Best Anthropology PhD Programs

Admissions requirements vary, but there are several common requirements. Because intensive research and writing are major parts of PhD programs in anthropology, universities will usually require a writing sample, which will often be a highly polished version of a research paper written during applicants' prior studies during a bachelor's or master's program. Some programs will require the GRE, particularly the writing section. Some programs also require students to be able to read a second language. Other typical application materials include letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your academic work (primarily your professors), a personal statement or statement of purpose, and copies of your academic transcripts.

Doctorate programs in anthropology will generally require applicants to have successfully completed (or be completing) a prior degree. This will often be a master's degree, but some programs accept applicants who have completed only a bachelor's degree, provided the student's undergraduate work is exceptional. Because the study of anthropology involves elements found in several other disciplines, applicants' degrees don't necessarily need to have been in anthropology; degrees in a field that relates to the area of anthropology a student wants to study can also be valid. If a student's previous coursework is not in anthropology, however, it will need to display the student's skills in research and writing as well as the student's solid understanding of anthropological principles.

Students considering programs for doctorate work in anthropology need to make sure the programs they look at are accredited. (Doctorate programs at prominent, mainstream universities with a high level of name recognition are usually accredited.) Students who complete doctorate studies are recognized as experts in their field, but if the degree comes from an institution of learning other than a highly accredited university, it can serve to cheapen the graduate's accomplishments. The American Anthropological Association's (AAA) AnthroGuide can help students to identify accredited programs in anthropology that they can be confident meet rigorous academic standards, such as having faculty who are experts and leaders in their fields and quality professors and researchers.

Though length can vary between individual programs, a common timeline for PhD programs in anthropology includes two years of full-time study done as coursework (or sometimes three years for students seeking less intensive semesters); these can range from around 36 to 72 credits based on how the university counts them. Programs usually require an additional two years' worth of credits related to the research and study done while the student writes a dissertation, which can be as time-consuming as the full-time coursework study or more.

Coursework in a doctorate in anthropology will typically focus on intensive readings on the anthropological topics the student pursues as well as student-driven research. Programs will generally require a course in anthropological research methodology, which will train students in appropriate doctorate-level techniques for research and writing in anthropological studies. Students will also likely take several courses related to their specific interests in the field of anthropology. For example, courses in archaeology or evolutionary biology. Students will often take a course in linguistics or linguistic development and a course in writing about ethnography.

Other courses can be taken in narrower, specific geographic areas pertaining to students' interests. For example, students in an archaeology concentration may take a course on ancient Egypt or on Celtic Britain. On the other hand, students focusing on sociocultural anthropology will take classes on topics like institutional structures and population movements. Overall, coursework focuses on training research and writing skills and on giving students the knowledge they need to be successful in their research.

Preparing your Anthropology Dissertation

Once students have a good footing in the coursework that they take during their program, it will be time to begin the process of completing a dissertation. The entire dissertation process often takes two years to complete and begins with the selection of a dissertation committee, which will advise the student during the entire process, including the dissertation proposal. Once the student's proposed research is approved, the student will begin intensive research into the specific chosen area.

Based on the topic, this can include fieldwork and visiting a location relevant to the dissertation. For example, a student preparing a dissertation on Mesoamerican ethnology will most likely visit Mexico or Central America to do research there. Once the student has completed the initial research phase, the actual writing of the thesis begins, seeking to answer specific questions raised by the research area. Through several revisions, the student will prepare an academically authoritative dissertation to present to a defense committee, where the student will detail the research done and answer questions to satisfy the committee's requirements.

At some universities, students can specialize in overarching fields of anthropology: archaeology, social or cultural anthropology, and biological anthropology are the most common. In other programs, concentrations will be more specific, such as anthropological linguistics, archaeology and religion, or anthropology of human evolution. Regardless of which concentration format a program follows, it will expect doctorate students to focus their study and research on a narrow topic, which will be the topic addressed in the dissertation.

Archaeology Concentration

Doctoral students studying anthropology with a concentration in archaeology have a chance to focus on the anthropological contributions that can be made from the study of the material culture of past peoples. Students will research these elements of material culture according to theories of archaeology to analyze cultural aspects about their ways of life, such as their societal structure and religious rituals. Students will usually specialize in cultures of a specific location and/or time period, which will be the focus of the student's dissertation. Most programs provide an opportunity to perform hands-on archaeological research, whether at an archaeological site or a museum.

Sociocultural Anthropology Concentration

Though there are nuances in the difference between cultural anthropology and social anthropology, the two branches of study are often grouped together in anthropology programs and labeled as sociocultural anthropology. Cultural anthropology focuses on the development of distinct cultures and cultural differences between different groups, while social anthropology concerns itself with societal behaviors more broadly. Topics ranging from questions of nationalism versus globalism to linguistic development to gender issues are incorporated into sociocultural anthropological study. Students of sociocultural anthropology get to undertake a significant ethnographical study into the traditions, habits, and lifestyles of peoples and cultures both past and present.

Biological Anthropology Concentration

Though less common than concentrations in archaeology and sociocultural anthropology, several doctorate programs in anthropology offer a concentration in biological or medical anthropology. Biological anthropology focuses on the way that human biology develops and factors into human behavior. It explores topics of evolutionary biography, such as the comparison between present humans and humans' evolutionary ancestors. Biological anthropology also looks at the relationship between biological functions and human behavior, such as reproduction and sexuality. To these ends, biological anthropology often makes use of paleoanthropology. Forensic anthropology can be considered within the domain of biological anthropology, though some programs may offer forensic anthropology concentrations specifically.

Students can get an anthropology degree at any level of study, not just at the doctorate level. As a general rule, the more advanced the degree, the more student research, including research writing, the degree program will include. While students don't need to complete a degree at every level to undertake a PhD program in anthropology, they will need at least a bachelor's or a master's degree, usually in a field related to anthropology, to study at the doctorate level.

Anthropology Associate Degrees

Associate degrees in anthropology require around 60 credit hours of study, though many of these credits will be in general education outside of the field of anthropology. Associate degree programs often include a basic overview of the general principles of anthropology with coursework such as an introductory course to cultural anthropology, but an associate program will not give students much depth in the subject and may incorporate little student research and writing.

Anthropology Bachelor's Degrees

A bachelor's degree in anthropology will usually require about 120 credit hours to complete, and, in comparison to an associate degree, more of the coursework will be directly related to anthropology. The second half of the program will begin to include more opportunities for students to do research and writing in their upper-division courses. Students may benefit from a study abroad during this period as well. In their final year, most programs will have students take a capstone course in which they will write a substantial final research paper.

Anthropology Master's Degrees

A master's degree in anthropology will likely be the first opportunity most students will have to do extensive research and compile a significant piece of academic work in the field of anthropology when they complete a master's thesis. Most take around 30 credits to complete. A master's degree in anthropology can be used as evidence of expertise in research and writing for anthropology for admission to a doctoral program. Some programs include master's study as one part of a doctoral degree. Students may be able to choose a specific focus at this level, such as a master's in sociocultural anthropology.

Anthropology Graduate Certificates

Courses of study outside of a traditional master's and bachelor's program are also available in anthropology. One common focus for these programs is anthropology museum studies. Anthropology museum studies graduate programs largely focus on training students how to analyze elements of material culture in a museum setting. This means that the program will usually incorporate elements from the archaeology branch of anthropology.

Anthropology certificate programs can include focuses on other specializations as well. Students may also be interested in a behavioral science certificate program. A bachelor's degree is generally a prerequisite for these programs.

Careers for those with a doctorate in anthropology will give graduates opportunities to make use of the skills and expertise they developed during their PhD programs. They may perform research and analysis on the field of anthropology in which they specialized during their PhD program and continue to be experts in their field. Many PhD program graduates will want to work in the realm of academia, but there are several options for non-academic careers in anthropology as well.

Become an Anthropologist

While there are several different kinds of anthropologists, mirroring the different branches of anthropology, those associated with social or cultural anthropology are generally the ones thought of first when discussing anthropologists as a career option. These careers in social anthropology will involve a continuation of the same type of cultural research done by anthropology students during a PhD program. They may spend a large portion of their time working in a location where they are actively researching and spend the rest of the time closer to home while they compile their research for publication.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in 2020 that the median annual salary for anthropologists was $66,130. Those working in government anthropology jobs make the most, averaging $79,270. Anthropology jobs have an expected 2019-2029 job growth of 5%, slightly faster than the national average.

Become an Archaeologist

Students who choose to follow a concentration in archaeology during their PhD program in anthropology are unsurprisingly the best suited for a career as an archaeologist. Similar to other careers in physical anthropology, anthropologists will largely focus on uncovering and analyzing objects from the material culture of peoples and cultures from the past. Their work will usually include substantial time spent doing field research, such as at an archaeological dig site. The world region students specialized in during a PhD program (the area relevant to the dissertation) will therefore play a large role in details about an archaeologist's career.

The BLS tracks statistics about archaeology careers alongside anthropology careers, meaning the salary and job outlook statistics for anthropology careers apply to archaeology careers as well.

Become a Museum Curator

Some professional anthropologists may want to study material culture but prefer not to travel for fieldwork as an archaeologist does. For these anthropologists, becoming a museum curator can be a good career fit. Museum curators are responsible for the care and treatment (such as cleaning or preservation) of artifacts, some of which can be quite delicate. Museum curators also plan how exhibits will be displayed and organize other efforts at the museum. They may even conduct research there on museum pieces to learn more about them.

The BLS reports that the 2020 average curator salary was $56,990. The BLS further predicts that museum curators will have a job growth of 13% from 2019-2029, which is much faster than that of the overall economy.

The American Anthropological Association (AAA) is the nation's most prominent professional organization for scholars of anthropology. The AAA includes a membership level for students at a reduced rate as well as memberships for professionals and educators. Three in four members work in higher education, such as university professors. AAA is organized into over 40 different sections, each of which is a group of specialists in a specific field of anthropological research. Membership benefits for those joining AAA include access to AnthroSource, a collection of more than 250,000 anthropology articles. AAA also provides members with additional publishing opportunities for their work to reach other anthropological scholars.

While AAA's various sections cover the breadth of anthropological specializations, there are also several professional organizations catering to specific interests of anthropologists, such as organizations focused on anthropological work in specific regions of the world. UC Davis maintains a list of several professional anthropology associations.

A doctorate program in anthropology can be expensive. Tuition alone can range from $50,000 to $60,000 a year, and students can expect several other academic expenses on top of tuition and their regular living expenses. Some programs have lower tuition rates after the first two years of the program, when the student has shown evidence of academic responsibility and is working on a dissertation rather than taking courses. Still, most students will need financial assistance to be able to complete a PhD program.

Fortunately, many universities with PhD programs in anthropology will be willing to fund part or all of a student's tuition or academic expenses. Often called a funding package, these can include tuition grants, stipends for living expenses, and research grants. If students do not complete their program in four or five years, they will likely lose their package, and if their academic work becomes unsatisfactory, they may have to reimburse the university for the amount received.

Doctorate students should also consider applying for fellowships to further finance their doctoral studies. Fellowships can be given by a university department in exchange for students working as research assistants to professors or for students teaching classes at the university. They can also be awarded to winners of research competitions. Fellowships can be operated by a university or department, or they can be operated by an unaffiliated organization that accepts applicants from different universities.