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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