Anthropology, PhD
Are you interested in exploring the origins and implications of human uniqueness and contemporary human behavior? In this interdisciplinary program, you'll engage in intensive, collaborative training that fosters critical research on key questions in anthropology and across the social sciences.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
If you are interested in pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in the classic fields of anthropology, The School of Human Evolution and Social Change is an excellent choice. It offers coursework in the traditional fields of study:
- archaeology
- bioarchaeology
- evolutionary anthropology
- sociocultural anthropology
It's also an ideal environment if you want to combine these approaches and other disciplines to explore specific issues or research questions within a transdisciplinary context. The flexible graduate curricula are designed to encourage you to design innovative plans of study that enable you to pursue your interests while you receive broad training in key areas. The anthropology faculty actively engage with faculty in other disciplines, including:
- applied mathematics
- chemistry
- environmental economics
- epidemiology
- formal modeling
- genetics
- sociology
- sustainability
- technology and society
- urban planning
The training you receive in this program prepares you to become an expert scholar who's able to contribute not only to your chosen field but also to finding solutions to humankind's greatest challenges. This program provides training in data analysis and research design within the context of human evolution, archaeology and the wider field of anthropology. Through anthropological coursework, you learn how to ask important questions about the human species and employ statistics to analyze and extract meaning from data. You learn to appreciate humanity's place in nature and the long history of human societal change.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Students who enter the program with a master's degree in a related field may be granted up to 30 credit hours toward the 84 credit hours required for the doctorate. This leaves 30 credit hours of coursework, 12 credit hours of research and 12 credit hours of dissertation (54 credit hours total) to be earned postadmission. Students who enter without a master's degree must earn an additional 30 hours of graduate credit, produce a research portfolio to be formally evaluated by a faculty committee, and present that research in a public forum before continuing to the later stage of the doctorate. All students must maintain a GPA of 3.20 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in their courses and complete degree requirements per the program's satisfactory progress policy.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Synthesize major theories, methodological approaches, and empirical findings within their chosen subfield(s)—Archaeology, Bioarchaeology, Evolutionary Anthropology, or Sociocultural Anthropology.
- Design a comprehensive study analyzing a current issue in the field.
- Communicate research findings orally and in writing.
Synthesize major theories, methodological approaches, and empirical findings within their chosen subfield(s)—Archaeology, Bioarchaeology, Evolutionary Anthropology, or Sociocultural Anthropology. Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information Undergraduate coursework in anthropology is not a prerequisite for admission but is generally advisable. Students may be admitted without such a background and may be required to acquire knowledge of general anthropology in a manner to be specified at the time of admission. Applicants also may submit with their application materials an optional scholarly writing sample not to exceed 30 double-spaced pages.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/01 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
The demand in the job market for people with an anthropology background is stimulated by a growing need for researchers and analysts with keen thinking skills who can manage, evaluate and interpret large amounts of data. As the many spheres of human interaction expand globally, people trained in anthropology are increasingly sought-after for their broad, holistic knowledge and perspectives, which are the hallmarks of anthropology. Some career opportunities include:
- acting as legal advocates in international cases
- analyzing and proposing policies
- conducting postgraduate academic research
- consulting for private and public organizations
- curating cultural resources
- directing nonprofit organizations
- directing programs in the private or public sector
- managing culture or heritage resources in private or public sectors
- modeling infectious diseases
- planning communities
- teaching
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Human Evolution & Social Change
|
SHESC 233
shesc.grad@asu.edu
480-965-6215
Admission deadlines
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
