Anthropology and Education PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Anthropology and Education is for students who plan to engage in scholarly writing and research, applied research and evaluation, or teaching and administrative responsibilities at colleges; universities; professional schools of education and medicine; research institutes; or state, federal, and international agencies and bureaus.

Each student develops, in collaboration with an advisor, a program of study in anthropology designed to establish a high level of competency. A minimum of 75 points of acceptable graduate credit is required for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).

Of these 75 points, a maximum of 30 points may be transferred in courses from other accredited graduate schools. 45 points of Anthropology courses are required overall. Of these, up to 15 points in anthropology courses may be taken at other graduate institutions which are members of the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium.

These courses prepare students with the requisite knowledge of epistemological, theoretical, methodological, ethnographic, and substantive areas of anthropology. They aim to develop competency in the discipline, while addressing the specific intellectual interests of the student.

Within the major course requirements, 30 points in required courses must be taken: the four-semester sequence of colloquia and summer field research, which represents the core training module of the program (12 points); two additional research methods courses (6 points); two area courses, one within and one complementary to one’s focus (6 points); and two sub-discipline courses outside of sociocultural anthropology (6 points), in linguistic anthropology.

The remaining 15 points of electives are used to increase competence in comparative, regional, or international studies, or to enhance technical skills used in conjunction with but outside the major course of study. At least three of these courses (8-9 points) must be taken in fields foundational to anthropology (economics, history, linguistics, philosophy, psychology, sociology). Of the 75 graduate points required for the degree, a minimum of 45 must be taken for an evaluative letter grade.

Colloquia Sequence (12 points):

• ITSF 4011: Contexts of Education (3)

• ITSF 5610: First- and Second-Year Colloquium in Applied Anthropology (6) (taken for 3 credits in both first and second year Spring semesters)

• ITSF 5611: Advanced Ethnographic Methods and Analysis (3)

Two Area Courses (6 points): 

An “area” may be a geographic region as well as a substantial population with self-identifying members such as ethnic, gendered, and racialized groups, subcultures, professions, and transnational populations. One geographic regional ethnographic course must be taken from outside the student’s main area of ethnographic interest; the other area course should be from within the student’s area of specialization. Students must select their area courses in consultation with their advisors.

Two Subfield Courses in Linguistic Anthropology (6 points):

Course Options:

• ITSF 5003: Communication and Culture (3)

• ITSF 5037: Global Literacies (3)

• ITSF 5050: Language, Cultural Politics, and Education (3)

One Ethnographic Methods Course (3 points):

Course Options:

• ITSF 5000: Introductory Methods of Ethnography and Participant Observation (3)

• ITSF 5001: Ethnography and Participant-Observation (3)

One Additional Research Methods or Statistical Course (3):

Course Options:

• ITSF 4101: Quantitative Analysis in Comparative and International Education (3)

• ITSF 5009: Social Network Analysis (3)

• Any courses in HUDM

Other Major Courses (15):

15 additional points of anthropological coursework outside of the other Major Requirement categories.

Course Option Examples:

• ITSF 4010: Cultural and Social Bases of Education (3)

• ITSF 4026: Technology and Culture (3)

• ITSF 4014: Urban Situations and Education (3)

• ITSF 5045: Globalization, Mobility and Education (3)

Electives (30):

Courses that do not fulfill any of the above Major Requirement categories.

Certification and Grade Requirements:

Certification is the means of indicating that the student is regarded as having attained the expected competencies of the program. An overall grade average of B+ is expected. Receiving two B grades or lower, two Incomplete grades, or one F grade will lead to a review by the program faculty and may result in dismissal from the program. In addition, students must complete a set of written examinations on topics relevant to Anthropology and Education or Applied Anthropology.

Dissertation Requirements:

After passing the written certification examination, the candidate prepares a dissertation proposal to be defended in oral examination. One or two years of anthropological field research is required for the collection of original field data based on the dissertation research proposal.

Foreign Language Requirement:

Each candidate must satisfy the foreign language requirement by demonstrating a high level of proficiency in one language other than English.