The department is committed to comparative research that seeks theories that allow for the enormous diversity in human life. Our program of study includes a holistic approach to the study of humans and seeks to expose students to all four of the traditional subdisciplines of anthropology - Archaeological Anthropology, Sociocultural Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Physical Anthropology. The emphasis, however, is on intensive training in one subfield. Our faculty also encourage study outside anthropology, where the related fields of biological sciences, statistics, languages, media, history, and the humanities enrich the understanding of particular problems.

To fill out an application online, download a hard copy, or request that a copy be sent to you in the mail, please visit:

http://www.nyu.edu/gsas


The NYU Graduate Program in Anthropology is highly competitive. Typically, we receive 350 applications for approximately ten openings. We welcome diversity of all kinds in our applicant pool. The successful applicant should have the strong academic skills required for rigorous graduate studies, and appropriate to his or her subfield interests. Since no department can cover the entire range of anthropological areas, we also look for students whose scholarly interests can be best served by the strengths of our faculty, and the NYU campus; we encourage you to explore our website.

What kind of support is available to graduate students?

All admitted Ph.D. students receive five years of full tuition support as well as a stipend, and are expected to serve as Teaching Assistants for three of those years. We also encourage students to look for other sources of support, before or after entering our program, that can be combined with the NYU funding, such as NSF Graduate Research Fellowships, Ford Foundation PostDoctoral Fellowships for Minorities, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship, the Jacob K. Javits Fellowships Program, and others. Dissertation research (typically conducted after three or four years in residence) is almost always supported by non-NYU research funding. Students work closely with their advisors to develop applications for this type of support.


Can I apply for an MA Degree in Anthropology?

The Department only admits students for doctoral (Ph.D.) study, with the exceptions of our new MA Program in Human Skeletal Biology (physical anthropology, see below). There is no other freestanding M.A. program; this degree is earned in the course of Ph.D. study.


Can I do the Certificate Program in Culture and Media separately from the Ph.D. Program?

We do not accept applicants for the Certificate Program in Culture and Media apart from the Ph.D. Program. The Certificate is a specialization within the Ph.D. Program in Socio-cultural Anthropology. All students interested in that Certificate are part of the general Socio-Cultural Ph.D. Program. Please visit that section of our website for more information.

How long does it usually take to complete the PhD in Anthropology?

As is true in other doctoral programs in anthropology, the average time to complete the Ph.D. degree is 7-8 years. Our program of preparation for life as a professional anthropologist includes 3 years of coursework; 1 year spent designing a dissertation project, applying for research funding, and preparing for and completing PhD comprehensive examations; 1-2 years of field research; and 1-2 years to write the dissertation. Students in Biological Anthropology- especially those whose research is primarily lab-based--may be able to finish more quickly.

Will my MA from another school be counted toward an NYU PhD?

An MA in a discipline other than anthropology often provides a useful complement, but generally cannot replace NYU MA/ PhD coursework in anthropology. A prior MA in anthropology MAY be counted toward the NYU PhD if it is comparable in strength of training. In that case, students take 3 fewer semesters of coursework than do those preparing the NYU MA/PhD. The decision about transferring credit for a prior MA in anthropology is made after the first semester in residence at NYU, and is based on faculty judgement of the student's readiness to successfully design and undertake a dissertation project. Alternatively, up to 16 credits (for up to four comparable courses) may be transferred, shortening coursework in residence by a full semester. Financial support from NYU is adjusted accordingly.

For further questions regarding graduate study in:

Socio-cultural and linguistic anthropology, please contact our Graduate Secretary, Tracy Donvito.

Certificate Program in Culture and Media,  please contact Prof. Faye Ginsburg at faye.ginsburg@nyu.edu

MA in Human Skeletal Biology, please contact Prof. Susan Anton at susan.Anton@nyu.edu

Biological and Archeological Anthropology, please contact Prof. Terry Harrison at terry.harrison@nyu.edu (after 9/1/04)

To contact individual professors whose work is of interest to you, follow the link to faculty interests on our departmental
home page where emails and phone numbers are listed

For all other inquiries, contact Susan Carol Rogers, Director of Graduate Studies.