More

To begin the admission process, you simply register — no application required — for the following three, 4-credit, graduate-level degree courses (available online).

These prerequisite courses are investments in your studies and help ensure success in the program. They count toward your degree once you’re admitted; they are not additional courses.

• Before registering, you’ll need to pass our online test of critical reading and writing skills or earn a B or higher in EXPO 42b Writing in the Social Sciences.
• You have 2 attempts to earn the minimum grade of B in the proseminar (a withdrawal grade counts as an attempt). The proseminar cannot be more than 2 years old at the time of application.
• 1 Anthropology course
• 1 Anthropology course or elective (e.g., EXPO 42b)

While the three courses don’t need to be taken in a particular order or in the same semester, we highly recommend that you start with the proseminar (or the prerequisite EXPO 42b). All three courses must be completed with a grade of B or higher, without letting your overall Harvard cumulative GPA dip below 3.0.

Applying to the Degree Program View More

During the semester of your third degree course, submit the official application to the program.

Don’t delay! You must prioritize the three degree courses for admission and apply before completing subsequent courses. By doing so, you’ll:

• Avoid the loss of credit due to expired course work or changes to admission and degree requirements.
• Ensure your enrollment in critical and timely degree-candidate-only courses.
• Avoid the delayed application fee.
• Gain access to exclusive benefits.

Eligible students who submit a complete and timely application will have 9 more courses after admission to earn the degree. Applicants can register for courses in the upcoming semester before they receive their grades and while they await their admission decision.

Prospective ALM students can expect acceptance into the program by meeting all the eligibility and academic requirements detailed on this page, submitting a complete application, and having no academic standing or conduct concerns.

The Office of Predegree Advising & Admissions makes all final determinations about program eligibility.

Search and Register for Courses

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) offers degree courses all year round to accelerate degree completion.

• You can study in fall, January, and spring terms through Harvard Extension School (HES) and during the summer through Harvard Summer School (HSS).
• You can enroll full or part time. After qualifying for admission, many of our degree candidates study part time, taking 2 courses per semester (fall/spring) and 1 in the January and summer sessions.
• Most fall and spring courses meet once a week for two hours, while January and summer courses meet more frequently in a condensed format.

Completing Your Degree

Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Complete your courses in five years.

Earn your Harvard degree and enjoy Harvard Alumni Association benefits upon graduation.

Required GPA, Withdrawal Grades, and Repeat Courses View More

GPA. You need to earn a B or higher in each of the three degree courses required for admission and a B– or higher in each of the subsequent courses. In addition, your cumulative GPA cannot dip below 3.0.

Withdrawal Grades. You are allowed to receive two withdrawal (WD) grades without them affecting your GPA. Any additional WD grades count as zero in your cumulative GPA. See Academic Standing .

Repeat Courses. We advise you to review the ALM program’s strict policies about repeating courses . Generally speaking, you may not repeat a course to improve your GPA or to fulfill a degree requirement (if the minimum grade was not initially achieved). Nor can you repeat a course for graduate credit that you’ve previously completed at Harvard Extension School or Harvard Summer School at the undergraduate level.

Courses Expire: Finish Your Coursework in Under Five Years View More

Courses over five years old at the point of admission will not count toward the degree. As stated above, the proseminar cannot be more than two years old at the time of application.

Further, you have five years to complete your degree requirements. The five-year timeline begins at the end of the term in which you complete any three degree-applicable courses, regardless of whether or not you have been admitted to a degree program.

Potential degree candidates must plan accordingly and submit their applications to comply with the five-year course expiration policy or they risk losing degree credit for completed course work. Additionally, admission eligibility will be jeopardized if, at the point of application to the program, the five-year degree completion policy cannot be satisfied (i.e., too many courses to complete in the time remaining).

Graduate with Your Harvard Degree View More

When you have fulfilled all degree requirements, you will earn your Harvard University degree: Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, Field: Anthropology. Degrees are awarded in November, February, and May, with the annual Harvard Commencement ceremony in May.

Degree Candidate Exclusive Benefits View More

When you become an officially admitted degree candidate, you have access to a rich variety of exclusive benefits to support your academic journey. To learn more, visit degree candidate academic opportunities and privileges .

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

Harvard University Fully Funded PhD in Archaeology and Social Anthropology

Harvard university.

Harvard University, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, offers a fully funded PhD in Archaeology and Social Anthropology. The Department of Anthropology offers coursework and training leading to the PhD in two principal fields of specialization—archaeology and social anthropology—with their own study and examination procedures programs. The financial aid for the Ph.D. in Anthropology features guaranteed funding for the first five years for all Ph.D. students and various funding options and fellowships for other students.

• Deadline: Dec 01, 2024 (Confirmed)*
• Work Experience: Any
• Location: North America
• Citizenship: Any
• Residency: United States

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Social Studies

Undergraduate Program

Social Studies was founded in 1960 by a distinguished group of faculty who believed that the study of the social world requires an integration of the disciplines of history, political science, economics, sociology, and anthropology. For over five decades, Social Studies has brought together outstanding teachers and intellectually engaged students who share a fascination with social science research and theory and a deep interest in applying social science to contemporary social, economic, and political problems.

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• PhD Program in Anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies

Admissions to the PhD in Anthropology and MES has been paused and will not be accepting applications for fall 2024.

The joint program in Anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies is designed for students interested in enriching their program of study for the PhD in Anthropology with firsthand knowledge about the Middle East based on literacy in its languages and an understanding of its cultural traditions. As a student in an interdisciplinary program you are a full member of the Department of Anthropology cohort, but also have an intellectual home at CMES and access to CMES faculty, facilities, and resources.

Students in the joint PhD Program in Anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies fulfill all the  requirements for the PhD in Social Anthropology  in addition to the language and area studies requirements established by the Committee on Middle Eastern Studies.

Language Requirements

Each student must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one of the following European languages: German, French, Italian, or Russian. This requirement may be fulfilled either by a departmental examination or by satisfactory completion of two years of language study. The student must also demonstrate a thorough knowledge of a modern Middle Eastern language: Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish. Depending on the student’s specialization, another Middle Eastern or Islamic language (e.g., Kurdish, Urdu) may be substituted with the approval of the Committee on Joint PhD Programs. The expectation is that the student learn the languages necessary to teach and work in his or her chosen field.

Program of Study in Anthropology and MES

The graduate program in social anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies requires a minimum of sixteen half-courses, three of which are in Middle Eastern history, economics, religion, or political science, and twelve of which are in anthropology. The twelve required anthropology half-courses include the proseminar “History and Theory of Social Anthropology” (2650a and b); a half-course on the ethnography of one’s area of specialization is recommended but not required. A half-course in archaeology is recommended but not required. First-year students must attain at least a B+ in each half of the proseminar.

A list of current Middle East–related courses is available on this site at the beginning of each semester ; the Anthropology Department courses are available at my.harvard.edu .

Social anthropology PhD candidates are required to take written and oral examinations toward the end of their third term of study. Candidates must pass these examinations before they may continue their PhD work. More details are available in the Department of Anthropology’s  Program Guidelines for students .

Dissertation

The dissertation prospectus must be read and approved by a committee of three faculty members no later than the end of the third year. The dissertation will normally be based on fieldwork conducted in the Middle East, or in other areas of the world with close cultural ties to the region, and should demonstrate the student’s ability to use source material in one or more relevant Middle Eastern languages. Satisfactory progress of PhD candidates in the writing stage is determined on the basis of the writing schedule the student arranges with his or her advisor.

Timeline for Student Progress and Degree Completion

• Coursework: One to three years.
• Examinations: General exams must be passed by the end of the second year of study.
• Dissertation Prospectus: Must be approved by the end of the third year.
• Dissertation Defense and Approval: The candidate’s dissertation committee decides when the dissertation is ready for defense. The doctorate is awarded when the candidate passes a defense of the dissertation.
• Graduation: The program is ideally completed in six years.

For more details on these guidelines, see the Middle Eastern Studies section  of the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS) Policies site and the Department of Anthropology’s guidelines for PhD students in social anthropology . Admissions information can be found in the Applying to CMES  section of this site and on the Harvard Griffin GSAS website .

• Applying to CMES
• Concurrent AB/AM Program
• PhD Program in History and Middle Eastern Studies
• PhD Program in History of Art and Architecture and Middle Eastern Studies
• Recent PhD Dissertations
• Funding for PhD Students
• Middle East-related Courses
• Harvard Griffin GSAS Policies

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The seeds of anthropology

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Harvard Staff Writer

Harvard alumnus helps to create academic discipline at Chinese university

This is part of a series  about Harvard’s deep connections with Asia.

JINAN, China — On the 16th floor of Shandong University’s tallest building, more than 70 students filled a conference room, some carrying in chairs from the hallway to hear a Harvard professor talk about a subject relatively new to the university: anthropology.

Michael Herzfeld , Ernest E. Monrad Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard, urged students during the session earlier this month to ask questions and interact. He scanned the room, remarking, “I didn’t expect such a crowd,” and then launched into a discussion of cultural heritage and identity.

Herzfeld’s lecture was part of the six-week intensive course he taught at the university this spring as a way to bolster the fledgling Anthropology Department there.

The department was begun in 2010 by Harvard alumnus Zongze Hu, who graduated with a doctorate in anthropology in 2009. Hu has been working to raise the profile of a discipline rare in China — anthropology was once thought too “Western” and “capitalist” by government central planners, according to Hu — and that is still offered at only a handful of the nation’s more than 2,000 universities.

Jie Liu, dean of Shandong University’s School of Philosophy and Social Development, said that the new interest in anthropology comes from the realization that as China’s role on the world stage grows, so must its understanding of other cultures.

“I feel anthropology can be complementary to existing sociology studies,” said Liu. “On the one hand, China has to learn about other cultures and societies, and on the other, other cultures and societies have to learn about China.”

Hu, who received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology from Peking University before coming to Harvard in 1999, said that while sociology helps to illuminate society, anthropology extends that understanding to a more intimate, individual level.

“Anthropology can tell rich individual experiences. Sociology tends to see the forest; anthropology sees individual trees,” Hu said. “I decided to come here to start something new.”

After getting his doctorate, Hu eventually landed a job at Shandong University, where Liu, with the support of university President Xianming Xu, agreed to develop anthropology as a discipline. The first step in 2010 was to establish an anthropology institute, which in China involves graduate study. Officials started a department a year later to educate undergraduates.

The program has eight faculty members and six students, three undergraduate and three graduate, numbers dwarfed by the crowd at Herzfeld’s lecture.

“I knew … that he was beginning to build this program and I was impressed” with the progress, Herzfeld said.

Herzfeld, who sat on Hu’s dissertation committee, agreed to teach the short course to help raise the new program’s profile. Herzfeld, a social anthropologist whose specialty is southern Europe, has taken a deeper interest in East Asia recently, establishing a research program in Thailand and supporting budding Thai studies at Harvard. He also began to study Chinese immigrants in Italy and, since he is on leave this year, decided to invest the time to both help out Hu and learn Chinese, his sixth language.

“The Chinese presence in Rome is increasingly visible,” Herzfeld said. “Fieldwork is very much a matter of listening to people and seeing what’s on their minds. I feel strongly that if you’re going to work with a group of immigrants, it is particularly important, in order to reassure people, that you talk to them in their own language.”

Through March and early April, Herzfeld taught 90-minute classes three times a week. Students seemed eager for the opportunity to take the class, though it was initially a challenge to get the kind of in-class give-and-take that characterizes U.S. college classes.

Hu is urging his anthropology students to do as Herzfeld did during his stay and learn a new language and conduct fieldwork abroad. Because of the university’s location, he seeks to make Northeast Asia, including Korea and Japan, an area of specialization.

To build a thriving anthropology community of faculty members, graduate and undergraduate students in China, his work at Shandong University has to be replicated at other universities, Hu said. Where anthropology exists in China, it is considered a secondary discipline, under the umbrella of sociology. With a strong community, particularly at China’s top institutions, it could develop into a primary discipline.

Anthropology graduate student Xinru Li, who also served as Herzfeld’s Chinese tutor, said she didn’t know what anthropology was during her undergraduate studies. But she heard Hu lecture on the subject and found it so interesting that she enrolled in the program.  “It’s amazing,” Li said.

Hu’s success is an example of the impact Harvard alumni can have in building new institutions, companies, and capacity in their homelands. Herzfeld cautioned against viewing the flow of knowledge and expertise as moving in only one direction. Harvard regularly builds its own capacity, he pointed out, by hiring the best and brightest from around the world and bringing them to Cambridge.

Herzfeld credited the other two anthropologists on Hu’s dissertation committee, Arthur Kleinman , Rabb Professor of Anthropology, and James “Woody” Watson , the Fairbank Professor of Chinese Society, emeritus, for helping Harvard to establish a strong scholarly reputation in the anthropology of China and for training Chinese doctoral students who have returned to prominent roles and built programs of their own. One of Hu’s schoolmates, Tianshu Pan, is playing a similar foundational role as Hu at Shanghai’s Fudan University, beginning a medical anthropology collaborative research center at Fudan, co-directed by Pan and Kleinman.

“This is an area where people know who we are and are interested in talking to us,” Herzfeld said. “And we’re interested in talking to China to establish stronger traditions in anthropology than exist now. … At Harvard, we’ve been very well supported, and that gives us the motivation to export some of that strength.”

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• Introduction

Harvard Griffin GSAS strives to provide students with timely, accurate, and clear information. If you need help understanding a specific policy, please contact the office that administers that policy.

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Questions about these requirements? See the contact info at the bottom of the page. 

The First Two Years

Minimum course requirements.

Course requirements include 14 courses in sociology, as follows. This is the minimum acceptable amount of coursework, not the norm; most students take additional courses in sociology, as well as courses in other departments that relate to their research interests.

• Soc. 2202 Intermediate Quantitative Research Methods (Students who have had sufficient training in quantitative methods before entering the program may substitute a more advanced quantitative methods course for this course if they can satisfy placement procedures designed by the Soc. 2202 instructor.) 
• Soc. 2203 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods 
• Soc. 2204 Sociological Theory: Seminar
• Soc. 2205 Sociological Research Design
• Soc. 2208 Contemporary Theory and Research: Seminar
• Soc. 2209 Qualitative Social Analysis: Seminar
• Soc. 3310 Qualifying Paper Seminar
• Soc. 3305, the Teaching Practicum
• Two workshops in Sociology 
• Four elective courses; three of which must be 200/2000-level courses in Sociology 

Electives 

Three of the required four elective courses must be 200/2000-level courses in sociology. Courses not listed or cross-listed in sociology in  Courses of Instruction  will not count toward the requirement of at least three 200/2000-level courses in sociology. 

The remaining elective may be chosen from 100/1000-level sociology courses designated as Conference Courses in  Courses of Instruction;  200/2000-level sociology courses; 301/3301 individual reading courses in sociology; or electives outside sociology. If the remaining elective is not a 200/2000-level sociology elective, it must be approved by the Sociology Committee on Higher Degrees (CHD). 

Any electives outside sociology should meaningfully contribute to the student’s graduate training. They should have a Letter Graded grading basis and be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor at the time of enrollment. To receive elective credit for a course outside sociology, the student should submit a Petition for Elective Credit to the CHD. 

The minimum standard for satisfactory work in the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is a “B” average in each academic year. The Department of Sociology, however, expects that students will maintain an average of B+ or better in sociology courses.

There is no language requirement.

Incompletes

Graduate students are permitted to take a temporary grade of Incomplete in courses other than the required ones. Notwithstanding this, the CHD strongly recommends that students not take Incompletes unless absolutely necessary, and certainly in no more than one course per term. Papers should be submitted in time to receive a letter grade; revisions for possible publication can come later.  Incompletes are equivalent to Cs; and thus, for each Incomplete there must be an A in order to maintain a B average.  A temporary Incomplete grade must be converted to a regular letter grade in order for a course to count toward meeting minimum course work requirements.

Research Paper

A special research paper, known as a “qualifying” paper, is required of each student. Although not a master’s thesis, this paper will be judged more critically than the normal seminar or term paper. It should offer some new contribution to knowledge, either in the form of an original interpretation of existing facts, new facts in support or disconfirmation of existing interpretations, or both. The work should be of the same length, quality, and finish as a paper acceptable to the major sociological journals, and, indeed, students normally will be encouraged to submit the paper for publication, although this is not required. In preparing to write this paper, students should consult with their academic advisor or research supervisor before the end of the third term in residence. Second-year students are required to appoint a Qualifying Paper advisor and submit a two-page overview of their planned project to the graduate program coordinator. Once the topic and research design have been agreed upon with the advisor, the student should petition the Committee on Higher Degrees (CHD) in Sociology for appointment of three readers. 

Master of Arts (AM)

The department does not admit students to study for an AM degree. Students in the PhD program who have successfully completed eight sociology courses (including 2202 or approved substitute, 2203, 2204, 2205, 2208, 2209, and 3310, and not to include Sociology 3305 or workshops), the written examination, and the research paper may apply to receive the AM degree in sociology. A student who passes the written general examination at the AM level but not the PhD level, or who passes the general examination at the PhD level but subsequently decides not to complete the requirements for the PhD in sociology, may apply for a terminal AM degree. The requirements for the terminal AM degree are successful completion of eight sociology courses (including Sociology 2202 or approved substitute, 2203, 2204, 2205, 2208, 2209, and 3310, and not to include Sociology 3305 or workshops), passing the written general examination at the AM level or higher, and completing the research paper acceptable at the AM level or higher. A student who has passed the general exam at the PhD level but will not be completing the PhD program must apply for the terminal AM before the start of a fourth year of study in the department.

All students are expected to accept a one-fifth time teaching fellowship (with salary) for one term before completion of the program. Sociology 3305, the Teaching Practicum, should be taken prior to or concurrent with the first teaching assignment. Normally, students do not teach in the first two years; many students teach several sections per year in the third, fourth, and fifth years.

For the first year, prior to the written examination, students are assigned an advisor and also receive guidance from the director of graduate studies. Before the start of their second year, students must choose an advisor, who may be any tenured or tenure-track faculty member whose research interests are compatible with those of the student. The selection process is informal and at the students’ initiative. When they have mutually agreed to work together, the student obtains the faculty member’s signature on an Appointment/Change of Advisor form and files it with the graduate program coordinator. Students may appoint a new advisor at any time if their field of research changes or they find the advising relationship is otherwise unsatisfactory.

General Examinations

Written examination.

Students take the written examination in August, prior to the second year in residence. Its purpose is to ensure a working knowledge of the range of subfields that comprise the discipline of sociology. Students need to be prepared for a broad range of questions; they are given a reading list and sample questions from previous years. The results of the examination will be: honors, pass, conditional pass, or fail. The grade of conditional pass is used when just one of the four answers is found not acceptable; the student is allowed to rewrite that particular answer under faculty guidance within the next month. A student who fails the examination will be permitted to take it a second time at a later date.

Dissertation Prospectus

The prospectus should state clearly the objectives of the study and the specific set of problems to be explored; review the relevant literature; and indicate the ways in which the student hopes to make a contribution to existing ideas on the subject. The data to be employed, the research methods and design, and a plan of study should be given in as much detail as is necessary. Normally the prospectus is 20 to 30 pages in length, in addition to an extensive bibliography. When the final draft of the prospectus has been prepared, the student petitions the CHD for approval of the topic and the appointment of three examiners, one being the dissertation advisor. Following CHD approval, the student and prospectus committee schedule a prospectus defense, at which time the student is examined on the proposed research project. The intent of this meeting is to ensure that the dissertation project is viable and that the student is prepared to begin their research. Ordinarily, the prospectus should be approved before the end of the spring term of the student’s fourth year in residence.

Dissertation Completion/Oral Defense

The dissertation should build an integrated argument. While individual chapters may be stand-alone papers, the dissertation may not consist of several unrelated papers, published or not, without an introduction or conclusion. With the approval of the dissertation committee, one dissertation chapter may be coauthored, provided the student is the lead author or authorship is shared equally with one coauthor. Coauthorship of any chapter must be acknowledged in the dissertation. Students who do not complete and defend their dissertation by May 31 of the sixth year must receive approval from the CHD. If not planning to defend by March 31of the sixth year, the student must create a planned timeline to degree with their advisor(s) and submit the timeline, signed by both the student and the advisor(s), to the CHD for approval no later than April 30. Students must receive approval from the CHD each year to remain in good standing (see Failure to Meet Requirements). In addition, Harvard Griffin GSAS sets the following policy for all Harvard doctoral programs: “PhD candidates who have not completed requirements for the degree by their tenth year of study will be withdrawn. Once the dissertation is complete, withdrawn students may apply for readmission to register for the purpose of receiving the degree.” Harvard Griffin GSAS also sets the following policy for students who receive a Dissertation Completion Fellowship: “Students are expected to complete the dissertation during the completion fellowship year; this will be the final year of Harvard Griffin GSAS funding even for students who do not finish during the fellowship year. In addition, after holding a dissertation completion fellowship, students will ordinarily be limited to no more than one additional academic year of registration in the Graduate School.” Requirements for the format of the finished dissertation are contained in the Policies on formatting your dissertation. The CHD does not add to these specifications. When student and advisor agree that the final draft is ready, members of the dissertation committee, other faculty, students, staff, and guests are invited to attend the oral defense. At its conclusion, the committee may approve, reject, or require revisions in the dissertation. 

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Graduate Office Department of Sociology William James Hall 660 33 Kirkland Street Cambridge, MA 02138 [email protected]

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Social Anthropology  Master's (MA), Doctorate (PhD)

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Dr. fitting’s research into food activism, agrarian issues, and migration in latin america fall under the concentration economy, work, and development. discover our three concentrations of research expertise and how they influence our graduate program., read more....

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Learn more about the research interests of lindsay dubois, liesl gambold and other faculty members at our departmental talks, events and activities held throughout the academic year., engaged with real world issues.

From resolution for Indigenous Peoples to medical anthropology, our researchers explore a broad range of topics around the world.

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Graduate Program

Graduate Anthropology Program Overview

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

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

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

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

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Degrees & Courses

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

  Graduate Degrees

  Graduate Courses

Graduate Student Handbook

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

Anthropology Graduate Student Handbook (pdf)

Graduate Program Requirements

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

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

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

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

Anthropology Current & Upcoming Courses

Graduate College Bulletin

MA Anthropology Degree Checksheet

Candidacy and Committee Requirements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A student must complete one of the Research Methods courses:

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

Finally, the student must take

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

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

MA Sociocultural Anthropology Degree Sheet

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

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

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

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

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

o   ANTH 2203 Global Cultural Diversity [3 credits]

o   ANTH 2303 General Linguistics [3 credits]

o   ANTH 3113 Principles of Archaeology [3 credits]

o   ANTH 3203 Introduction to Biological Anthropology [3 credits]

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

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

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

o   ANTH 4113 Anthropology Capstone [3 credits]

o   Anthropology Electives [18 credits]

Graduate Requirements [30 credits total]

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

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

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

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

o   ANTH 5363 Linguistic Anthropology [3 credits]

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

o   ANTH 6713 Archaeological Theory [3 credits]

Research Methods (3 required credit hours)

Choose from:

o   ANTH 5153 Ethnography of Communication [3 credits]

o   ANTH 5213 Ethnographic Methods [3 credits]

o   ANTH 5253 The Anthropology of Communities [3 credits]

o   ANTH 5433 Ethnographic Writing [3 credits]

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

Thesis (2-5 credits required)

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

Electives (12-15 hours required)

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

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

BA+MA Sociocultural Anthropology Degree Sheet

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

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

MA Linguistic Anthropology Degree Sheet

* This program is Non-Thesis only

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MA Applied Anthropology Degree Sheet

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

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

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

Sociocultural and Linguistics Ph.D. 

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

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

Convergence Area

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

Choose one of the following sets of course options:

Sociocultural Anthropology

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

Linguistic Anthropology

• ANTH 5153 Ethnography of Communication [3 credits]

Other Electives

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

Sociocultural and Linguistics Ph.D Degree Checksheet

Archaeology Ph.D.

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

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

Archaeology Ph.D. Degree Sheet

Human Health and Biology Ph.D.

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

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

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

Human Health and Biology Ph.D. Degree Checksheet

Funding and Awards

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

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

Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships

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

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

Research and Travel Awards

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

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

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

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

Morris E. Opler Memorial Scholarships

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

Rain Vehik Award

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

Gilman-Minnis Scholarship in Archaeology

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

Anthropology Graduate Student Association (AGSA)

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

Applying to the Anthropology Graduate Program

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

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

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

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

Direct any questions to the  Graduate Liaison .

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

Graduate Degree Application  

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