Education

Harvard University: Arts & Sciences: Anthropology

Category Anthropology, Art and Social Sciences, Doctoral, Harvard University, USA
Tags Anthropology, Arts, Harvard University, Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Archaeology

The principal objectives of the graduate program in archaeology are to provide 1) informed, critical examinations of core issues in archaeology, 2) comprehensive training in principal methods and theories of anthropologically oriented archaeology, and 3) direction and support for PhD candidates preparing for research and teaching positions in a wide variety of domains of archaeological practice. While students who wish to pursue PhD training in any area of expertise are invited to apply to the program, there are several domains of particular strength in terms of faculty interests, departmental facilities, and institutional resources. Principal strengths in archaeology at Harvard include: a) the archaeology of complex societies, b) the archaeology of ethnicities and languages, c) archaeology, art and religion, d) the archaeology of human evolution, and e) environmental archaeology/bioarchaeology. Students are strongly encouraged to select one of these areas of specialization in focusing their work, although the specific program of study pursued by each student will be developed in close consultation with his/her principal advisor and advisory committee. In addition to a primary area of specialization, all students are expected to acquire a basic understanding of the archaeology of complex societies in both the Old and New Worlds as well as general knowledge of those aspects of ethnography, ethnology, and biological anthropology that have particular relevance to his/her area(s) of interest in archaeology. In certain cases, joint programs of study in archaeology and either biological anthropology or social anthropology can be arranged. The expectation is that the student will be able to complete the program in six years.

Each student will have a faculty advisor, whose research interests will be close to those of the student. For the first five semesters, the student’s progress will be overseen by an Advisory Committee, normally consisting of the advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies, and one other archaeology faculty member. After the fifth semester, examining and dissertation committees will be chosen on the basis of the student’s domain(s) of specialization. The progress of each student will be assessed annually by the archaeology wing faculty, and this appraisal will be communicated to the candidate. An overall B+ average is expected of the student. Incomplete (INC) grades are expected to be made up on time (by the end of the term following the term in which the INC was taken). No grade of INC can fulfill any departmental requirement. A record with INC is likely to jeopardize a student’s chances of obtaining teaching fellowships and financial awards.

Biological Anthropology

The objective of the graduate program in biological anthropology is to provide the PhD candidate with comprehensive training in biological anthropology, within the broader field of anthropology, and evolutionary biology, as well as specialization in a particular research area. Although requirements in biological anthropology are normally sufficiently flexible to accommodate most research programs, we also encourage inter-departmental PhD programs when appropriate.

Upon admission, the student will meet with the biological anthropology faculty in the week before fall term begins and during the first week of term to plan a program of study that will take into account the student’s previous training and current academic interests. Two members of the faculty will be chosen as the student’s initial advisors. The progress of all students will be assessed annually by the biological anthropology faculty and this appraisal will be communicated to the candidate. An overall B+ average is expected of the student. Ordinarily, no student whose record contains any Incompletes will be allowed to register for the third term.

Social Anthropology

Advisors

On admission to the program in social anthropology, each student is assigned an advisor. The student should seek out this advisor at least once a term to discuss his or her progress and to work out a plan of study. The student also should keep the advisor informed about progress while in the field. A new advisor may be appointed by the chair of the social anthropology wing on the initiative of either the student or the advisor at any time in the course of study.

Coursework

The course of study in social anthropology requires a minimum of 16 half-courses (not including TIME), at least 12 of which must be in anthropology.