Graduate Programs

Program Overview

Admissions | Advising | Courses | Faculty | Fields of Interest | Funding | Certificate Programs | Statistics Concentration 

The Department of Anthropology at the University of Washington recognizes three principal sub-fields of anthropology into which its graduate programs are divided: archaeology, biological anthropology, and sociocultural anthropology. We currently offer several graduate programs within these subdivisions:

PhD in Anthropology: Archaeology

The Archaeology graduate program is designed to train students in archaeological method, theory and practice, critical thinking, the scientific analysis of the physical content of archaeological sites, and ethical engagement at the doctoral level. The program is also designed to train professional archaeologists capable of working in a wide variety of contexts. For more information about this program please visit PhD in Anthropology: Archaeology.

PhD in Anthropology: Biological Anthropology 

The curricular goal of the Biological Anthropology PhD program is to foster understanding of human biological adaptation and its evolutionary basis through study of ecological, demographic, genetic, developmental, paleontological, behavioral, and epidemiological dimensions of human adaptation. Comprehensive training in theory and topical research provides the base from which a student’s specialization can be developed under the direction of a supervisory committee. For more information about this program please visit PhD in Anthropology: Biological Anthropology.

PhD in Anthropology: Sociocultural Anthropology

The Sociocultural Anthropology PhD program is designed to train professional anthropologists to work in either academic or non-academic settings. Each student is expected to achieve high levels of competence in the theories and methods of the discipline through successful completion of a series of requirements. Some of the fields of interest of the Sociocultural faculty include: African American Studies, Agriculture, Animal Studies, Black Studies, Decolonization, Eastern Europe, Embodiment, Ethnography, Feminism & Feminist theory, Global Health, Health Disparities, Indigenous Archaeology, Medical Anthropology, Politics of Representation, Public Health, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Visual Culture, Queer Studies. For more information about this program please visit PhD in Anthropology: Sociocultural Anthropology.

MA in Archaeological Heritage

Established in 2021, the MA in Archaeological Heritage program is designed to provide graduate training and credentials to qualify students for careers in Cultural Resource Management (CRM) in the US, as well as archaeological heritage globally. These career areas employ the majority of archaeologists in the US and beyond. For more information about this program please visit MA in Archaeological Heritage.

Master of Public Health & PhD in Anthropology (MPH/PhD)

This concurrent degree program offers students the opportunity to engage with interdisciplinary curriculum in the fields of public health and anthropology. We have developed this degree program with the departments of Epidemiology, Global Health, and Health Services. Our program allows students to pursue a Masters of Public Health (MPH), in one of four MPH programs, and a PhD in Anthropology, in either Biological Anthropology or Sociocultural Anthropology. For more information please visit MPH/PhD program. 

 

Admissions

Applications open on September 1st and close on December 15th. Applicants may apply for and be admitted for autumn quarter only. Offers of admission are usually mailed in early March. For more information about the application process, tuition, funding opportunities, and the cost of attendance, please visit our Graduate Admissions page. 

Advising

For information about our graduate programs or to make an appointment with an advisor please visit our Advising page.  

Courses

Course descriptions can be found on the University of Washington Course Catalog. Courses required for each degree can be found on the individual graduate program pages. 

 

Faculty 

Potential applicants should look through faculty profiles to determine whose fields of interest most align with their research topic. One (or more) faculty member will serve as the advisor/chair of each graduate student. It is advisable to reach out to the faculty directly to see if they are accepting students.

Fields of Interest

Please check out our fields of interest word cloud to see which areas of research our department is publishing in most frequently and to see the individual research projects. 

Funding 

For information about funding sources, including teaching assistantships, training fellowships, and dissertation funding visit our Fellowships and Funding pages.

Certificate Programs 

Graduate students may also consider completing a certificate program in conjunction with most graduate degrees. Certificates are intended to enhance the education of students, beyond their regular course of study, to allow those with allied interests to incorporate additional knowledge and skills in their future careers. For a complete list, visit Graduate Certificate Programs.

Statistics Concentration

Graduate student pursuing a PhD in anthropology may also consider completing a Statistics Concentration in Anthropology.

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