The program of instruction in the Department of Anthropology prepares students for professional careers in social and cultural anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics.

All graduate students enroll in the A.M.-Ph.D. Degree Program. Two master's degree programs are offered--in Anthropology and in Anthropology/Museum Studies. Required for both are eight courses, comprehensive examinations, and a research paper. The comprehensive exams come at the end of four core courses in theory in history of ethnological theory, socio-cultural anthropology, anthropological archaeology, and anthropological linguistics. Students who desire the master's in Anthropology/Museum Studies take in addition two core seminars which focus on material culture and museological practice. The doctoral degree involves meeting A.M. requirements and successfully completing twelve other courses, a preliminary examination, a language requirement (if required by committee) and a dissertation based on original research.

General Degree Requirements
Special Requirements for the Master's Degree: Four core courses:
ANTH2010 (AN 220) Principles of Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 2000 (AN 221), History of Ethnological Theory
ANTH 2501 (AN 270) Principles of Archaeology
ANTH 2800 (AN 280) Linguistic Theory and Practice
Other requirements include comprehensive examinations connected to the four courses and a research paper. For an AM in Anthropology/Museum Studies, two museum studies seminars are also required.

Special Requirements for the Ph.D.: Doctoral candidates must first satisfy the program's requirements for the Master's degree in anthropology or its equivalent at another university. Students must meet a foreign language requirement (if required by committee) and take preliminary examinations in one cultural area and in one or two topical areas (e.g. gender). They must also submit an approved research proposal for doctoral research. The dissertation should be based on independent field research; only in exceptional cases is reliance on library materials alone considered acceptable. One year of teaching experience, usually as a teaching assistant, also is required.