Degrees :: Ph.D. in Applied Anthropology

Mission

The doctoral program in Applied Anthropology trains students in the application of all fields of anthropological scholarship to human problems, leading to careers in practice or academia. It stresses rigorous education in theory and methods, development of an individualized research program, and opportunities to teach and participate in professional activities.

Initiated in 1984, it was the first doctoral program of its kind, and more than 75 doctorates have been earned. Faculty specializations include medical anthropology, human biology, urban policy and community development, educational anthropology, media studies, ethnic policies and heritage, economic development, immigration, archaeology, cultural resource management, gender, environment, applied linguistics, and archaeological science. Geographic specializations emphasize the Caribbean, Latin America, United States, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Admission Requirements:

A post-baccalaureate degree is required. An M.A. in Anthropology is preferred; however, the program at USF emphasizes multidisciplinary training and collaborative research, and promising students from other fields are encouraged to apply. Students without an Anthropology background will be required to complete four prerequisite undergraduate courses (or their equivalent from another institution): Cultural Anthropology (ANT 2410), Biological Anthropology (ANT 2511), Anthropological Linguistics (ANT 3610), and Archaeology (ANT 3101).

Degree Requirements:

Course requirements for each track differ, as described below. However, requirements and expectations for research and dissertation are identical. The program results in only one degree: the Ph.D. in Applied Anthropology. The Ph.D. program consists of 36 credits of coursework, plus dissertation research and writing (10 credits minimum), for a total of 46 credits beyond the Masters. Graduates of our own Applied MA program will have completed four (Cultural and Archaeology tracks) or five (Biological Track) of the listed courses). These courses will not have to be retaken if originally completed within the five (5) years prior to entering the Ph.D. program; anthropology electives should be substituted. Note that no more than 3 credits of total coursework may be obtained through independent study or directed reading.

Cultural Track Requirements

Required Courses

ANG 6931 Foundations of Applied Anthropology: A foundational course focusing on the philosophical and epistemological roots of anthropology and the examination of selected topics that draws from the subfields of Anthropology. To continue in the graduate program, students must earn a minimum grade of B in this course. (3 credits). Offered annually in the Fall.

NOTE: Starting Fall 2008, Ph.D. students with an M.A. in Anthropology are not required to take Foundations of Applied Anthropology. They may do so if they and their advisor determine that it would be beneficial (for instance, if they do not have a strong grounding in one of the sub-fields). Students who opt not to take Foundations will take an additional elective class at some point during their program.

ANG 6701 Contemporary Applied Anthropology: A critical survey of Applied Anthropology as practiced today in the major branches of Anthropology, focusing on Applied Medical, and Urban Anthropology. (3 credits). Offered Fall and Spring.

ANG 6766 Research Methods in Applied Anthropology: Research design, data collection, and data analysis for applied anthropologists with urban and medical interests. (3 credits). Offered Fall and Spring. Students may take the Field Methods for Community Health Summer Field School in Costa Rica (6 credits) in lieu of ANG 6766. Please consult with your advisor.

ANG 6490 Seminar in Cultural Anthropology: (when topic is Anthropological Theory Today).(3 credits). Offered annually.

ANG 7704 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Applied Anthropology: Examination of the development and nature of professional ethics in Applied Anthropology, including legal and quasi-legal regulations pertaining to human subjects research, privacy, and freedom of information. (3 credits). Offered annually, usually Spring.

ANG 7750 Quantitative Methods in Applied Anthropology: Advanced quantitative methods, which include multivariate statistical analysis and use of statistical computing packages. All Ph.D. students are expected to enroll in and satisfactorily complete this course. (3 credits). Please note: This is an advanced level course, for which some students may not be well-prepared. In some cases, it may be advisable to take a more introductory graduate level course (such as ANG 5486 or equivalent in another department, to prepare for this class). If a student chooses to do this, the preparatory class may not be counted as either an Anthropology or external elective.

Elective Courses

Students must complete three (3) additional graduate seminars in Anthropology (courses numbered at the 5000, 6000, or 7000 level, each worth at least 3 credit hours), chosen according to interest, and in consultation with the advisor. If ANG 6931 (Foundations of Applied Anthropology) is not taken, students will complete four (4) additional seminars. Electives are typically offered every two years. No more than 3 credits of total coursework may be obtained through independent study or directed reading.

Archaeology Track Requirements

Required Courses

ANG 6198 Seminar in Archaeological Methods: An advanced critical survey of archaeological methods (3 credits). Offered annually.

ANG 6196 Archaeological Theory and Current Issues: Methodology and theory in archaeology, analysis, interpretation of data (3 credits). Offered annually.

ANG 6197 Public Archaeology: Current topical issues in Public Archaeology and cultural resource management. Open to nonmajors with Instructors permission. (3 credits). Offered annually.

Please note: This is an advanced level course, for which some students may not be well-prepared. In some cases, it may be advisable to take a more introductory graduate level course (such as ANG 5486 or equivalent in another department, to prepare for this class). If a student chooses to do this, the preparatory class may not be counted as either an Anthropology or external elective.

ANG 6115 Topics in Archaeology, when topic is Archaeological Theory and Current Issues II: Advanced methodology and theory in archaeology, analysis, interpretation of data (3 credits). Offered biannually.

Elective Courses

Students must complete three (3) additional graduate seminars in Anthropology (courses numbered at the 5000, 6000, or 7000 level, each worth at least 3 credit hours), chosen according to interest, and in consultation with the advisor. If a biological anthropology class was not taken at the M.A. level., one should be taken now. If ANG 6931 (Foundations of Applied Anthropology) is not taken, students will complete four (4) additional seminars. Electives are typically offered every two years. No more than 3 credits of total coursework may be obtained through independent study or directed reading.

Biological Track Requirements

Required Courses

ANG 6931 Foundations of Applied Anthropology I: A foundational course focusing on the philosophical and epistemological roots of anthropology and the examination of selected topics that draws from the subfields of Anthropology. To continue in the graduate program, students must earn a minimum grade of B in this course. (3 credits). Offered annually in the Fall.(3 credits). Offered annually in Fall.

ANG 7750 Quantitative Methods in Applied Anthropology: Advanced quantitative methods, which includes multivariate statistical analysis and use of statistical computing packages. All Ph.D. students are expected to enroll in and satisfactorily complete this course (3 credits). Offered annually, usually in Spring. Please note: This is an advanced level course, for which some students may not be well-prepared. In some cases, it may be advisable to take a more introductory graduate level course (such as ANG 5486 or equivalent in another department, to prepare for this class). If a student chooses to do this, the preparatory class may not be counted as either an Anthropology or external elective.

ANG 6766 Research Methods in Applied Anthropology: Research design, data collection, and data analysis for applied anthropologists. (3 credits). Offered Fall and Spring. Students may take Field Methods for Community Health Summer Field School (6 credits) which is held in Costa Rica in lieu of ANG 6766. Please consult with your advisor.

ANG 6511/6588 Human Variation: This course is designed to provide students with an overview of human genetic, phenotypic, and demographic variation from both evolutionary and bio-cultural perspectives (3 credits). Offered annually.

ANG 6469/ANG 6511 Theory and Methods in Applied Bioanthropology: The goal of this course is to examine major theories and some of the methods in biological anthropology and their application to contemporary issues and problems (3 credits).

Elective Courses

Students must complete three (3) additional graduate seminars in Anthropology (courses at the 5000, 6000, or 70000 level worth at least 3 credit hours). If ANG 6931 (Foundations of Applied Anthropology) is not taken, students will complete four (4) additional seminars. Elective courses should be chosen on the basis of particular interests and/or skill requirements appropriate for the student’s general plans for doctoral research, and should be selected in consultation with the advisor.

Requirements for all Doctoral Students

External Curriculum Requirement

The external curriculum requirement is designed to promote interdisciplinary perspectives. Students are expected to enroll in a minimum of two (2) or a maximum of three (3) graduate level courses in departments other than Anthropology, selected on the basis of professional interests and in consultation with the major advisor. Students who enter the Ph.D. program with post-baccalaureate degrees in disciplines other than Anthropology may be able to use up to 9 credits completed for that degree to satisfy the requirement, after consultation with the major advisor and approval of the Graduate Director. In these cases, the remaining credit hours will be fulfilled through additional coursework in Anthropology.

Language Requirement

All Ph.D. students are required to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language, the specifics to be determined by the student and the supervisory committee, taking into account the nature of the student's research. See Handbook for full details.

Qualifying Examinations

Begun upon completion of required course work. See Handbook for full details.

Colloquium Presentation

All students must present once at the Fall Colloquium, as a condition of graduation.

Doctoral Dissertation

The dissertation reflects the student's ability to delineate, investigate, and analyze an appropriate topic of inquiry in a professional manner. Full details of procedures for the dissertation are included in the Handbook.

Students must enroll in a minimum of 4 hours of ANG 7940 (Dissertation Research) and 6 hours of ANG 7980 (Dissertation).