Anthropology, Ph.D.

I. Contact Information

Erin Stiles, Ph.D.,Graduate Program Director
estiles@unr.edu
(775) 682-7686

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

Department Website
Graduate Handbook *

II. Brief Introduction

The doctoral program provides training in four sub-fields of anthropology: archaeology (historic and prehistoric), cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and physical anthropology. Faculty are engaged in research around the World and students may pursue topics in a variety of regions. The program emphasizes the research strengths of the Anthropology Department and its ties to the Basque Studies; Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology; and Gender, Race, and Identity programs.

III. Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will be able to describe, orally and in writing and at an advanced level of competency, the history of the development of anthropological method and theory.
2. Students will be able to synthesize, orally and in writing and at an advanced level of competency, the major empirical, methodological, and theoretical controversies relating to a topic of anthropological significance.
3. Students will be able to develop and defend a sound research design and methodology for investigating a problem of anthropological significance.
4. Students will be able gather information and/or generate data through direct observation/experiment as a means of answering a research question of anthropological significance.
5. Students will be able to analyze and critically evaluate primary and secondary sources of data and information as means of answering a research question of anthropological significance.

IV. Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the doctoral program must either possess:

• a Master’s degree in anthropology or a related field, OR
• a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology or a related field and a record of excellence at the undergraduate level, as demonstrated by a high GPA and GRE scores and very strong letters of recommendation.*

In both cases, applicants 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.

*The Ph.D. program in Anthropology will allow post-baccalaureate students to apply for and earn an M.A. en-route to a Ph.D. Post-baccalaureate students seeking a Ph.D. will not be required to take thesis credits or complete a thesis. A Master’s degree may be awarded en route to the Ph.D. after the student advances to candidacy. Advancement to candidacy typically occurs in a Ph.D. student’s 3rd year, after the student has: (1) completed all their coursework save dissertation credits; (2) passed their Ph.D. written qualifying examination and oral defense (comprehensive examination); and (3) written and successfully defended their Ph.D. prospectus, which is the student’s research design for their Ph.D. dissertation project.

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

• Curriculum requirements in the catalog supersede the Graduate handbook.
• A limited number of teaching and research assistantships are offered on a competitive basis.