The program comprises two separate tracks: Evolutionary
Anthropology and Critical Interventions in Theory and Ethnography (CITE), a cultural
anthropology program.
Requirements for the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) program include 48 approved course credits and 24
research credits. Within the 48 credits, all students in Evolutionary
Anthropology must take 16:070:502 Proseminar in Anthropology, 01:960:401 Basic
Statistics for Research (or an equivalent), and either 16:070:508 Evolutionary
Theory and Processes or 16:070:560 Natural Selection and Social Theory. Students in CITE must take 16:070:505 History
of Anthropological Theory, 16:070:506 Research Design and Methods in
Social/Cultural Anthropology, and 16:070:514 Language as Social Action. CITE
students interested in critical environmental studies are also advised to take 16:070:543
Ecological Anthropology, 16:070:544 Environmental Anthropology in a Changing
World, and 16:070:526 Urban Ethnography. Such students are also strongly encouraged to meet
the requirements of the interdisciplinary Certificate Program in Human Dimensions of Environmental Change.
All second-year students are required to present a scholarly paper at a departmental colloquium. Ph.D. students also are required to prepare three "field
statements," textual summaries with extensive bibliographies that are
state-of-the-art literature reviews and analyses in three areas of research
broader than, but related to, their dissertation topic. After completing their
48 credits of coursework and their field statements, students prepare a
dissertation research proposal; they must pass an oral defense of this proposal. When the dissertation is completed, it is evaluated in an
oral dissertation defense.
Students who enter the Ph.D. program may earn a master of arts (M.A.) degree along the way by
applying for one after completion of at least 30 credits and completion of the
three field statements. Although rare, some students may enter a terminal master's program. Students who enter the master's program are expected to
take the same required courses listed above for the Ph.D. program. They may
either complete a written comprehensive exam after 30 course credits, or write three field statements after 30 course credits, or write a
6-credit master's thesis (with an oral exam) after 24 credits of coursework.
Students who enter the master's program may then apply to enter the Ph.D.
program.
Students are urged to complete their Ph.D. within five years. While there is
no formal fieldwork requirement, most students find fieldwork necessary for a
doctoral degree. There is no specific language requirement, but students are
expected to acquire any languages necessary for successful completion of their field
and/or library research. There is no residency requirement, though students are strongly encouraged to establish New Jersey residency as soon as possible.
Selected courses may be taken in other programs, such as geological
sciences, history, political science, women's and gender studies, psychology,
sociology, urban planning, ecology and evolution, nutrition, geography, and computer science.
