Dec 05, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Anthropology, Ph.D.


The Ph.D. program in anthropology offers graduate studies in cultural anthropology (with concentrations in medical anthropology or cultural anthropology) and in archaeology.

Degree Requirements


The Ph.D. degree in anthropology carries the following requirements:

  1. Students must complete a minimum of 54 credit hours of approved graduate coursework at SMU, which may include credit hours of dissertation coursework. Up to 24 credit hours may be waived for advanced courses taken elsewhere. In addition, students may test out of advanced courses based on prior graduate-level experiences. Please check the Department of Anthropology’s website to confirm current course listings.
  2. The M.A. degree en route to the Ph.D. will be awarded to students who are accepted into the graduate program and who receive a “low pass” or higher on the general M.A. examination in their subfield given at the end of two years’ coursework (36 credit hours). However, only students who achieve a “pass” or higher on this examination may advance into the Ph.D. program.
  3. Students must satisfy all curricular requirements as specified by the department faculty. For additional details, students should see the department Redbook (also available on the department’s website at www.smu.edu/anthro).
  4. Students must demonstrate an ability to function proficiently in one or more languages selected from among the following: French, German, Russian, Spanish or substitute languages approved by the department.
  5. Students must demonstrate a satisfactory knowledge of analytical methods (quantitative or qualitative, as appropriate).
  6. Students must pass a Ph.D. qualifying examination, including an oral defense of a dissertation proposal in their subfield.
  7. Students must write and make a successful defense of a dissertation. Degree candidates may concentrate in any subfield except biological anthropology.

Concentration Requirements (33 Credit Hours)


Students choose one concentration: cultural anthropology or medical anthropology.

Cultural Anthropology Concentration


Required Courses (6 Credit Hours)

Elective Courses (27 Credit Hours)

Students take 27 credit hours in anthropology (6000 level and higher), though courses from outside the department may be taken upon approval of the director of graduate studies or the student’s dissertation adviser.

Medical Anthropology Concentration


Elective Courses (27 Credit Courses)

Students take 27 credit hours in anthropology (6000 level and higher), though courses from outside the department may be taken upon approval of the director of graduate studies or the student’s dissertation adviser. Six (6) of these credit hours must be in medical coursework.

Archaeology (24 Credit Hours)


The following courses are required for students focusing on archaeology:

Additional Requirements (30 Credit Hours)

Students must take at least one course from each of the three groups listed below (Groups B, C, and D) and a second course from one of the first two groups (Group B or C), for a total of 12 credit hours. Students can select up to 18 credit hours of electives from the elective listing of archaeology courses, six credit hours of which can be field school. (Group E)

Total: 54 Credit Hours