Anthropology, PhD

Location(s): Main Campus

The Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology is awarded to students who have shown mastery of the general materials of anthropology and a substantial command of the specialized subject matter of one or more of the four subfields (archaeology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology or sociocultural anthropology). The PhD program culminates in the defense of original research that is formally presented and judged to constitute an original contribution to the discipline.

Admission Requirements

A bachelor’s degree, not necessarily in anthropology, from an accredited college or university is required for admission. All applicants must submit a statement of career goals.

It is highly recommended that students contact faculty members they are most interested in working with before applying. Applicants are not required to have an MA or MS before admission, though some faculty prefer to admit students with an MA or MS. Students who enter with an MA or MS are required to demonstrate that they have fulfilled all of Binghamton’s MA requirements, either in their previous institution or here, before they can advance to candidacy.

Students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States or an anglophone country must also submit proof of English proficiency (such as TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE Academic scores). International students who have received a college or university degree from an institution in the United States, or another anglophone country are not required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE Academic scores. Additionally, all international students must provide immigration forms guaranteeing financial support.

Program Requirements

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the PhD in Anthropology must take a minimum of 56 credits, which includes the 30 credits required for the MA in Anthropology, as well as courses specifically for the PhD, as follows:

Core Requirements:
- ANTH 501: History of Anthropology is required for the MS in biomedical anthropology for any student who enters graduate study without a degree in anthropology and at the discretion of the student’s primary advisor.
- One four-credit course in each subdiscipline, as designated by each subdisciplinary caucus, that includes history and theory of the subdiscipline.
- At least 6 credits of electives, chosen with advice from the student’s principle advisor. No more than 8 credits taken outside the anthropology department may apply. Course electives (exclusive of ANTH 580, 590 and 591), which may include no more than four credits of ANTH 597 and/or ANTH 599.
Subfields Requirement
- Four courses (16 credits), one from each subfield, which are updated annually, all passed with a grade of B- or better.
PhD Course Requirements
- Electives (exclusive of ANTH 591, 599, 698, 699, and including no more than eight credits of ANTH 597, and not more than eight credits of course work outside of anthropology) to be chosen with the advice of the student’s guidance committee and the approval of its chair: 26
- ANTH 699 Dissertation, as required to maintain registration after admission to candidacy

Admission to Candidacy

To be admitted to candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology, a student must have satisfied at least the minimal course credit requirement (exclusive of courses graded below B-, with a GPA of 3.5 or better), and all MA requirements. In addition, a student must:

pass a written examination covering three literature areas (one of which may be a regional competency examination)
propose a dissertation research project in colloquium before the department
pass an oral examination administered by the guidance committee in which questions address both the written exam and the colloquium
Submit a dissertation prospectus approved by the student’s doctoral committee.

Dissertation Requirements

Each doctoral candidate must demonstrate the ability to complete an original research project and submit the findings in a dissertation acceptable to the student’s dissertation committee. Upon approval by this committee, the dissertation must be defended in a public defense attended by the candidate’s committee, an outside examiner appointed by and representing the dean of the Graduate School, and any others who wish to attend. A successful defense and submission of the dissertation to the Graduate School completes the requirements for awarding the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology.

Additional Information About the Program

Students who have completed an MA at another university or in another discipline may request credit for up to 30 credit hours toward the PhD, and they may request exemption from one or more of the subfield distribution or discipline-specific requirements on the basis of previous graduate coursework in the relevant area. Students should address such requests to the director of graduate studies.

Funding is limited, however all students who apply by the fall deadline (January) are automatically considered for funding as a teaching or research assistant. Funding covers tuition for the required graduate credits plus a stipend. Students who are eligible for the Clark Fellowship should submit this application at the same time.

For more information on the Anthropology PhD program, please refer to the Anthropology department website for more information. To apply to the Anthropology PhD program, please visit the University Admissions website.