The PhD Track in Anthropology

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The emphasis in the Graduate Program is on training candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. This degree certifies that, in addition to having a sound knowledge of anthropology as a whole, the holder has been trained to do independent research at a professional level of competence in at least one of the major sub-disciplines of anthropology: archaeology, cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, or physical anthropology.

Course Requirements
The PhD degree requires a minimum of twenty course units (one unit per course); a normal full-time program consists of four units per term. Of these units, at least twelve must be taken at this University. Up to eight course units may be transferred from another institution. Requests for credit transfer are made by the student to the Graduate Group Chair any time after the first year of residence.

All PhD students must complete successfully a core program of six courses: four in the first year and two within the first two years. The first-year courses cover the four subfields of anthropology and are mandated by the Graduate Group (GG) - they are: Anth 600, 602, 603, and 617. The additional two courses (2nd-tier) are selected by the student from an approved list of courses outside his/her subfield. Failure to complete the first year core courses with a final grade by the end of the second semester disqualifies a student from continuing in the program. The Graduate Group will determine the action to be taken.

Time Limitation
Students must complete all course requirements, the foreign language requirement, written PhD Preliminary Examination ("Comprehensive Exam") and the Final PhD Examination ("Oral Exam") for the PhD within a period of seven consecutive years. The granting of a leave of absence or research leave does not extend this limit. Foreign Language Requirement Candidates for the PhD (and MA) degree in Anthropology are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language used in written source material or scientific literature relevant to the student's professional career. Examinations may be taken in French, German, Spanish, or Russian (other languages with permission of the Graduate Group. All examinations, given in October and March, are arranged by the Department. Students are strongly urged to take the examination at the first opportunity but, in any case, must complete the requirement by October of their second year. In some cases students whose first language is not English are exempt from the requirement.

Comprehensive Examinations (PhD Preliminary)

This examination is taken during the last week of May of the student's first year, following completion of the four first-year core courses. The exam, eight hours on two consecutive mornings, will cover the field of anthropology as presented in the first year core program and will focus upon an integration of the material discussed.

In addition to formal course work, further opportunities for preparation for the Comprehensive Examination include: departmental colloquia and lectures, the basic anthropological references in the Van Pelt Library and the University Museum Library, ethnographic and archaeological collections of the University Museum.

The Comprehensive Examination and the student's first-year academic record are evaluated by the Department faculty within two weeks after the exam. Faculty approval is necessary for candidacy for the PhD, and/or the MA Degree.

Advising
At the time of matriculation, an Advisor is appointed from the Anthropology faculty to advise each student. ÊDuring the first year, in consultation with the Advisor, the student should select two other members to form an advising committee. The student's Advisor and Committee will be formally confirmed once the student passes the Comprehensive Examination. The Committee is jointly responsible for working out the details of the student's program from semester to semester. ÊWhen special expertise is required, extra committee members may be appointed from outside the GG or the University. The Advisor is responsible for initiating regular meetings with the student for the purpose of guidance. ÊThese meetings occur at least once per semester, at least until the student has passed the oral exam.

MA Degree
The MA Degree is part of the PhD program. Although students may proceed directly to the PhD without taking the MA degree, they are encouraged to take the option of completing an MA along the way. The Master of Arts degree in Anthropology certifies that the recipient is qualified to teach General Anthropology at the college undergraduate level. Therefore, a candidate for the MA degree is expected to be familiar with the basic concepts, major developments, and current problems in each of the major sub disciplines of Anthropology. The MA degree requires a total of ten course units, six of which are Core Program courses. Up to two units may be transferred from another institution. According to the student's proposed area for MA research, a committee is appointed to advise each student. A committee normally consists of two members (one advisor and one reader) of the GG, who are jointly responsible for working out the details of the student's program from semester to semester. Each MA degree candidate is required to complete a research paper or master's thesis. Terminal MA

Students whose combined performance in the Comprehensive examination and in the first-year's core program is below standard may be passed only at the level of a terminal MA. An advisor and reader are appointed by the GG Chair in this case. The student is advised to finish the ten-course unit requirement and write an acceptable research paper or thesis in order to receive the MA degree. The research paper or thesis must be completed within one year after completing the required course work. Additional PhD requirements

Each subfield may determine additional requirements for its students. These requirements may involve proseminars or courses selected from a menu of offerings. In addition, there may be requirements associated with each student's specialized track (such as ethnohistory, medical anthropology). Oral Examination (PhD Final)

When the specialized program has been completed and the recommendations of the student's committee satisfied, the candidate is eligible to stand for the oral examination. At least one year must have lapsed since the Comprehensive Examination.

The oral examination will concentrate mainly on the candidate's specialized field of interest, theoretically and geographically, and on his/her program of proposed research. (See attached list of approved fields). At least one semester in advance, after consulting with her/his Committee, the candidate should reserve a slot and petition the GG Chair to take the examination. One week prior to the exam, the candidate is required to submit a written proposal and three statements on areas of concentration, for distribution to the faculty. The oral exam is open to all members of the GG.

Within one month following successful completion of the Exam, the candidate, in consultation with the dissertation committee, must produce a final version of the proposal for approval by the Department faculty.

Approved Subfields for the Final Oral Examination

Geographical Areas
Africa - Sub-Saharan
Americas
Asia - East and Central
Asia - South and Central
Asia - Southeast (Mainland and Insular)
Caribbean (including either US or European South American & relevant European & African history/ethnology)
Europe and Circum-Mediterranean
Middle East (Muslim Central Asia to Northern Africa and
Circum-Mediterranean)
Pacific Islands and Australia
United States (including Canada) and Western Europe
Culture Areas
Africa - East, Central, Southern, West
Central America (Native)
Melanesia
Middle East - Central
Micronesia
North America (Native) - West, including the Plains
North America (Native) - Far North
North America (Native) - Northeast and Southeast
Polynesia
South America (Native) - Andean and Circum-Caribbean [archaeology only]
South America (Native) - Tropical Forest, Southeast and South
South Asia (India)
Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking societies
(In some cases an ethnic/linguistic or national group can be considered as a Culture Area)
Ethnographic Types
Complex Societies
Hunters and Gatherers
Pastoralists
Peasants
Topics
Acquisition of Language and Culture
Aesthetic Anthropology
Agriculture (all types of food production)
Analysis of Speech and Narrative Styles
Archaeometallurgy
Archaeometry
Bioarchaeology
Biomedical Anthropology
Cognitive Anthropology
Cognitive Anthropology and Ethnoscience
Complex Societies (including the 'rise of the state')
Culture and Symbols
Demography
Dental Anthropology
Descriptive Linguistics
Ecology
Economic Anthropology
Education
Ethnoarchaeology
Ethnography of Communication
Ethnohistory
Ethnomusicology
Evolution
Evolution of Intelligence
Food & Nutrition, Anthro of
Gender Studies
Genetics
Growth and Development
Historical Archaeology
Historical Linguistics
History of Anthropology (with focus on one subdiscipline)
Material Culture (including 'technology and culture')
Metal Ages
Neolithic
Neurological Basis of Behavior
Old World Pleistocene
Paleolithic
Paleontology
Political Anthropology
Primate Behavior
Psychological Anthropology
Public Interest Anthropology
Religion and Symbols
Semiotic Anthropology
Skeletal Biology
Skeletal Population Analysis
Social and Cultural Change
Social Organization
Sociolinguistics
Spatial Organization (including locational analysis)
Taxonomy

Note: Students who feel that their special area or topical interests are not covered by the above list may petition the GG for alternative categories. Such petitions should be cleared by the advising Committee first. Dissertation

The PhD dissertation should demonstrate the candidate's ability to plan and execute independent research in accordance with professional standards and to present its results in a manner that is coherent and readily intelligible to fellow professionals. The dissertation is based on the candidate's own field investigation and is written under the direction of a Dissertation Committee appointed by the GG Chair. The Dissertation Committee will consist of an advisor, and two readers normally appointed at the time the candidate passes his/her oral examination. A draft of the dissertation must be submitted to the Dissertation Committee for review before the final copy is prepared. The final copy (consisting of two copies for the University and one copy for the Department) is to be submitted to the GG for final acceptance, according to Graduate Division guidelines. Program Planning

Each student's program of study and research is an individual one and the timing will vary from person to person. Total years to degree has traditionally ranged from 5 (for students transferring in) to 9 (with allowance for MA degree and/or additional time in the field). The following may be used as a general schedule in planning.

First Year
Core courses (2 per semester)
Basic courses in area of specialization and 2nd-tier courses
Satisfaction of Language requirement (fall or spring)
Comprehensive examination (spring)
First Summer
Field work/research
Second Year
Specialized courses, 2nd-tier course, seminars, tutorials
Second Summer
Field work/research
Third Year
Completion of course work
Preparation for Oral Examination
Investigate and apply for dissertation research grants
Third Summer
Field work/research/Preparation for Oral Exam
Fourth Year
Oral Exam and submission of dissertation proposal
Begin dissertation research
Fifth Year
Dissertation research
Sixth Year
Writing and submission of Dissertation