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Anthropology < Back to Pre-Grad, Arts & Sciences menu Anthropology and Archeology - Which Department? Anthropology and archaeology have an intertwined history in the United States. Most universities in the US have an anthropology department that consists of four subfields:
While graduate students specialize in one of these subfields, they must also take courses, and be proficient in, the other areas as well. In general for archaeology, graduate studies can be pursued in either an Anthropology department or a classical studies department. It is within these departments that the fundamentals of archaeology are taught, such as field methods, theory, and topical interests. The line dividing anthropological from classical archaeology is narrow, but in general, archaeologists coming from anthropology programs study the Americas and the non-circum Mediterranean, while those from a classical studies department study the Mediterranean world. Archaeologists can also be found in other departments, such as Asian studies, and a few universities have independent departments of archaeology (e.g. Boston University). Physical anthropology is also usually subsumed within anthropology departments in the United States. This broad subject is often viewed as composed of two aspects: paleoanthropology and human evolution (including primatology); and contemporary issues (including medical anthropology, diet and nutrition, and public health). Given this subfield’s close relationship to biology and medicine, physical anthropologists can occasionally be found in other, related departments as well. Linguistic anthropology is also found in anthropology departments in the United States, but a number of universities also have independent linguistic departments. The topics of interest and focus—historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, etc.—will vary by department and faculty. While this is the general background on how departments are organized in the US, the broad scope of anthropology means that trained anthropologists are often found in many locations throughout a university. It is not uncommon, for example, to find a physical anthropologist in medicine, an archaeologist in classics, a linguist in education, or a cultural anthropologist in communications. Therefore, when considering graduate study, it is important to consider what kind of research or work you are interested in and then find a person or program that best matches your interests. Graduate School: What to Expect Pursuing a Master’s degree in anthropology consists of two distinct phases. The first is coursework. A candidate will typically take one and a half to two years of courses. These courses will be of two types: 1) general requirements, often a core course in each sub-discipline; and 2) courses focused on the candidate’s sub-field specialty. The second phase is the completion of an independent thesis under the direction of a faculty advisor. The thesis can be based on fieldwork, laboratory work, museum collections, or literature. Pursuing a doctorate in Anthropology consists of three distinct phases and the duration of the degree typically ranges from five to ten years. The first, like the Master’s degree is coursework. For PhD candidates, this typically means completing two to two and a half years of courses. The first year entails core courses primarily in the four sub-fields mentioned above, coupled with additional classes outside of one’s specialty. The second year consists of advanced courses within one’s sub-field. Graduate coursework in anthropology is seminar-based—small class size with required preparation for and participation in all classroom discussions. Often the professor will simply be a mediator for a student discussion of a topic. This free-form style can be disconcerting to students accustomed to the structured system of undergraduate work, but it prepares a candidate for life as a professional anthropologist. Exams—oral or written or both—are typically required to test the candidate’s comprehensive knowledge of anthropology and specific knowledge of the chosen sub-field. These exams can take place during or following the completion of coursework. In addition, candidates often take part in other professional development activities, such as acting as teaching assistants for courses, attending conferences, or taking a professional seminar course. The second phase of pursuing a doctorate in anthropology involves research, or data collection, for the dissertation. Because the discipline views fieldwork as a cornerstone of becoming an anthropologist, most candidates conduct some type of research away from their home institution. Examples include: excavations (archaeology), participant observation (sociocultural anthropology), laboratory analysis/ excavation/ other field work (physical/biological anthropology). Most candidates engage in the work of their advisor, or, minimally, research a topic commensurate with the research interests of their advisor (geographically, topically, or theoretically). Prior to moving into the fieldwork stage, the candidate must design a research project, clearly articulating hypotheses, methods, and theoretical background, which then must be approved by the advisor and/or dissertation committee. Once past this stage, the length of time needed to collect data varies: archaeologists work in “seasons,” such as three months of field excavations, followed by three months of lab work, followed by six months of analyzing and preparing for the next season. This process can last three or four seasons, meaning that the candidate may spend up to four years collecting data. Cultural anthropologists, on the other hand, may conduct their fieldwork without coming out of the field, and complete it in a year and a half. Laboratory work for a physical anthropologist may also be completed more quickly. In general, however, the fieldwork requirement of pursuing the doctorate means that it generally requires more time to complete the PhD in anthropology than in other disciplines. The third phase of an anthropology doctorate involves analyzing data and writing the dissertation. Once data has been collected through fieldwork, a candidate usually returns to his or her home institution to perform background research (utilize the library, museum collections, etc.) and write a book-length dissertation. The dissertation is typically longer than a Master’s thesis, and more detailed. It derives from the data collected in the previous phase. Close interaction with a faculty advisor and other experts in the field is required to produce a well-conceived dissertation. The length of this stage varies from one to three years. Candidates often perform other academic tasks during this period, such as teaching courses, publishing articles, and presenting at conferences, and the writing stage culminates in an oral presentation/defense of the dissertation research. Preparing for Graduate School and Applying to Programs When beginning to think about graduate study in anthropology or archaeology, there are a number of concerns to keep in mind. While an undergraduate degree in anthropology is not required, it is useful to take a few courses so that you have an idea of the layout of the field, what your primary interests are, and understand the structure and practices of studying anthropology or archaeology. In order to best prepare yourself for applying to, and succeeding in, a graduate program, consider the following: First, carefully think about what kind of degree you would like to pursue in graduate school. While a PhD is the highest level of education, often a Master’s degree is sufficient to achieve certain career goals (see below). The most useful approach is to decide what you would like to get out of a graduate program—what your short- and long-term goals are—and then find the degree that is best to achieve your goal. This is more constructive than pursuing a graduate degree and then deciding what you want to do with it. Second, refine your interests and be able to articulate them clearly. Anthropology and archaeology at the graduate level are research fields and you will be expected to conduct in-depth research on a specific topic. As an undergraduate, you do not necessarily have to know exactly what you would like to study, but you need to have a general idea in order to be competitive in the graduate school application process. Examine each of the sub-fields and decide which one interests you most (or the conjunction of two). Try to decide if a specific topic interests you more than others—gender, for example, or ritual. And think if you would like to focus on a particular region or culture of the world. By defining and articulating your interests, you demonstrate your engagement with the field and make yourself an appealing candidate. There are many ways to investigate possible research interests: take courses, talk to professors and graduate students, read books and articles (professional journals are better than popular magazines and websites), and attend free lectures. The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is a wonderful resource for exploration—it conducts free lecture series, contains numerous exhibits, and has world-class experts in many aspects of the field. Once you have developed a more specific interest, the next step is to match this interest to professionals or programs in the field. Most anthropology and archaeology departments have areas of strengths—Maya archaeology, for example, or primate evolution. By knowing what you are interested in, you can find a department that is a good fit for you and to which you will be an appealing candidate. Keep in mind that you should be looking at overall programs AND individual professors. Often a person who is doing work that closely matches what you are interested in may be at a university that you had not considered. In order to find matching programs and professors, it is a good idea to read journals (find articles that intrigue and excite you), attend professional meetings to listen to state-of-the-art presentations, visit websites, and talk to your professors and graduate students. In conjunction with this, take advantage of opportunities to network with people in the field. Begin to contact those professionals whose work interests you, through email, at conferences, by phone, or by visiting them. Because anthropology and archaeology are competitive disciplines, personal contact provides an inestimable benefit to you in the application process and gains you important contacts in the field which can be maintained throughout your career. By showing your engagement and professionalism you demonstrate that you are a serious candidate for graduate study. When you network with someone, be able to articulate your background and interests in the field, as well as knowledge of his or her work. In order to prepare for the application process, there are number of specific actions undergraduates can take to make themselves viable candidates. First, conduct a research project. Because anthropology and archaeology are generally research-oriented degrees, graduate programs want evidence that you are capable of and understand the research process. By conducting a project, you demonstrate your commitment to, and preparation for, success in the field. The project does not need to be large nor does it necessarily have to be in your chosen area of interest; the point is to show that you can think about an anthropological topic, research and analyze that topic, and clearly articulate your results. A project can be conducted in a number of ways: independent study, senior thesis, a research assistant position, summer jobs/internship, or other experience. Be willing to discuss the topic, methods, and conclusions in detail. In addition to a research project, undergraduates considering graduate school should participate in some form of fieldwork. Anthropology and archaeology stress the importance of working in the “field.” This broadly defined term can mean anything from inner-city Philadelphia, to an archaeological site in Arizona, to a UN mission in Africa. In general, programs expect students to have had exposure to cultures and societies that are not their own, either in the past (archaeology, human evolution) or the present (cultural, linguistics, diet and nutrition/health). For archaeology, a field school—training in archaeological method and theory at an archaeological site or with archaeological materials—is highly recommended, if not required, prior to graduate study. Additional experience is helpful—volunteer to work on a dig or in a museum, through a university class, or a summer program. For cultural anthropology, experience in a setting that is compatible with your research interests shows your dedication to the topic. International experience—study abroad, volunteer/work abroad, or travel—also demonstrates a commitment to anthropology as a global discipline. For physical anthropologists, fieldwork, lab work, or work with museum collections is recommended. If nutritional or medical anthropology is of primary interest, work in a clinic or hospital or for a non-profit is excellent experience. If interested in human evolution, work in either a lab or with a collection can be important. Finally, foreign language proficiency aids your candidacy as well. Additional actions one can take as an undergraduate to prepare for graduate school which are not specific to anthropology or archeology are: prepare for and take the GRE, take courses or major in the field, and prepare a statement of purpose for applications. For the latter, as with most graduate programs, anthropology and archaeology require a two- to three-page statement of why the student proposes graduate studies in a field and a particular program. The statement of purpose should include the components listed above, including: research interests and sub-field, a statement of why this department or program (mentioning individuals, if possible), a description of research completed, and a description of field work in which the student has participated. And while most departments require a specialization in a single subfield, it is often helpful to mention either experience in or enthusiasm for the other subfields as well (keep in mind that the application committee is comprised of researchers in all of the subfields). Master’s or Doctorate Degree Advanced degrees—a master’s degree or a doctorate—vary greatly in time and money investment, types and numbers of courses, utility post-graduation, and in other ways. It is important to consider the purpose of pursuing the degree prior to applying for a graduate program. The following is a list of a few possible uses for advanced degrees in anthropology and archaeology, but constant shifts in the marketplace and in academia make it highly advisable to speak with an advisor prior to applying to graduate school: Archaeology: MA is for contract archaeology/private sector/cultural resources management, museum studies, or preservation; PhD is for academic research. Sociocultural Anthropology: MA is for private sector (e.g. marketing, consulting, non-profit); PhD is for academic research and also non-profit and non-governmental orginizations. Physical Anthropology: MA is for non-profit, advising/consulting (e.g. biomedical); PhD is for academic and pure research. Career Outlook As stated before, one should carefully consider the purpose of pursuing an advanced degree prior to applying to programs and be aware of employment prospects, both within academia and elsewhere. For archaeology, despite general occupational outlooks stating that archaeology positions will grow at the same pace as all other jobs, realistically it is difficult to obtain full-time employment as a practicing archaeologist. As the academic job market get tighter, qualified archaeologists (with PhDs) are moving to fill positions previously occupied by those holding Master’s degrees. With this said, there are still opportunities, particularly within cultural resource management firms in the United States. For sociocultural anthropologists, the outlook for employment is more difficult to assess due to the wide scope of anthropological training. While academic positions are more difficult to obtain, there are numerous non-academic positions that qualified sociocultural anthropologists can fill, in the business, non-profit, and governmental sectors. Physical anthropologists, particularly in biomedicine/health/nutrition, have a better than average chance of finding a position. The type of research conducted in this field and the skills gained make these graduates desirable in academic and non-academic settings. As a caution, however, the market changes rapidly and greatly affects the dearth or abundance of openings. Academic positions are the most commonly sought-after jobs by graduates of PhD programs. Prospects for these positions are poor for anthropology and archaeology. While graduates trained in particular topics may be appealing at this point in time, it is difficult to forecast what areas will be popular/needed in 8 to 10 years. Currently, anthropologists studying the Middle East, India, Latin America, Islam, or the media, for example, are having more success obtaining academic employment. When following the academic track, PhDs often work in a series of one-year teaching-intensive positions, gaining experience, until a more permanent or research-oriented position opens up. There are a few, but not many, post-doctorate research positions in the field. Anthropologists also sometimes situate themselves in academic positions in departments other than anthropology. Prospects for employment outside the academic world are more difficult to assess because of anthropology’s broad scope. Researching in-demand topics can be very useful for non-academic positions, but again it is difficult to forecast demand for very many years in the future. Sociocultural anthropologists tend to have a broad range of options, including international development, education, marketing, or research. Archaeologists, on the other hand, tend to work strictly in archaeological contexts—in both the private (contract archaeology firms in the US) and public sectors (state and federal government, and non-profits). The market for archaeologists is poor, although certain skill sets are more highly desired and can lead to an easier time of finding a positions (hot topics right now: historic preservation, museum studies). Physical anthropologists who are interested in medicine and health have better prospects overall than individuals in other subfields. These graduates have skills that are in demand in the private sector and the non-profit world. Anthropology and archaeology have an uncertain future in the United States. More accurately, the relationship between the two is threatened. While archaeology has well-defined disciplinary boundaries, anthropology as a whole is currently struggling to maintain its integrity as the umbrella for the disparate subfields it encompasses. Some universities have begun the process of partitioning anthropology, although the process is highly debated. Suggested changes include: creating independent archaeology departments or moving archaeology to history, shifting sociocultural anthropologists to sociology or communications departments; and moving biophysical anthropologists into biology or medicine. All of these are logical placements, with parallels elsewhere in the world, but US tradition has so far held anthropology together as a discipline. In general, most academics still view anthropology as a four-field discipline, no matter how different the research of practitioners is within a department. And, as with all academic disciplines, fads and shifts in theory move the discipline in directions not always expected or useful for application outside of academia. All candidates should be aware of this as they pursue a degree and if their goal is employment outside of academic research (with the PhD), they should research topics and develop skills in areas that are of broad interest and/or application. A number of departments offer courses and/or degrees in “applied anthropology” to serve this function.
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