Anthropology PhD

Degree Requirements

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.

Master's

The Department of Anthropology is devoted to the preparation of professional anthropologists. Only students who intend to pursue the PhD are accepted into the program. The MA in Anthropology is an intermediate degree granted upon application to students who fulfill second-year department requirements.

Coursework Requirements

  • See PhD Degree Requirements below
  • Total Required Units: (variable, depending upon subfield)

Other MA Degree Requirements

  • Research/Projects: subfield field statements
  • Master's Thesis: see Research/Projects above
  • Other: none

PhD

Total Units Required: the total varies by subfield

Course Requirements

The Department of Anthropology’s core requirements for all PhD students include:

Course Title
ANTHRO 401-1
& ANTHRO 401-2
& ANTHRO 401-3
& ANTHRO 401-4		Logic of Inquiry in Anthropology (Bio)
and Logic of Inquiry in Anthropology (Archy)
and Logic of Inquiry in Anthropology (Cultural)
and The Logic of Inquiry in Anthropology (Ling)
ANTHRO 496-1
& ANTHRO 496-2
& ANTHRO 496-3		Bridging Seminar
and Bridging Seminar
and Bridging Seminar
Subfield specific methods course (1 unit)
ANTHRO 519-0Responsible Conduct of Research Training
  1. the four-quarter sequence of ANTHRO 401-1 Logic of Inquiry in Anthropology (Bio), ANTHRO 401-2 Logic of Inquiry in Anthropology (Archy), ANTHRO 401-3 Logic of Inquiry in Anthropology (Cultural), ANTHRO 401-4 The Logic of Inquiry in Anthropology (Ling)
  2. ANTHRO 496 (a topically focused, advanced course designed to integrate the four subfields)
  3. a subfield specific methods course
  4. ANTHRO 519-0 Responsible Conduct of Research Training

Subfield Course Requirements

Cultural Anthropology

Course Title
In addition to the core requirements, Cultural Anthropology students are required to complete the following:
ANTHRO 460 "Ethnographic Methods"
ANTHRO 361-0
Talk as Social Action
ANTHRO 462 “Ethnographic Writing”
ANTHRO 470-0
History of Anthropological Theory
ANTHRO 471-0
History of Anthropological Theory 2
ANTHRO 475-0
Seminar in Contemporary Theory
ANTHRO 483-0
Contemporary Theory in Linguistic Anthropology
ANTHRO 484-0
Seminar in Linguistic Anthropology

Cultural Anthropology: In addition to the core requirements, Cultural Anthropology students are required to complete the following:

  • ANTHRO 460 “Ethnographic Methods”
  • ANTHRO 361 “Talk as Social Action/Linguistic Methods”
  • ANTHRO 462 “Ethnographic Writing”
  • ANTHRO 470 “History of Anthropological Theory”
  • ANTHRO 471 “History of Anthropological Theory II”
  • ANTHRO 475 “Seminar in Contemporary Theory”
  • ANTHRO 483 “Seminar in Contemporary Linguistic Theory”
  • ANTHRO 484 “Seminar in Linguistic Anthropology"

Linguistic Anthropology

Course Title
In addition to the core requirements, Linguistic Anthropology students are required to complete the following:
ANTHRO 460 “Ethnographic Methods”
ANTHRO 361-0
Talk as Social Action
ANTHRO 462 “Ethnographic Writing”
ANTHRO 470-0
History of Anthropological Theory
ANTHRO 471-0
History of Anthropological Theory 2
ANTHRO 475-0
Seminar in Contemporary Theory
ANTHRO 483-0
Contemporary Theory in Linguistic Anthropology
ANTHRO 484-0
Seminar in Linguistic Anthropology

Linguistic Anthropology:  In addition to the core requirements, Linguistic Anthropology students are required to complete the following: 

  • ANTHRO 460 “Ethnographic Methods”
  • ANTHRO 361 “Talk as Social Action/Linguistic Methods”
  • ANTHRO 462 “Ethnographic Writing”
  • ANTHRO 470 “History of Anthropological Theory”
  • ANTHRO 471 “History of Anthropological Theory II”
  • ANTHRO 475 “Seminar in Contemporary Theory”
  • ANTHRO 483 “Seminar in Contemporary Linguistic Theory”
  • ANTHRO 484 “Seminar in Linguistic Anthropology"

Archaeology

Course Title
In addition to the core requirements Archaeology, Anthropology students are required to complete the following:
ANTHRO 490-0
Topics in Anthropology (minimum of 3 from those offered in 1st and 2nd years of program)
ANTHRO 431-0
Writing for Impact in the Social Sciences (spring quarter of 2nd year)
ANTHRO 432-0
Advanced research design and proposal writing (fall quarter of 3rd year)

Archaeology:  In addition to the core requirements Archaeology, Anthropology students are required to complete the following:

  • ANTH 490 "Topics in Anthropology" minimum of 3 from those offered in 1st and 2nd years of program
  • ANTH 431 “Writing for impact in the social sciences” spring quarter of 2nd year
  • ANTH 432 “Research design and proposal writing” fall quarter of 3rd year

Biological Anthropology

Course Title
In addition to the core requirements, Biological Anthropology students are required to complete the following:
ANTHRO 425-0
Human Population Biology
ANTHRO 486-0
Evolution & Biological Anthropology
ANTHRO 426-0
Primate Diversity
At least one quarter of any statistics course at NU (course determined at the discretion of students & advisor)
ANTHRO 431-0
Writing for Impact in the Social Sciences
ANTHRO 432-0
Advanced research design and proposal writing

Biological Anthropology: In addition to the core requirements, Biological Anthropology students are required to complete the following:

  • ANTHRO 425 “Human Population Biology”
  • ANTHRO 486 “Evolution and Biological Anthropology”
  • ANTHRO 426 “Primate Diversity”
  • At least one quarter of any statistics course at NU (course determined at the discretion of students & advisor)
  • ANTH 431 “Writing for impact in the social sciences” spring quarter of 2nd year
  • ANTH 432 “Research design and proposal writing” fall quarter of 3rd year

Required Papers and Proposals

Students are required to complete Field Statements (number of statements varies by subfield), a Dissertation Proposal, and a Dissertation.