Ph.D. in Anthropology

The Department of Anthropology offers a Master of Arts (MA) and a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Anthropology. Most students accepted to our graduate program pursue a Ph.D. Students entering the program without a master's degree in anthropology or an equivalent discipline, as approved by the Graduate Committee, fulfill additional requirements to complete a joint MA/Ph.D. track.

Program Overview

At UConn, the Department of Anthropology recognizes and provides graduate education in subfields that are closely tied to our faculty members’ research strengths:

  • Archaeology
  • Critical biocultural anthropology
  • Cultural anthropology
  • Environmental anthropology
  • Evolution, cognition, and culture
  • Human rights
  • Medical anthropology

Students identify their own area(s) of specialization and work closely with their major advisor to develop a program of coursework and research training. The program should be tailored to the student's interests and should fulfill the degree requirements described below.

Degree Requirements

Below are general guidelines for the anthropology Ph.D. and MA/Ph.D. tracks. The requirements conform to the Graduate School policies as outlined in the Graduate Catalog.

The UConn Department of Anthropology Graduate Program Handbook lists full degree requirements and guidelines for the Ph.D. and MA/Ph.D. tracks. Graduate Program Handbook.

 

Ph.D. Track

Students entering the Ph.D. program with a Master of Arts in Anthropology or an equivalent discipline, as approved by the Graduate Committee, complete a series of requirements to earn the Ph.D. Work for the doctoral degree can usually be finished in six or seven years, and must be completed within eight years, in accordance with Graduate School policy. Information on required courses and credits, advising, the Ph.D. Plan of Study, Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam, Dissertation Proposal, Ph.D. candidacy, dissertation preparation, oral defense, and degree conferral is available in the Graduate Program Handbook.

MA/Ph.D. Track

Students entering the Ph.D. program without a Master of Arts in Anthropology or an equivalent discipline must complete additional requirements to earn a master's degree before completing the requirements for the Ph.D. in Anthropology.

In anthropology, students follow the Plan B (non-thesis) requirements for the master’s degree. In addition to completing the Ph.D. degree requirements described above, students in the MA/Ph.D. track complete 15 other course credits (so that 30 credits of content coursework are completed altogether) and pass the MA final examination. All 30 coursework credits are then listed on the student’s Ph.D. Plan of Study. Information on required courses and credits, the M.A. final exam, and degree conferral is available in the Graduate Program Handbook.

Admissions

Applications are due December 5th.

Prospective students apply to the Ph.D. in Anthropology online via the Graduate School’s application portal. GRE scores are not required.

Contact the Director of Graduate Studies

For more information about the MA or Ph.D. programs in anthropology, please contact:

Deborah Bolnick