General Statement. The Ph.D. program in anthropology is designed to provide a relatively broad background in the field with a primary emphasis on socio-cultural anthropology. Major foci are in history and anthropology, symbolic systems, economic anthropology, medical anthropology, complex societies and development. Geographic strengths are greatest in African, Middle Eastern, and Asian studies. Those students particularly interested in Development Studies can also pursue a Ph.D. with a concentration in this field.
Prerequisites and Admissions Test. Applicants should have obtained the B.A. or M.A. degree in anthropology or show evidence of equivalent preparation in social science subjects. The Department also requires an official record of the results of the Graduate Record Examination General Test. The application process itself is administered by the Graduate School which sets the University requirements, fees, and deadlines.
Course Requirements. In the first stage of the program candidates are expected to prepare themselves in general anthropological research methods and theories, as well as develop competence in their specific area (or areas) of specialization. This is accomplished by means of course work, reading, and directed research during the period of residence. The University requires that students entering with a Bachelor’s degree must successfully complete at least 16 graduate semester courses for the Ph.D. degree. (Those students who enter the program with a qualifying Master’s degree must successfully complete at least 8 graduate semester courses for the Ph.D. degree.) All Ph.D. students must take three semesters of the departmental proseminar (AN 703, 704 &705) and a course in research methods.
In addition to these core requirements, students specializing in sociocultural anthropology must take at least two anthropology courses in social or cultural theory, and one anthropology course focusing on the ethnography of a specific geographical region outside your area; students specializing in biological anthropology must take at least three of the 500 level courses offered by the department in that area.
To ensure a well-rounded education in general anthropology, the programs of students in biological anthropology must include at least one course in each of the following areas: anthropology of language, and archaeology. Similarly, sociocultural anthropology students must take one course in each of the following areas: linguistics, and the archaeology or history of research area. Students with adequate previous training in any of these areas may petition the Graduate Committee for exemption from the relevant parts of this distributional requirement. The remaining course work should be chosen in consultation with the student’s academic advisor to create a coherent program of study that may include courses from other departments.
Remaining Courses. The remaining courses should be chosen to produce a coherent program of study suited to the student's research and career objectives. It may consist of specific courses (including ones in other disciplines), sub-fields, techniques, methods or "schools" of anthropology.
Students admitted as post M.A. Ph.D. candidates are expected to meet the same requjirements as all other candidates (other than the eight courses, which they will have already completed). If they have not prviously received training in the required related areas, they will have to do so either by taking courses in addition to the 8 required for the degree or by sitting an examination in the sub-field. Students may petition to count specific graduate level courses in thses areas toward those required for the degree if they are directly related to their overall plan of study.
Language Requirement. Before taking the comprehensive examination,
all students must achieve mastery in the major scholarly language of their field
region. If that language is English, any other major foreign language can meet
the requirement. Students are expected to master the local language of their
field site; this may be the same as the scholarly language in some cases. Mastery
is normally indicated by the successful completion of three years of college
language study or its equivalent. More may be required depending on the specific
language.
During the first term of enrollments, students should give the Director of Graduate
Studies a plan for meeting this requirement. Students must apply to the Director
of Graduate Studies a plan for meeting this requirement. Students must apply
to the Director of Graduate Studies for the final approval of this requirement.
Ph.D. Qualifying Examination and Thesis Prospectus. Each student must pass a written and an oral Ph.D. Qualifying Examination given by members of the advisory committee. The examination covers (1) general anthropological method and theory, (2) a subdisciplinary topic, and (3) at least one geographical area outside the United States for sociocultural anthropologists, or research specialization for biological anthropologists. The purpose of the examination is to determine whether a student will be recommended to continue working toward the Ph.D. degree. Following successful completion of the oral comprehensive/qualifying examination, the student is expected to prepare a proposal defining the research problem for the Ph.D. dissertation. This should be submitted no later than one semester after passing the Qualifying Examination. The proposal will include a statement of the theory, research methods or techniques to be employed, and the significance of the research. Written under the guidance of the advisory committee, the prospectus will be presented orally to the Ph.D. advisory committee. All members of the faculty and the graduate student body are encouraged to attend these presentations. Normally, dissertation research begins immediately after the examination of the proposal and continues for at least one calendar year.
Dissertation. Departmental approval of the dissertation proposal is obtained through successful presentation as outlined above. Two members of the faculty will supervise the candidate as she/he prepares the dissertation. The goal is a dissertation that makes an original contribution to knowledge, presented clearly, precisely, and in good literary style.
Final Oral Examination. Upon completion of the dissertation, each candidate shall present a final oral examination before a committee of five members of the Department. The examination is based primarily on the dissertation and related problems in the field of specialization.
Revised: December 2007
For more information and an application, contact palmerm@bu.edu
Mark Palmer, Department Administrator
232 Bay State Road