Anthropology, Ph.D.

I. Contact Information

Geoffrey Smith, Ph.D.,Graduate Program Director
geoffreys@unr.edu
(775) 682-7687

Mailing Address:
Department of Anthropology
1664 N. Virginia Street, Mail Stop 0096
Reno, NV  89557-0096

Department Website:
www.unr.edu/anthropology

II. Brief Introduction

The doctoral program provides training in three subfields of anthropology: environmental archaeology, historical archaeology, and cultural anthropology (such as ethnolinguistics, and ethnohistory). The geographic emphasis for dissertation research is restricted to Western North America, including Mexico, although research in certain topical subjects or other world areas may be proposed. The program emphasizes the research strengths of the anthropology department, Basque Studies program and other university system facilities.

III. Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students should be able to read and summarize scholarly articles in anthropology books or journals, to evaluate the soundness of arguments and conclusions, and to produce written and oral critiques of them.
2. Students should be able to find employment in a career that makes use of “anthro-thinking”.
3. Students should be able to teach and explain the concepts that allow the intellectual integration of four sub-fields together into anthropology, and each sub-field’s major contributions to the scientific and humanistic study of our own species.
4. Students will demonstrate mastery of an area of specialization in anthropology by completing a comprehensive exam consisting of essays and an oral defense.
5. Students who graduate with a Ph.D. in Anthropology from UNR will have original research skills and experience which results in professional scholarship and publications.

IV. Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the doctoral program must satisfy all graduate school requirements and specific departmental requirements. Doctoral students are admitted to the program only in the fall semester. The departmental deadline for application is January 15th.

V. Program Requirements

30 of the 73 required units must be at the 700-level.

• ANTH 701 - Individual Reading (1 to 6 units)
• ANTH 702 - Graduate Research (1 to 6 units)
• ANTH 703 - Graduate Seminar in Cultural Anthropology (3 units)
• ANTH 704 - Graduate Seminar in Physical Anthropology (3 units)
• ANTH 705 - Graduate Seminar in Archaeology and Prehistory (3 units)
• ANTH 706 - Seminar Anthropological Problems (3 units)
• ANTH 708 - Advanced Seminar in Quaternary Studies (3 units)
• ANTH 709 - Graduate Seminar in Anthropological Linguistics (3 units)
• ANTH 723 - Lithic Technological Organization (3 units)
• ANTH 740 - Great Basin Prehistory and Paleoecology (3 units)
• ANTH 741 - Peopling of the Americas (3 units)
• ANTH 760 - Internship (3 units)
• ANTH 799 - Dissertation (1 to 24 units)

• One credit of comprehensive examination (ANTH 795 ) is required, but does not count towards the number of 700 level credits needed.

VI. Total Units (73 units)

A minimum of 73 units are required.

VII. Notes

A limited number of teaching and research assistantships are offered on a competitive basis.