Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) in Anthropology
DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY
Ph.D. Program
Ph.D. graduate students
The Anthropology Ph.D. program is designed to provide the experience necessary for individuals to find employment in Anthropology today and to allow them to complete the degree in a reasonable amount of time. Unlike many Ph.D. granting anthropology departments that stress the university setting as the only goal for a successful graduate, our program recognizes that only some of anthropology graduates in the twenty-first century want to target academic employment. What has happened to most Ph.D. anthropologists today is that they spend up to five years after receiving their degrees gaining experience that ultimately leads most of them to a career. Through internships and practica our program provides students with the experience while in graduate school, rather than force them to gain it in the years following completion of their Ph.D.
Admission to the Ph.D. in Anthropology.
Students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Wyoming must have a B.A or M.A. from an accredited institution, preferably in Anthropology. Students must submit current (less than 5 year old) GRE scores. Students must have a minimum combined GRE score of 1100. A combined score of 1200 is preferred. In their letter of intent, students should identify whom they would like as their faculty adviser and describe their interests, career goals, and how Wyoming’s program will help them achieve these goals.
Students with a bachelors degree may apply to the Ph.D. program. If admitted to the Ph.D. program, students with a bachelors degree are expected to complete the masters degree requirements following the Plan B option, before formal admission to the Ph.D. program. At the hearing for the Plan B paper, the student will receive a no pass, pass-terminate at the Master’s degree, or a pass-admit to the Ph.D. program. Students admitted to the Department’s M.A. program are not guaranteed admission to the Ph.D. program. Students with a masters degree may apply directly to the Ph.D. program. Students with M.A. degrees from other institutions are encouraged to apply for admission to the Ph.D. program at UW.
Remediation
For admission to the Ph.D. program, students must have coursework in the four sub-fields of anthropology, three semesters of a single foreign language, and statistical competency at either the B.A. or M.A. level. If these are not satisfied, the student’s faculty adviser in coordination with the student’s graduate committee assigns remedial work as appropriate.
Program of Study
Each student will form a five-person committee who will aid in the design of the student’s program. The committee members will include the student’s faculty advisor, one outside member representing the graduate faculty and at least one member of the department faculty not in the student’s sub-field. Because anthropologists and archaeologists find careers in both academic and non-academic settings, such as museums and government agencies, the committee will keep in mind the student’s background, interests, and goals in the formation of their Program of Study.
The Ph.D. program in Anthropology at the University of Wyoming offers students a highly experiential doctoral curriculum that builds upon existing strengths of the Anthropology Department and the University community. The program requires:
A. A minimum of six content courses (18 hours) designated by the student's committee. These courses are normally completed in the first two years. In addition to Anthropology courses, the committee may also require 4000/5000 level courses in such areas as geography, geology, zoology, botany, statistics, and others.
B. Two additional courses in their first year: Anth 5880 Professionalism in Anthropology and Anth 5890 Teaching and Learning in Anthropology. (6 hours).
C. Teaching experience at the undergraduate level, including stand-alone courses as well as teaching assistance to UW faculty members.
D. Participation in an approved internship experience (6-24 credit hours). Students pursue internships in state and federal agencies, museums, contract archaeology organizations, and other organizations that offer potential career experience. These internships are structured to provide students with the skills necessary to improve their employment potential.
E. Comprehensive exams, which take place at the end of the second year. After the student passes the exam, s/he is admitted to candidacy.
F. International experience is highly recommended but not required. e.g., pre-dissertation summer fieldwork. The faculty will help students find these opportunities.
G. Successful completion of a prospectus proposal and hearing.
H. Dissertation. Students are encouraged to present papers at professional conferences and submit articles for publication before beginning work on the dissertation. After admission to candidacy, the student is expected to research, write and defend a thesis based on original research (credit hours up to 48). Students may either submit a single thesis or a series of integrated publishable articles (30-40 pages each). The student's committee must approve this choice and decide on the number, length, and content of the articles at the same time as the prospectus hearing.
15+23: A Step by Step Guide to Your Graduate Degree
For additional information please contact: Dr. Marcel Kornfeld
For more information on applying to the graduate program see:
http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/uwgrad/prospective_students.htm