The Doctor of Philosophy program is characterized by two distinct foci: 1) The Archaeology of Complex Societies, pertaining to the emergence and spread of early civilizations in the Americas; and 2) Biocultural Medical Anthropology, the study of the influence of social relations and culture on psychological and biological dimensions of wellbeing. Our goal is to produce PhD graduates who will have acquired skills that will make them highly marketable for both academic and applied positions. Besides a cutting edge, in-depth knowledge of theory and literature in their specific subject area, students will acquire necessary skills such as teaching and grading experience, statistical competence, familiarity with numerous computer programs, grant writing ability, and foreign language reading facility. Students will have conducted firsthand research in their specific emphasis. For archaeologists this will require knowing excavation and mapping techniques, artifact analysis, GIS (geographic information systems) and other computer mapping capabilities, and familiarity with museum cataloging systems. For biocultural medical anthropology students, the skills learned for their research will include interviewing, participant observation, research design, physical and physiological measurement techniques, as well as SPSS, Anthropac, and programs for qualitative data analysis.
The UA program boasts certain unique qualities that set it apart. One advantage is proximity to Moundville Archaeological Park, a world-class archaeological site. The Moundville site is owned by UA in an arrangement that is virtually unique in the nation; moreover, the site is only 17 miles from the Tuscaloosa campus. Additionally, we offer biocultural perspectives from cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, psychological anthropology, and public health.
The archaeological component of the PhD program focuses on the emergence, spread, and organization of complex societies. From an archaeological perspective, complex societies are the consequence of the transformation from hunting and harvesting to food production, from an economy that moves people to food to one that moves food to people. The social, political, and economic effects of this transformation produced social orders classified by archaeologists as chiefdoms, kingdoms or early states. At the time of contact with Europeans, complex societies were found throughout the Americas. Our archaeology interests center on North America (primarily the Southeastern US), Mesoamerica, and Andean South America, three areas of the New World where ancient complex societies evolved.
The biocultural medical anthropology component of the doctoral program examines the interactions between sociocultural and biological determinants of wellbeing, especially regarding physical and psychological health states. Biocultural medical anthropology, a specific approach within the more general subfield of medical anthropology, strives to understand why people grow and develop as they do and why they may be at risk for health problems. Biocultural anthropologists attempt to use research findings for the benefit of communities, as well as care providers. It is part of the largest and fastest-growing subfield within anthropology and is increasingly relevant to research and training across a number of areas, from applied health sciences and transcultural psychiatry to epidemiology and community health development. The central feature of our approach is an effort to combine the biological and cultural aspects of medical anthropology. This biocultural perspective on health and illness is essential to the study of the topics in which the Department specializes: culture change and lifestyle influences on health, gender and mental health, and fetal and childhood growth and development, among others.
Admissions
The department of Anthropology only accepts applicants for the fall semester. The deadline for applications to the anthropology MA program is January 15. Applications must be received prior to January 15 for admission the subsequent fall semester. The earlier the application is received, the more likely it is that financial aid can be awarded.
Students will apply to either track of our PhD program (Archaeology of Complex Societies or Biocultural Medical Anthropology) with the intention of working with a specific advisor. The relationship with the advisor will be one of mentorship as the student moves toward a mastery of the craft of original research and publication and gains familiarity with the role of a colleague.
Admission to our PhD program is open to those students already holding an MA in anthropology or a closely related field and a small number of applicants directly out of their undergraduate studies who qualify for a direct-to-doctorate (DTD) pathway. Typically, DTD students already have substantial research experience. More than half of our PhD students will still come to us after completing an MA program at The University of Alabama or elsewhere. Please contact the Director of Graduate Studies to discuss which admissions pathway might be most appropriate for you.
Anyone interested in applying to either track of our PhD program is encouraged to contact the Director of Graduate Studies or Department Chairperson.
In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an application must include:
- A statement of purpose that outlines, identifies, and explains the following:
- One personal and one professional goal and how it relates to anthropology
- A detailed, theoretically sophisticated discussion of prospective dissertation research grounded in the anthropological literature
- Why the UA Anthropology program is best suited to help applicants achieve those goals
- Two UA Anthropology faculty members who are suited to mentor the applicants
- Any gaps or inconsistencies in the applicant’s academic record (it is acceptable to have them, but they should be explained)
- Three (3) letters of recommendation from individuals (typically professors) who are in a position to evaluate the applicant’s academic potential to achieve the outlined goals
Students may submit additional supporting materials (e.g., a curriculum vita, writing sample) if they wish. These are highly recommended.
See the Admission Criteria section of this catalog for more information.
Curricular Requirements
For the PhD program each student must complete 48 credit hours in courses numbered 500 or above. No more than 24 hours can be transferred from an MA program to the PhD program. PhD students are required to have taken graduate-level coursework in at least three of the four subdisciplines in anthropology. Knowledge of quantitative methods and other advanced research skills must also be obtained through the required seminar ANT 601 Advanced Research Methods. Additional requirements include two core courses, specific to the doctoral track. Doctoral students are required to take 6 hours of ANT 698 Individual Investigations, but no more than 6 hours may be applied toward the minimum coursework requirement. In addition to 48 hours of coursework, the degree requires a minimum of 18 semester hours of ANT 699 Dissertation Research, earned in accordance with the guidelines of the Graduate School.
Archaeology of Complex Societies Focused Area of Study
Biocultural Medical Anthropology Focused Area of Study
Dual Degree in Biocultural Health Promotion (PhD/MPH)
In conjunction with the Department of Health Science in the College of Human Environmental Sciences, we offer a PhD in Anthropology / Master of Public Health dual degree program. This program blends excellent graduate education in biocultural medical anthropology with rigorous, applied preparation in public health education and promotion. We produce graduates versed in assessment of and engagement with health as a biocultural phenomenon, and trained to engage multiple levels of the social ecology of health. Admission to both the Anthropology PhD and the Health Education & Promotion MPH programs are required to pursue the dual degree.
For additional details regarding dual degree program requirements, please see the Health Education & Promotion MPH catalog entry.
Transfer Credit
Twenty-four (24) semester hours can be transferred from an MA program to the PhD program. The Graduate School has specific policies on transfer of coursework from other institutions, and, if the full 24 hours of transfer credit are not accepted, the student will have to complete additional coursework during their PhD program.
Graduate School information on Transfer Credit.
Doctoral Plan of Study Requirement
Graduate School information on the Doctoral Plan of Study.
Comprehensive Exams
Following successful completion of language requirements and prior to pursuing dissertation research, the student must pass an examination, the purpose of which is to determine the student’s mastery of coursework and theory and preparation for independent research. This examination will be designed in consultation with the student’s advisor and committee. The committee may require of the student the development and approval of a bibliography that provides the baseline literature on which the examination will be based.
Inadequate performance on the preliminary examination can mean immediate dismissal of the student from the PhD program.
Fieldwork Requirements
The degree requires that applicants experience substantial ethnographic or archaeological fieldwork. There are no specific requirements concerning the duration of such fieldwork, though it is expected to last from 3 to 12 months. Prior to beginning dissertation fieldwork, the student must have advanced to candidacy.
Admission to Candidacy Requirements
After a student has completed all coursework, fulfilled the foreign language requirement, passed their comprehensive exams, and passed an oral defense of the dissertation proposal, a recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School for admission to candidacy for the degree will be made.
Students entering the program with an MA degree are expected to advance to candidacy by December 15 of their third year. Students who have not previously completed an MA degree are expected to advance to candidacy by May 15 of their third year.
Graduate School information on Admission to Candidacy.
Continuous Enrollment Policy
Graduate School information on Continuous Enrollment.
Dissertation Requirements
It is anticipated that the student will have applied to our program with the intention of working with a specific advisor. It is expected that the relationship with the advisor will be one of mentorship as the student moves toward a mastery of the craft of original research and publication and gains familiarity with the role of a colleague.
The doctoral committee should be established by the end of the first year. The committee must consist of at least five members, a majority of whom are members of the Anthropology Department. It may have additional (voting or nonvoting) members if deemed appropriate. At least one of the committee members must be from outside the student's major department. These external members may be from another academic department at UA, from other universities, or from industry or the professional field. In all cases, these members external to the department/program must be appointed to UA’s Graduate Faculty by the dean of the Graduate School and must have significant professional qualifications that directly contribute to the depth and rigor of the dissertation.
Prior to beginning dissertation fieldwork, the student must successfully pass an oral defense of the doctoral dissertation research plan. The plan, with the approval of their advisor, must be submitted to the committee at least two weeks prior to the date of the defense.
Upon completion of the dissertation research, the student must complete a written dissertation. The dissertation committee is best equipped to determine what format will best advance the PhD student’s professionalization, given substantial differences across and even within subfields. The adviser, in consultation with and with the approval of the dissertation committee, should direct the student toward a traditional book-style or an article-style dissertation consisting of at least three submission-ready journal manuscripts. The dissertation is subject to the final approval of the student’s entire committee.
The dissertation must be distributed to the dissertation committee at least 4 weeks prior to the defense, except under exceptional circumstances by agreement of the committee. Then, the student must successfully defend the work in the format of a presentation to the faculty. The date and time for this oral defense will be publicized at least two weeks in advance of its occurrence. The student’s committee will attend, as well as any interested faculty from the University community.
Time Limits for Degree Completion Requirements
Graduate School information on Time Limits.
Student Progress Requirement
All students must make continuous satisfactory progress while enrolled in the Department of Anthropology graduate program. Students should schedule to meet with their advisor at the beginning of each semester to outline goals and objectives for the semester. All students will complete and submit online an annual Graduate Student Activity Report (SAR). The SAR is a checklist of the scheduled requirements for completion of the degree, covers non-degree accomplishments such as papers published or presented, and includes space for a brief written evaluation and expectations for the following year. All students should take this form seriously and must complete this form by March 1.
SAR responses will be shared by the Director of Graduate Studies with the student’s advisor. The advisor will review the SAR and rate the student as either 1) exceeds expectations, 2) meets expectations, or 3) fails to meet expectations. Both academic and nonacademic factors will be considered. The student must meet with their advisor to discuss their progress and rating. A signed copy of the SAR and the advisor’s evaluation must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies and the Department Chair annually by April 1.
Students on assistantships will also receive a review of their progress from their supervisor each semester. The student’s progress toward degree completion, advisor’s review, and the supervisor’s reviews will be considered when making decisions for continuation of assistantship funding.
Advisor Evaluation Criteria:
- Exceeds Expectations: The student has an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, met stated goals and objectives for the year, made satisfactory research progress commensurate with time in the program, completes all research tasks in an ethical manner, follows standard and established research protocols, and has accomplished one or more of the following:
a. Presentation of research at an academic meeting (e.g., state, regional, national, international conferences).
b. Submission of a research proposal for funding external to the University.
c. Received an honor or award reflecting outstanding achievement.
d. Submission/acceptance/publication of a research manuscript.
- Meets Expectations: The student has an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, met stated goals and objectives for the semester, made satisfactory research progress commensurate with time in the program, follows standard and established research protocols, and completes all research tasks in an ethical manner.
- Fails to Meet Expectations: The student is NOT meeting one of the following expectations:
a. Maintained a GPA above 3.0
b. Met stated goals and objectives for the semester,
c. Made satisfactory research progress commensurate with time in the program, or
d. Completed all research tasks in an ethical manner.
Students who fail to meet expectations will be placed on probation and have one semester to improve their evaluation to a meets/exceeds expectations rating. If the student fails to improve their rating, the student may be dismissed from the program. The final decision to dismiss a student will be made by the Department Chair, acting on the advice of the advisor and the Department of Anthropology Graduate Studies Committee.
Academic misconduct and non-academic failure are also reasons requiring a student to be deemed to be failing to meet expectations. Depending on the violation, academic misconduct or non-academic failure may result in probation or immediate dismissal from the program.
The Department of Anthropology will not tolerate academic misconduct. Should the Dean or Academic Affairs Officer find the student guilty of Academic Misconduct, the department may review the student’s record and dismiss the student from their program of study.
Non-academic failure occurs when a student is dismissed from the program for reasons to do with their ethical or professional conduct rather than academic performance. Examples include (but are not limited to) plagiarism, falsifying data, lying or cheating, acting maliciously against others, serious breaches of collegiality, and violating the principles and codes of conduct of the University of Alabama and the major disciplinary societies, including the American Anthropological Association, the Society for American Archaeology, and the American Association of Biological Anthropologists.
Graduate School information on Student Progress.
Additional Academic Requirements
Throughout the year departmental colloquia are held, including special presentations by anthropologists and other scholars from outside the university; presentations of current research by departmental faculty and faculty from other schools and divisions; and presentations of current research by graduate students. Attendance at departmental colloquia is mandatory.
Foreign Language Competency
A reading facility in one foreign language appropriate to the research topic must be demonstrated, either by successful completion of two semesters of foreign language coursework or by examination. The language is to be chosen by the student in consultation with their advisor. No graduate credit is earned for coursework in foreign languages taken to satisfy the language requirement (although the grade earned will still count toward the overall GPA). Language coursework taken prior to matriculation in the degree program will not satisfy this requirement, except in highly unusual circumstances and must be approved by the student's advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies.
Academic Misconduct Information
Graduate School information on Academic Misconduct.
Withdrawals and Leave of Absence Information
Graduate School information on Withdrawals and Leave of Absence.
Academic Grievances Information
Graduate School information on Academic Grievances.
Grades and Academic Standing
Graduate School information on Grades and Academic Standing.
Graduate School Deadlines Information
Information on Graduate School Deadlines.
Application for Graduation Information
Information on the Application for Graduation.
Students entering the PhD program are guaranteed a conditional five years of funding. The first three years are guaranteed, subject to adequate academic progress and as long as good academic standing is maintained, including meeting or exceeding expectations during the annual progress review. Two additional years, for five years total, are contingent upon advancing to candidacy by Dec. 15 of the third year in the program or May 15 of the third year for direct-to-doctorate students. PhD students who do not advance to candidacy by these dates (Dec. 15 of year 3 and May 15 of year 3 for D2D students) may not receive additional years of departmental funding until they have advanced to candidacy. These additional years will not be guaranteed. Funding from the Department beyond the first five years is contingent upon the availability of funds. PhD students are strongly encouraged to begin exploring alternative sources of funding upon their acceptance into the program.
Most PhD students in the program will receive funding via .5 FTE (Full Time Equivalent) Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs). These carry a 9-month stipend determined by the University on an annual basis, plus payment of tuition, and funds that may be applied to the purchase of optional University-provided health insurance (note: the purchase of insurance is mandatory for international students). On occasion, the Department will split a .5 GTA into two .25 GTAs, which then pay a 9-month stipend at half the rate established for a .5 GTA, plus 50% of tuition and 50% of the cost of optional health insurance. Students holding a .5 FTE GTA are limited to registering for 9 credit hours of graduate study per semester.
GTAs are employees of the University and are assigned duties by the Department. Duties can include direct student teaching and assisting professors in instruction. GTAs are responsible for providing relevant feedback and documentation when contacted by departmental staff to guarantee initiation of their stipend payments. In addition, the Graduate School hosts a compulsory workshop for all new GTAs. The workshop is ordinarily scheduled for a two-day period during the week before fall classes begin.
Faculty in the Anthropology Department also may fund graduate students as Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs), financed by externally sponsored research these faculty are conducting. GRA stipend and benefit levels may vary from those of GTAs. GRA responsibilities vary widely. When a GRA is offered, the supervising faculty member will notify the student of provisions of the offer and requirements if the offer is accepted. Selection of students for GRAs is separate from the process of awarding GTAs, as GRA offers are made by individual faculty.
Students in the PhD program are also eligible to be funded through graduate school fellowships. Nominations for these fellowships are determined by the Graduate Director in consultation with the Graduate Committee and Department Chair. For students applying to the program, all student application materials are important sources of information in crafting nomination letters.
