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Year 1

Core Sequence: 3-Field + Subfield

During the fall of their first year in the program, students are required to take an integrated three-field ‘Core’ proseminar (ANTH 701). Students subsequently are required to take a specialized Core proseminar in their respective subfield: for Archaeology (ANTH 705); for Biological Anthropology (ANTH 703); for Sociocultural Anthropology (ANTH 702). Subfield cores are typically offered in alternating years, so students should enroll at their first opportunity (in either Year 1 or 2).

“The Practice of Anthropology” Professionalization Seminar

First-year students are required to enroll in our Monday afternoon seminar “The Practice of Anthropology”, which focuses on developing the skills and credentials necessary for a successful career in anthropology. This should be first-years students’ fourth course (i.e. comprising credit hours 9-12), in both their fall and spring semesters. Though required for first-year students, all doctoral students are encouraged to attend this fall-spring seminar—as it is a locus of our departmental culture and should be instrumental to students at various stages of their career.

Portfolios

The PhD program relies on a portfolio model to organize student’s professional development. Assembled throughout one’s time in the program, these portfolios provide a repository of key credentials, achievements, and resources for advancement in academic and/or non-academic careers. The internal components of these portfolios will vary by subfield and student, and should be developed in regular consultation with the student’s advisor. Templates may be found here for Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, and Sociocultural Anthropology.

Kupferer Awards for Summer Research (for First-Year Students)

The department maintains a small endowment to fund summer research for our first-year students. The Harriet J. Kupferer Graduate Exploratory Summer Research Award is reserved for first-year students. The award typically offers between $1000-1250 for students to conduct preliminary research, which can help them establish foundations and focus for their projects as they enter their second year in the program. The Director of Graduate Studies will share the application form during the spring semester, and students should plan their summer with the understanding of Kupferer support.