Download Graduate School Handbook Anthropology

Liberal Arts Career Services
College of Liberal Arts • The University of Texas at Austin
Graduate School Handbook
Anthropology
The purpose of this handbook is to help you learn more about advanced degrees in anthropology and to help you
navigate through the application process. It is important to note that programs differ vastly from university to university, and even program to program. For example, program length, terminology, credit hour requirement, sequence, and
application components and requirements may vary widely by program. With this in mind, please use this handbook as
a general guide to help you understand the bigger graduate school picture and to help you consider what questions to
ask of particular programs of interest to you. For more specific information and professional advice – speak with a faculty
member who specializes in your intended area of study.
Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Anthropology Studies
MA Degree Information
PhD Degree Information
Top 20 Anthropology Programs
The Application Process
Tips for Graduate School Prep
Anthropology Studies
Anthropology graduate study programs provide students
interested in an advanced degree the opportunity to
learn from and conduct research with leading academics
from around the world. Anthropology graduate programs
focus on the five main areas of anthropology: social
anthropology, archaeology, physical anthropology,
linguistic anthropology, and applied anthropology.
Graduate programs aim to train students to become
successful scholars who are theoretically sophisticated
and focused on the issues, discussions, and approaches
that define our culturally diverse, increasingly globalized
and rapidly-changing world.
Students pursuing an advanced degree in anthropology
are interested in the study of human beings, across the
world and throughout time. Anthropology graduate
students take a social science approach to the study of
humankind, studying and researching topics to answer
a variety of questions, including: what defines us as
7. Funding
8. Graduate Student Life & Study
9. Alumni & Careers
10. Application Timeline Checklist
11. Faculty & Graduate Student Profiles
humans, who were our ancestors, who are we physically,
why do we behave the way we do, why is it that groups
of humans differ, and how has our evolution helped
develop our current societies and cultures – just to name
a few. To help answer these questions, master’s and
doctorate programs offer students the opportunity to
study and conduct academic research in the following
areas of anthropology. However, keep in mind that not all
universities offer all areas of study, instead programs may
focus on particular anthropology study areas.
Areas of Study
Social Anthropology Social anthropology may also be
referred to as cultural or sociocultural anthropology.
These programs focus on the study of contemporary
human beings and how we interact and behave in social
groups. Social anthropology graduate programs provide
training and research on a variety of topics, including
social theory and culture, transnational identities, political
ecology and sustainability, political economy, hegemony
Liberal Arts Graduate School Advising Handbook: ANT • 512.471.7900 • www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/ • rv- Dec 09 • P1
© Liberal Arts Career Services, The University of Texas at Austin
Graduate School Handbook
Anthropology
and resistance, social justice and human rights, culture
and power, cultural poetics, discourse theory, ethnicity,
class, folklore, and feminist theory. Many programs add to
these study areas by incorporating training in geographic
areas and native populations.
Archaeology Archaeology programs study ancient and
recent past human cultures through material remains,
including architecture, artifacts, biofacts, and written
records to gain a broad and comprehensive understanding
of humanity. Archaeologists explore the human past,
examining the cultural and ecological encounters that
have given rise to the complex cultures and different
societies of the present. Archaeological work and
study may be categorized into types based on content,
location or use of information, including prehistoric,
historical, underwater, industrial, urban, cultural resource
management, and bioarchaeology. Archaeology graduate
programs help train graduate students for this work
by providing study and research in a variety of areas,
including theory, methodology, excavation, and analysis.
Archaeology combines other anthropology areas such as
social and physical to better understand and document
the origins and development of human cultures.
Linguistic Anthropology Linguistic anthropology studies
the use of human language and symbolism and utilizes
linguistic methods to analyze human communication.
Linguistic anthropology programs help train graduate
students in a broad range of areas, including language,
culture and society, analysis of gesture, language
endangerment, aesthetics of language production,
expressive culture, institutional language, hieroglyphic
writing, the use of video in communication, politics
of communication, sociolinguistics, and semiotic
technologies.
Physical Anthropology Physical anthropology may
also be referred to as biological anthropology. These
programs focus on a variety of topics, including
evolution, primatology, morphology, genetics, human
adaptability, paleoanthropology, chronostratigraphy, and
the interaction of human biology and culture. Physical
anthropology graduate students research and study a
variety of courses and topics, including human physiology,
human osteology, forensic anthropology, hominid
paleoecology, human evolution, primate behavior,
primate anatomy, biomechanics, psychoacoustics, and
vertebrate morphology.
Applied Anthropology Applied anthropology refers
to the practical application of anthropological data,
methods, and theories to the analysis of and attempt to
solve social problems, including poverty, disease, and
inequality. Applied anthropology is the application of the
previous four fields to solve practical problems; applied
anthropology is often referred to as anthropology in
action. Applied anthropology as a graduate study program
can include almost any area of social concern or a method
of working with social concerns. Study areas include
communities, activism, organizations, health, business,
and education.
Master of Arts (M.A.) Degree
The master’s degree is generally a two-year program
during which students study a particular topic at an
advanced and in-depth level. During the program,
students conduct and write graduate-level research or
take advanced comprehensive exams to demonstrate a
proficient knowledge in the chosen area(s) of study.
MA programs in anthropology are designed to provide
students a social science curriculum, focusing on one
or more of the five fields of anthropology. Graduate
programs are designed for students interested in
advanced training in the study of human culture in order
to pursue careers requiring the application
of anthropological methods in a variety of
industries, including corporate, nonprofit,
and public service.
Terminal - vs - En Route Master’s Programs
The MA degree may be terminal or earned
en route to the PhD degree. The terminal
degree is one in which the student
Liberal Arts Graduate School Advising Handbook: ANT • 512.471.7900 • www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/ • rv - Dec 09 • P2
Graduate School Handbook
Anthropology
completes the MA and graduates from the university with
no plans for continued study. The majority of terminal MA
programs are intended for students interested in careers
outside of academia, working in a variety of industries.
Many departments focus on their doctorate programs,
therefore more attention may be given to PhD applicants
over terminal MA applicants.
The majority of liberal arts MA programs are not terminal,
instead the intended final degree is the PhD - the MA is
a stepping-stone, earned en route to the PhD degree.
Generally, at the appropriate time in the degree plan,
students either transition to or apply to the PhD program.
In some cases, students do not make the initial application
to the MA program, instead programs only accept PhD
applicants. In other cases, students apply to the MA
program with the intention to continue their studies by
transitioning to the PhD program.
option will analyze or interpret a body of material to
demonstrate their ability to do an extended piece of
research beyond the normal graduate seminar term
paper. A thesis is generally 75-pages in length.
Report: The report is generally a one-semester
project for which students earn three credit hours.
Students who take the report option will write on
a given topic or body of material that the student
has researched. The report is generally 50-pages in
length.
Qualifying (or Comprehensive) Exam: The
comprehensive exam is designed to test the
student’s comprehensive knowledge in the area
of study. The exam is used frequently in literature
programs and is based on a reading list provided
by the department as well as the student’s study
program.
Program Sequence
Master’s degree programs generally require around 30
credit hours of coursework, including report, thesis, or
exam credit hours. During the early semesters, students
complete the program coursework, of which the majority
of hours are taken in the area of specialization. Other hour
requirements are fulfilled by taking classes in supporting
areas, including research methods, history, culture,
language, and electives. In most graduate programs,
students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA. Any course
in which a student earns less than a C will generally not be
counted towards the degree.
Once the coursework is completed, students register
for report, thesis, or comprehensive exam credit hours,
depending on the specific program. Once completed, the
exam will be graded or the student will present the report
or thesis to a committee for review with one of three
outcomes: approval/pass with authorization to proceed to
the PhD program, satisfactory/pass for a terminal degree
(no PhD study allowed), or unsatisfactory/fail. If the work
has been deemed unsatisfactory, the student has a short
period of time (two months) to rewrite the thesis or
report for terminal degree consideration.
Thesis: The thesis is generally a two-semester
project for which students earn six credit hours
towards the degree. Students who take the thesis
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree
The doctorate degree is generally a four to eight year
program designed to build upon the comprehensive
knowledge achieved at the master’s level. The program
allows the student to develop advanced expertise in
a chosen field of research needed to publish scholarly
research and to be successful in a future tenure-track
professorship, teaching in an area of anthropology.
Doctorate programs often require or strongly recommend
students interested in a teaching career to acquire basic
competence in four of the five fields of anthropology.
Program Sequence
Doctorate degree programs generally consists of around
36 credit hours beyond the master’s degree. Students
must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in the program.
Coursework: For the first year in the program,
students complete coursework in line with their
degree plan.
Comprehensive (or Qualifying) Exam: Upon
completing coursework, usually in the second year
of the program, students take a comprehensive
written and oral exam to evaluate general knowledge
Liberal Arts Graduate School Advising Handbook: ANT • 512.471.7900 • www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/ • rv - Dec 09 • P3
Graduate School Handbook
Anthropology
of method and theory. The exam, which must
be passed to continue in the program, allows
students to demonstrate competence in the area of
specialization, both theoretical and geographic or
substantive.
Dissertation Prospectus: Once the student has
successfully passed the qualifying exams, they then
prepare a dissertation prospectus, generally in the
third year. The prospectus is a detailed description of
the dissertation. Once the prospectus is successfully
presented by the student and approved by the
faculty committee, the student can apply for doctoral
candidacy.
Foreign Language Requirement: Doctoral candidates
generally must demonstrate reading and/or oral
competence in a foreign language relevant to the
area of study prior to the application to candidacy.
Language abilities may be tested in a variety of ways
per the requirements of the department.
Candidacy: Students generally apply to candidacy to
the university’s graduate school after completing the
course requirements, the qualifying exams and the
language requirement. Once accepted to candidacy,
students are considered ABD (all but dissertation).
Students spend the year (or more) enrolled in
dissertation hours while conducting their own
research and writing their dissertation.
Dissertation Defense: Many programs require
students to defend the dissertation before
consideration for graduation. The defense is an
opportunity for committee members to further
explore the student’s dissertation in a presentation
format. The student provides an overview of the
work after which the committee cross-examines the
student. The committee may point out flaws in the
work and it is up to the student to defend the work.
The committee then votes on the success of the
student’s work and ability to graduate.
Completion: Students earn the PhD once the
dissertation has been successfully defended.
anqrwpoς
Top 20 Anthropology Programs in the
U.S., 2009
The National Research Council ranks anthropology
graduate programs based on a variety of criteria. Below
is the top 20 list in 2009, including an introduction to
the programs. If you prefer to use your own criteria to
evaluate the rankings for anthropology programs, use the
personalized ranking system at PhDs.org: http://graduateschool.phds.org/rankings/anthropology?
1. University of Michigan at Ann Arbor - Ann Arbor, MI
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/anthro/
Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department of Anthropology
offers graduate programs in ethnology, archaeology,
biological anthropology, and linguistic anthropology.
The graduate program admits PhD candidates only; the
program is not considered to be a terminal master’s
program. The doctorate program application date
generally falls in early January.
2. University of Chicago - Chicago, IL
http://anthropology.uchicago.edu/graduate/
Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department of Anthropology
offers doctoral programs in archaeology and in
sociocultural and linguistic anthropology. Although
doctoral students must complete an MA paper during
their course of study at the University (or receive credit
for an M.A. degree earned at another institution), no
one is admitted to the Department solely to seek an
MA degree. Terminal MA degrees are granted at the
discretion of the Department of Anthropology. The
application date generally falls in mid-December.
3. University of California at Berkeley - Berkeley, CA
Ph.D., Anthropology & Medical Anthropology: The
Department of Anthropology offers PhD programs in
archaeology, biological anthropology, sociocultural
anthropology, and medical anthropology. Research
undertaken by Berkeley graduate students literally
spans the globe, with notable regional strengths in the
study of Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Islamic world,
and contemporary North America. The application date
generally falls in mid-December. http://anthropology.
berkeley.edu/programs/graduate/index.php
M.A., Folklore: The Department of Anthropology
offers an MA program in folklore, an interdisciplinary
Liberal Arts Graduate School Advising Handbook: ANT • 512.471.7900 • www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/ • rv - Dec 09 • P4
Graduate School Handbook
Anthropology
program focusing on the relationship between
traditionality and modernity in contemporary
research and social life, the historical emergence
of traditional cultural forms, and the importance of
tradition in shaping political and social projects. The
application date generally falls in mid-December.
http://anthropology.berkeley.edu/programs/graduate/
folklore.php
4. Harvard University - Cambridge, MA
http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/programs_of_study/
anthropology.php
Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department of
Anthropology’s graduate program offers PhD
programs in archaeology and social anthropology.
The Archaeology Program’s strengths include
complex societies and ethnicities and languages. The
social anthropology program aims to develop new
methodologies that track cultural developments in a
global economy increasingly defined by the internet
and related technologies. Social anthropology also
offers medical and media emphasis programs. The
application date generally falls in late December.
A.M., Anthropology: The Department of Anthropology
also offers a master’s degree program (AM: artium
magister) in Anthropology, with a specialty in Medical
Anthropology. The program is intended to provide a
basic education in medical anthropology, in particular
for physicians or other health professionals, and can be
completed in an intensive 12 months. The application
date generally falls in late December.
5. University of Arizona - Tuscon, AZ
http://anthropology.arizona.edu/graduate/gengrad.php
M.A., M.S. & Ph.D., Anthropology: The School of
Anthropology offers doctor’s and master’s programs in
four subfields of anthropology: archaeology, biological
anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and sociocultural
anthropology. Specialized concentrations are available
in applied anthropology, ecological anthropology,
anthropology and history, medical anthropology, and
southwest land, culture, and society. The application
date generally falls in mid-December.
6. University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/anthro/graduate
M.A. & Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department
of Anthropology offers MA and PhD programs
in archaeology, cultural anthropology, physical
anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. The
university offers combined programs in Africana
studies, ethnohistory, language, culture and society,
and a dual MD/PhD program. An MS Anthropology
degree is offered for students whose primary career
lies outside anthropology, including medicine,
education, and management. The application date
generally falls in mid-December.
7. Stanford University - Stanford, CA
https://www.stanford.edu/dept/anthropology/cgi-bin/
web/?q=node/3
M.A. & Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department of
Anthropology offers MA and PhD programs in three
areas: archaeology, ecology and environment, and
culture and society. Students accepted for the terminal
MA degree program cannot transfer to the PhD
program; they must reapply on the same basis as
other PhD applicants and in competition with the PhD
applicants. The application date generally falls in midDecember.
8. Yale University - New Haven, CT
http://www.yale.edu/anthro/grad/graduate_program.
html
M.A., M.Phil. & Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department
of Anthropology offers MA, MPhil, and PhD programs
in Anthropology, focusing on archaeology, biological
anthropology, and sociocultural anthropology. The MA
degree is intended only for students not continuing
in the PhD program. The academic requirements for
the MPhil degree are the same as for the PhD except
for submission of a prospectus and the writing of a
dissertation. The application date generally falls in early
January.
9. University of California, Los Angeles - Los Angeles, CA
http://www.anthro.ucla.edu/graduate-study/gradprogram
M.A. & Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department
of Anthropology offers MA and PhD programs in
archaeology, biological, sociocultural, and linguistic
anthropology. Only candidates seeking the PhD as
their ultimate degree objective are accepted; the
MA is acquired as a step toward the doctorate. The
application date generally falls in mid-December.
Liberal Arts Graduate School Advising Handbook: ANT • 512.471.7900 • www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/ • rv - Dec 09 • P5
Graduate School Handbook
Anthropology
10. University of California at San Diego - San Diego, CA
http://anthropology.ucsd.edu/Graduate_Programs/
Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department of
Anthropology offers PhD programs in archaeology,
biological, sociocultural, psychological, and linguistic
anthropology. There is no separate admission for
students seeking only a master’s degree; doctoral
students normally receive a master’s degree en route
to the doctoral degree. The application date generally
falls in early January.
11. University of Florida - Gainseville, FL
http://web.anthro.ufl.edu/graduate.shtml
Ph.D., Anthropology: The Anthropology Department
offers programs in sociocultural, archaeological,
biological, and linguistic anthropology. Students
admitted with a bachelor’s degree are considered
initially to be candidates for an MA, although the
expected goal of all students is a PhD. The application
date generally falls in mid-December.
12. The University of Texas at Austin - Austin, TX
http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/anthropology/
Graduate-Program/Overview.php
Ph.D., Anthropology The Department of Anthropology
offers PhD programs in social anthropology,
archaeology, physical anthropology, and linguistic
anthropology. In addition, the department offers
specializations in folklore/public culture, African
diaspora, Mexican-American borderlands, and activist
anthropology. The application date generally falls in
early December
13. New York University - New York, NY
http://anthropology.as.nyu.edu/page/home
Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department of Anthropology
offers PhD programs in archaeology, physical, sociocultural, and linguistic anthropology, as well as a
an MA program in human skeletal biology. The PhD
application date generally falls in early January, and
mid-March for the MA program.
14. University of Illinois at Chicago - Chicago, IL
http://www.uic.edu/depts/anth/anthro.htm
M.A. & Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department
of Anthropology offers MA and PhD programs in
archaeology, sociocultural anthropology, linguistic
anthropology, and physical anthropology. Admissions
preference is given to students who intend to pursue
an MA-PhD sequence, rather than a terminal MA. The
application date generally falls in early January.
15. University of California at Davis - Davis, CA
http://anthropology.ucdavis.edu/graduate
M.A. & Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department
of Anthropology offers MA and PhD programs in
archaeology, linguistic anthropology, biological
anthropology, and social anthropology. The application
date generally falls in mid-January.
16. Columbia University - New York, NY
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/anthropology/graduate/
main/index/index.html
M.A. & Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department
of Anthropology offers MA and PhD programs in
archaeology, sociocultural anthropology, and biological
anthropology. The department also partners with the
American Museum of Natural History to offer an MA
in Museum Anthropology, a professional program
for students interested in the museum field. The PhD
application date generally falls in early January; the MA
application date generally falls in mid-November for
spring and mid-April for fall entry.
17. Washington University in St. Louis - St. Louis, MO
http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/%7Eanthro/grad2.htm
Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department of Anthropology
offers PhD programs in archaeology, sociocultural
anthropology, and physical anthropology. Students
are not admitted for a terminal master’s degree. The
application date generally falls in mid-December.
18. University of Wisconsin at Madison - Madison, WI
http://www.anthropology.wisc.edu/study_grad.php
Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department of Anthropology
offers PhD programs archaeology, biological
anthropology, and cultural anthropology. The
application date generally falls in early December.
19. Duke University - Durham, NC
http://culturalanthropology.duke.edu/grad/index.html
Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department of Cultural
Anthropology offers a PhD program in cultural
anthropology and a JD/MA cultural anthropology
program in conjunction with the Law School. The
application date generally falls in early December.
Liberal Arts Graduate School Advising Handbook: ANT • 512.471.7900 • www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/ • rv - Dec 09 • P6
Graduate School Handbook
Anthropology
20. Univ. of California, Santa Barbara - Santa Barbara, CA
http://www.anth.ucsb.edu/
Ph.D., Anthropology: The Department of Anthropology
offers PhD programs in sociocultural anthropology,
archaeology, and integrative anthropological sciences
and an MA program in North American archaeology.
The application date generally falls in early December.
The Application Process
Admissions to anthropology graduate programs can be
quite competitive. More highly recognized programs are
more competitive than less ambitious programs and in
general, doctoral programs are more difficult to get in
than master’s programs. You may find that you will select
a number of programs to apply to, some of which are your
top choices and others are “safe schools.” A safe school
is generally not as highly competitive and more likely to
accept your application. However, aim high: don’t skip
out on applying to your favorites!
What does an application involve? You can read more
about the components of the application process,
including the statement of purpose, writing sample,
letters of recommendation, and GRE at our Components
webpage: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/services/
graduate-advising/graduate-school/applying/appcomponents
How should you choose which programs to apply to?
Research the programs very well to determine which best
meet your needs. For example, which programs offer the
specific area of study you’re interested in, and do these
programs have renowned faculty in that area? How can
you find out which programs offer what you need? The
best thing you can do is ask a professor, but for a full list of
ideas on researching programs visit our Graduate School
Research webpage: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/
services/graduate-advising/graduate-school/applying/
research-programs
What do faculty advise about applications to graduate
school? Check out the faculty profile in this handbook for
insight on applying to graduate school and what makes
a good candidate, and view the full collection of faculty
profiles online: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/services/
graduate-advising/graduate-school/profiles
When should you apply? Graduate school application
deadlines generally fall between November and January
for enrollment in the following fall semester. Most
graduate programs accept students only once a year,
generally for fall enrollment. Check out the graduate
school application timeline included in this packet for
goal-setting ideas.
Do you need to go to graduate school directly after your
undergraduate degree? As with any personal decision,
this is a question best answered by you, taking your
personal situation and objectives into consideration. If
you feel you are ready to jump right into graduate school
after graduation, you should use your last years at UT
to prepare for the application process. If, however, you
prefer to work for a few years to gain more experience
or if you need more time to consider whether or not
graduate school fits into your long-term goals, your
application will not be weaker if you apply later. Instead,
the experience you have between undergraduate and
graduate school may be helpful in highlighting your
passion, interest, and ability to succeed in a graduate
program. Many students take time between programs,
or earn other degrees between programs. As a matter of
fact, the average graduate student is 33 years old. So, the
short answer is that there is no “one” answer - instead
you should make this a personal decision.
Top Three Application Tips Not To Be Missed
1 until a faculty member has reviewed your
Don’t submit your graduate school application
materials and you have had time to receive valuable
feedback to improve your packet. If possible, ask a faculty
member who specializes in your intended area of study.
the research of specific faculty with
2 Reference
whom you want to work in your application.
at least four weeks early to help your
3 Apply
application standout.
Useful Undergraduate Tips for
Graduate School Preparation
There are many things you can do as an undergraduate
student to prepare for graduate school. Many of these
may be purely intellectual – like taking undergraduate
Liberal Arts Graduate School Advising Handbook : ANT • 512.471.7900 • www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/ • rv - Dec 09 • P7
Graduate School Handbook
Anthropology
anthropology courses. Others may be a combination of
intellectual interest and application strategy – like joining
a research project in your area with a faculty member
who can mentor you and eventually write a great letter of
recommendation. The following tips are provided to help
you explore your anthropology interests.
1. Research: Faculty in the department work with
undergraduate students in a variety of ways, including
research projects. Research projects are a great way to
learn more about your prospective graduate study area,
to meet faculty, and to learn how to conduct research. For
more research information and resources, check out our
Research webpage: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/
services/graduate-advising/graduate-school/research
2. Internships: You can take advantage of a variety of
internship opportunities to help build your skills and
knowledge in the area of study you wish to pursue.
Connect with internships through LACS: http://www.
utexas.edu/cola/lacs/internship_services
3. Write: Use your undergraduate writing assignments to
delve into your area of specialization. Write about your
passions, and use these assignments as a base for your
graduate school application statement of purpose and
writing samples.
4. Learn: Attend UT Department of Anthropology
seminars, events, and conferences to learn what’s
happening in the academic world of anthropology;
to meet leading scholars from around the world and
learn about their research; and to meet and network
with faculty and graduate students from the university
community. Check out the department’s events calendar:
http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/anthropology/events/
upcoming.php
5. Fieldwork: Archaeology students especially may gain
an incredible amount of hands-on experience conducting
fieldwork. UT Austin offers fieldwork opportunities in
Texas (ANT f662), Italy and the Ukraine (ICA), Belize,
Portugal (ANT 662, 379), and Rio de Janeiro (ANT 324L).
Speak with your advisor for details or for a quick overview,
visit our Research page: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/
services/grad-advising/grad-school/research/resources
Graduate School Funding
Department Support
Did you know that many programs will pay your graduate
study costs? Department funding is used to entice
highly competitive candidates to accept the university’s
invitation to enroll in order to strengthen their program.
In turn, the funding provides students the freedom to
focus the next five or so years on their studies, research,
and departmental responsibilities without the distraction
of work outside the department. Department support
may include tuition reimbursement, assistantships,
instructorships, insurance, summer funding, and travel
and conference grants. The following are general
descriptions of typical department roles provided to
graduate students for funding and gaining teaching/
research experience, which in turn helps the department
with undergraduate teaching responsibilities.
Teaching Assistantships (TA): Teaching Assistants
teach discussion sections, hold office hours to meet
with undergraduate students, and grade exams or
papers for professors and instructors who teach
courses with large enrollments.
Assistant Instructorships (AI): Assistant Instructors
may serve as the instructor of record for assigned
instructional duties. In addition, AIs may be assigned
to hold office hours, to evaluate student work, and
to perform other academic duties. AI positions
are generally less available than TA positions; AI
positions may be more competitive and are awarded
to senior graduate students.
Graduate Research Assistants (GRA): Graduate
Research Assistants are generally junior graduate
students who work with faculty on academic
research projects.
Many doctorate programs make a great effort to
financially support their students throughout the PhD
program. Master’s degree students, on the other hand,
may receive little or no departmental financial assistance
and thus depend more heavily on part-time or full-time
jobs, government grants, and student loans.
Financial Aid
So, what financial aid options will you have as a graduate
Liberal Arts Graduate School Advising Handbook: ANT • 512.471.7900 • www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/ • rv - Dec 09 • P8
Graduate School Handbook
Anthropology
student to help pay for your degree when department
funding is not available? The most common forms of
graduate student aid are grants, loans, scholarships,
fellowships, work-study, and financial aid.
Fellowships & Scholarships: Universities partner
with organizations, government agencies, and work
independently to offer students a variety of fellowships
and scholarships for graduate study. You can review the
fellowships offered by the university of interest to you
at the university or department’s website. Fellowships
and scholarships are also provided by a wide variety
of education-interested organizations; you can search
for funding options at our Graduate School Funding
webpage: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/services/
graduate-advising/graduate-school/gs-resources/
funding
Financial Aid: If you are a U.S. citizen or eligible
noncitizen, you can apply for federal, state, and
institutional financial aid programs. You can begin
applying for financial aid in the calendar year in which
you plan to begin your studies. Visit the FAFSA site for
details: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
What is the total cost of a graduate program? According
to the Council of Graduate Schools, in 2007-08 the annual
total price (tuition plus full expenses) of master’s degree
programs was $28,375 at public and $38,665 at private
universities. In 2008-09, the annual price of doctorate
programs was $32,966 in public and $46,029 at private
universities.
Graduate Student Life & Study
Graduate school is quite different from your experience as
an undergraduate. The focus of graduate school is training
in research; it is for people who are highly interested in a
specific area of study and who want to delve deeply into
the chosen topic.
As an undergraduate, you may take a wide variety of
anthropology courses while also taking government,
science, and math courses. As a graduate student, on
the other hand, you will focus on your area of study (i.e.,
archaeology), with special attention on your specific topic
which you will research and write on for the master’s
degree or doctoral dissertation (i.e., funerary archaeology
in Mesoamerica).
Your undergraduate classroom experience is also quite
different from what you will experience in graduate
school. Most classes in graduate school are quite small,
15 students or less, and use a seminar format. The
small group and seminar format provides students the
opportunity for a higher level of participation in in-depth
discussions, debates, and critiques. The greater level of
participation in graduate school classes in turn, requires
that students be very well prepared before each class to
ensure they can keep up and present their scholastic voice
and opinions. Preparation for class is quite comprehensive
and can be very time consuming. It is not unusual to be
required to read a book from one class to the next or to
write a large research paper.
In addition to your studies, you may have teaching
assistant responsibilities. TAs teach discussion sections,
hold office hours to meet with undergraduate students,
and grade exams or papers for professors and instructors
who teach courses with large enrollments. Once you
are further into your program, you may be appointed
as an assistant instructor; the AI generally serves as the
instructor of record with instructional duties. Depending
on the program, some students may also work outside the
university – though this is more common in MA programs.
Read more about degree nuts & bolts! How will you spend
the two to eight years it takes to complete a master’s or
doctorate degree? And what is an MA Comprehensive
Exam or a PhD Dissertation? Explore degree plans,
coursework descriptions, and academic requirements at
our Graduate School webpage: http://www.utexas.edu/
cola/lacs/services/graduate-advising/graduate-school/
graduate-life-studies
Check out a graduate student profile in this handbook
for more insight on graduate school life, and view the full
collection of profiles online: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/
lacs/services/graduate-advising/graduate-school/profiles
Alumni & Careers
Where are they now?
Graduates with MA and PhD degrees in anthropology
work in diverse roles across industries and teach at a wide
Liberal Arts Graduate School Advising Handbook : ANT • 512.471.7900 • www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/ • rv - Dec 09 • P9
Graduate School Handbook
Anthropology
array of universities. Below are a few examples of UT
Austin graduates from the Department of Anthropology.
Ph.D. Alumni
• Assistant Professor, Michigan State University
• Assistant Professor, University of California, Berkeley
• Assistant Professor, California State University
Northridge
• Assistant Professor, Marshall University
• Assistant Professor, American University in Cairo
• Assistant Professor, Elon University
• Assistant Professor, SUNY-Purchase
• Folklife Specialist, American Folklife Center, Library
of Congress
• Senior Ethnographer, Behavioral Research Center of
the Southwest
• Research Scientist, Prevention Research Center
The Post Graduate School Career Search
Graduates of anthropology graduate programs use a
variety of career search resources. Most importantly,
they utilize faculty in their department as well as the
professional network developed at conferences and
through professional associations. Graduates also use the
following general resources that list academic jobs in their
field.
• The American Anthropological Association: http://
www.aaanet.org/profdev/
• The American Association of Physical
Anthropologists: http://physanth.org/career
• The Chronicle of Higher Education: http://chronicle.
com/section/Jobs/61/
Credits
The information in this handbook was compiled with
the help of the UT Austin Department of Anthropology
(http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/anthropology/) and
other university program websites.
What’s Next?
Liberal Arts Career Services and the College of Liberal Arts provide resources to help you take your next step, whether
that is clarifying your academic interests, choosing a graduate program, or compiling your application.
If you would like to pursue your interest in an advanced degree in anthropology, consider the following ways to start
down the road to graduate school.
1. Review the LACS graduate school website for additional resources to help in your graduate school planning:
http://www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/services/grad-advising/grad-school
2. Visit the LACS graduate school advisor to discuss your plans, call 512.471.7900 for an appointment.
3. Check out the sample timeline checklist in this handbook for preparation and application task and goal-setting ideas.
4. Identify and connect with faculty members and graduate students in programs of interest to you to learn more
about your chosen area of study.
5. If you are interested in applying to the UT Austin Department of Anthropology, discuss your interests with faculty
and the graduate admissions coordinator, and review the program details online.
• Graduate Program: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/anthropology/Graduate-Program/Overview.php
• Faculty: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/anthropology/faculty/list.php
• Graduate Advising Contacts: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/anthropology/Graduate-Program/Advising.php
Liberal Arts Graduate School Advising Handbook : ANT • 512.471.7900 • www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/ • rv - Dec 09 • P10
Graduate School Application
Timeline Checklist
In an ideal timeline, you will use your freshman through junior years to explore your reason to attend graduate school, develop your
experience, knowledge and skills to help prepare you for grad school, and to research graduate programs. By the start of your senior
year, you should begin compiling your application packet, crafting your writing components, and taking the necessary examination(s).
ARE YOU A SENIOR OR JUNIOR?
You can create a successful graduate school application using a shorter timeline! The timeline provided below is solely a suggestion,
please adapt this information to suit your personal needs.
Freshman & Sophomore Years
‰‰
Exploration: is graduate school for you?
‰‰
Take courses to help explore your scholastic interests and keep up your GPA.
‰‰
Participate in internships, research and community service; take leadership roles in student organizations.
Junior Year
‰‰
Take courses taught by tenured faculty in your area of interest and be sure to visit faculty during office hours.
‰‰
Connect with graduate students to learn more about graduate school life and for application tips.
‰‰
Participate in more research projects.
‰‰
Research graduate programs.
‰‰
Refine your research interest.
‰‰
Use course writing assignments to create potential application writing samples.
‰‰
Save money for campus visits in the summer.
‰‰
Apply for fellowships with junior year application deadlines.
Senior Year - Summer Semester
‰‰
Finalize your graduate program picks and familiarize yourself with their application procedures and deadlines.
‰‰
Create a personalized application timeline and application activity sheet (download an example activity sheet from the
application timeline page available at the link below).
‰‰
Prepare for and take the GRE.
‰‰
Collect college transcripts.
‰‰
Clarify your graduate research and study goals.
‰‰
Visit the campuses of your top choices.
‰‰
Save money for application fees.
Senior Year - Fall Semester
‰‰ Craft your curriculum vitae (CV).
‰‰
Draft your statement of purpose. Get writing assistance and have a faculty member review your statement.
‰‰
Ask for letters of recommendation.
‰‰
Organize your application components and enusre that each component is written for the targeted school (i.e., don’t send
a personal statement addressing UT to Harvard).
‰‰
Apply for funding.
‰‰
Submit your fall deadline applications.
Senior Year - Spring Semester
‰‰
Submit your spring deadline applications.
‰‰
Follow up with universities on your application, status and if needed, the wait list.
‰‰
Apply for financial aid.
Get help with your checklist items at www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/services/grad-advising/grad-school/applying
Liberal Arts Career Services Graduate School advising • UT Austin
Graduate Student Profiles
Grad School: What I know Now, and Wish I Knew Then
Jodi Skipper - Anthropology
Graduate Program: Ph.D., Archaeology - African Diaspora, The University of Texas at Austin
Dissertation: In the Neighborhood: Race, City Planning, and Heritage Politics at the St. Paul United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas
Other Degrees: M.A., Anthropology, Florida State University; B.A., History, Grambling State University
A
What is life like for an anthropology graduate student?
Anthropology graduate students have several opportunities
to do work all over the world. Although the opportunities are
there, it takes much discipline, hard work, and commitment.
What is a typical day in the life of a grad student?
A typical day in the life of an anthropology grad student
includes going to class, working on a thesis or dissertation
(if at that stage), working as a research or teaching assistant,
writing papers, and studying for exams. It also involves
spending time with friends and cohorts, in study groups and
outside of the University.
As an archaeology student, have you done fieldwork?
I have worked throughout the Southeastern U.S. and many
parts of Texas. I have been to former slave plantations in
Georgia and Florida, Civil War battlefield sites, prehistoric
Native American sites, and have trekked through several U.S.
Mexico Border Towns. It has been very interesting to see how
alike, and different, various regions of the U.S. can be.
Where are you in the graduate school sequence?
I am what is called ABD (all but dissertation), meaning that
I have completed all of my Ph.D. requirements, except
the dissertation manuscript. I am now working on the
manuscript, which means writing and editing chapters for
several hours a day.
N
T
school. It can be a very difficult thing to do and can be very
costly in the long run.
What would you consider to be the greatest difference
from your time as an undergrad?
Graduate school requires much better time management
and a sacrifice of many things that students are able to
easily participate in as undergrads, for example holiday
trips home and free time with friends.
What are 3 tips for students applying to your program?
1. Make sure that you are adequately funded by your
department or other source.
2. Make sure that you take time out to be with family and
friends.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and ask for help; being
a grad. student does not mean that you can do it all.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I see myself teaching anthropology and African American
studies at a university.
Read additional graduate student profiles at
www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/ services/grad-advising/grad-school
Can you tell us a bit more about your current research
interests?
In my dissertation research, I work with the community of St.
Paul United Methodist Church, a historically Black church in
Dallas, to preserve its 90 years-old church building and its 135
years-old church history.
Do you have teaching responsibilities in your
department?
I am currently a TA for the archaeology lab. The archaeology
lab serves as a space for artifact collections, meeting room for
archaeology TAs and their students, and a computer lab.
What do you know now, and wish you knew then?
I wish that I was better able to prepare for financing graduate
Liberal Arts Career Services, UT Austin • 512.471.7900 • FAC 18 • www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs • rv Dec 2009: Skipper
Liberal Arts Career Services Graduate School advising • UT Austin
Faculty Profiles
Faculty Advice for Grad School Bound Students
Dr. Elizabeth Keating - Anthropology
Ph.D., Anthropology, The University of California - Los Angeles; B.A., English, The University of California - Berkeley
Professor, Department of Anthropology - The University of Texas at Austin
Field of Anthropology: Linguistic Anthropology
A
What made you decide to go to graduate school?
As an undergraduate I became very interested in language
and how clever and versatile people are at using language
to create the worlds we inhabit. It’s hard to imagine culture
or society without language, a tool of great beauty that is
also used to maintain and justify social systems, including
social inequalities. I became very interested in understanding
the diversity of human systems and cultures, and I think
anthropology is one of the most exciting disciplines of study.
What was your dissertation topic as a PhD student?
I studied how people use a particular feature of language,
called ‘honorifics,’ to create social inequalities moment-bymoment in interactions with others. Honorifics are ways of
grammatically marking status differences. To do my research
I went to a small island in Micronesia where the language
had this particular feature and I studied the language and the
culture there, particularly the role of language in creating and
maintaining hierarchy and social stratification.
What makes a good grad student?
In my view the best graduate student has a passion for his
or her subject and works hard with a mixture of pleasure,
determination, persistence, and open-mindedness. In
anthropology you also often have to be able to tolerate
unpredictable fieldwork conditions, and work with a wide
range of people.
What is your current research focus at UT?
N
T
including how people discuss issues of immigration and
globalization, and how language categorizes people, often
in ways that maintains attitudes of prejudice and cultural
value hierarchies. One hot topic is multimodality, that is,
what part does the body, the face, and gesture play in
communication and interpretation?
What are 3 tips for students applying to your program?
1. Read widely in current anthropology literature,
including ethnographies and journal articles in
the anthropology journals, and interviews with
anthropologists.
2. Think about some possible fieldwork sites in other
parts of the world.
3. Hone your writing skills and analytical skills, the latter
by discussing current global issues from the point of
view of other cultural groups.
What are the top five linguistic anthropology programs
in the U.S.?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The University of California at Los Angeles
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Chicago
The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
The University of Pennsylvania
Read More...
Explore Dr. Keating’s full profile and other profiles online at:
http://www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/services/grad-advising
I am currently working on several projects, including a project
studying engineers in Texas who are working on complex
design projects with engineers in Eastern Europe and Asia,
work collaborations only possible because of communication
technologies. I have been studying online gaming and how
students bring their computers together to game with others.
This has consequences for communication and what it means
to participate with others in activities. I am also involved in
a project looking at aging and hearing loss, specifically how
older people and those they regularly communicate with, can
better adapt to hearing aid technologies.
Is there a hot topic currently being discussed by
linguistic anthropologists in the US or around the world?
Linguistic anthropologists are very interested in how
language shapes our ideas about ourselves and others,
Liberal Arts Career Services, UT Austin • 512.471.7900 • FAC 18 • www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs • Vega, Dec 2009: Keating
Liberal Arts Career Services Graduate School advising • UT Austin
Faculty Profiles
Faculty Advice for Grad School Bound Students
Dr. Chris Kirk - Anthropology
Ph.D., Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University; B.A. Anthropology, The University of Texas at Austin
Professor, Department of Anthropology - The University of Texas at Austin
Field of Anthropology: Physical Anthropology
A
What made you decide to go to graduate school?
As I neared the end of my time as an undergrad, I knew that I
still wanted to know much more about physical anthropology.
The opportunity to conduct my own research was appealing,
and I particularly liked the idea of entering a profession
in which I would constantly be learning new things. After
graduating, I spent the summer working at a 10 million year
old fossil site in Turkey and I was hooked.
What was your dissertation topic as a PhD student?
I studied three questions related to primate vision: 1) How
is activity pattern related to the evolution of different eye
morphologies; 2) How does increased or decreased visual
“input” to the brain influence total brain size; and 3) What
does the bony anatomy of the eye socket reveal about the
visual adaptations of fossil primates?
What is your current research focus at UT?
I’m currently involved in several different research projects.
First, I’m examining the relationship between the anatomy of
the inner ear and hearing abilities in mammals. The goal is to
be able to reconstruct the hearing abilities
of fossil species, and ultimately relate these
differences to ecological factors. Secondly,
I’m studying the intrinsic proportions of
the hand in a large sample of primates in
order to better understand the evolution
of manual prehension. Thirdly, I’m working
at a 44 million year old site in west Texas
to recover fossil primates. Several of the
primates from this locality are new species,
so I’m working to describe them and better
understand their phylogenetic relationships.
Did you participate in a research project
as an undergraduate?
The summer after my freshman year, I
helped a grad student in Archeology excavate
an Anasazi site in Arizona for his thesis
work. In my junior year, I began working on
a curriculum project to develop computer
based labs for physical anthropology. I was
also lucky enough to be invited to participate
in paleontological research in Turkey the
N
T
summer after I graduated. All three of these experiences
were vital in helping me to decide (1) that I wanted to go to
grad school and (2) what I wanted to study.
What are 3 tips for students applying to your program?
1. Apply for an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. If
you get one, you’ll be rich (at least by grad student
standards) and you won’t have to TA for three years.
2. Contact the faculty members that you are interested in
working with before you apply. This step will help you
decide whether the two of you would be compatible
in a student / advisor relationship. It will also let that
faculty member know to take a careful look at your
application.
3. Do your homework about the graduate programs
to which you are applying. We regularly receive
applications from prospective students who clearly
have no idea what range of research interests are
represented in our department. Nearly all of these
applications are rejected.
What are the top three anthropology
programs in the U.S.?
UT has a well-rounded physical
anthropology Ph.D. program that’s either
top 10 or top 5, depending on your
interests. For paleoanthropology, Stony
Brook University, Arizona State University,
and George Washington University
have excellent programs. For primate
behavior and ecology, Stony Brook and
the University of Wisconsin-Madison are
excellent. Other very good and wellrounded graduate programs include Wash
U in St. Louis, the University of Michigan,
Harvard University, UC Davis, and the
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign.
Read More...
Explore Dr. Kirk’s full profile and other
profiles online at:
http://www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/
services/grad-advising
Liberal Arts Career Services, UT Austin • 512.471.7900 • FAC 18 • www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs • Vega, Nov 2009: Kirk