Anthropology
Mailing Address:
Department of Anthropology (MC 027)
1007 West Harrison Street
Chicago, IL 60607-7139
Campus Location: 2102 BSB
Program Codes: 20FS0340MA (MA); 20FS0340PHD (PhD)
Telephone: (312) 413-3570
E-mail: anth@uic.edu
Web Site: http://www.uic.edu/depts/anth/anthro.htm
Head of the Department: John Monaghan
Director of Graduate Studies: Brian S. Bauer
The Department of Anthropology offers a program leading to degrees in anthropology at both the master’s and doctoral levels. Admissions preference is given to MA-seeking students who intend to pursue an MA-PhD sequence, rather than a terminal MA. The Interdepartmental Concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies is available to students in this program, as well as the Interdepartmental Concentration in Latin American and Latino Studies. The department has research laboratories supporting studies in archaeology, sociocultural anthropology, and biological anthropology.
One of the unique strengths of our department is that we have a collaborative PhD program with the Field Museum. Under this program, curators in the Department of Anthropology at the Field Museum support, mentor, and help train our graduate students. For example, Field Museum curators frequently serve as chairs or members of PhD committees and they commonly include our graduate students in their research projects. Our graduate students also have access to many of the laboratories, collections, and other facilities of the Field Museum. While the collaborative UIC-Field Museum program can enhance the training opportunities of sociocultural and biological anthropology students, it is most widely used by archaeology students. This is because the collaborative UIC-Field Museum program establishes one of the largest concentrations of anthropological archeologists in the country and members of these two departments conduct field research across the world. Students who are interested in making use of the UIC-Field Museum connection do not need to submit any additional information over what is requested for general admissions to the Anthropology graduate program.
The Department of Anthropology and the School of Public Health offer a joint degree program leading to a Master of Arts in Anthropology and a Master of Public Health. The joint degree program is designed to offer combined training in Anthropology and Public Health to graduate students intending to advance to the UIC doctoral program in Anthropology or Public Health. Students in the joint program may complete the Master of Public Health in either Community Health Sciences or Epidemiology.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are considered on an individual basis. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:
Master of Arts
- Baccalaureate Field No restrictions.
- Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study.
- Tests Required GRE General.
- Minimum English Competency Test Score
- TOEFL 550 (paper-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), OR,
- IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores.
- Letters of Recommendation Three letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s academic accomplishments and potential.
- Personal Statement Required: A 700–1000 word statement of academic and professional intent and research interests.
- Deadlines The application deadline is December 15.
Master of Arts/Master of Public Health
To be admitted to the joint degree program, applicants must meet the admissions criteria of both programs and be admitted to each through separate applications. Consult the School of Public Health Catalog for information on the admission requirements of the MPH program. Joint degree students must take their MPH training in either Community Health Sciences (CHS) or Epidemiology.
Doctor of Philosophy
- Prior Degrees Students may enter either with an Anthropology MA or equivalent, from an accredited U.S. college or university.
- Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study.
- Tests Required GRE General.
- Minimum English Competency Test Score
- TOEFL 550 (paper-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), OR,
- IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores.
- Letters of Recommendation Three letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s academic accomplishments and potential.
- Personal Statement Required: 700–1000 word statement of academic and professional intent and research interests.
- Deadlines The application deadline is December 15.
Degree Requirements
In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:
Master of Arts
- Minimum Semester Hours Required 36.
- Course Work Required Courses: ANTH 500, 501, 502, 503, and 595. Candidates must complete ANTH 500, 501, 502, and 503 with grades of B or better and ANTH 595 with an S. Courses must be completed within the first two semesters of the program.
- Electives: All students must take 12 elective credit hours for the degree. Two of the electives must be anthropology courses. All elective courses must be at the 400- or 500-level.
- Comprehensive Examination Required: The final examinations in ANTH 500, 501, 502, and 503 constitute the four sections of the comprehensive examination.
- Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Project or course work only. No other options are available.
Master of Arts/Master of Public Health
- Minimum Semester Hours Required 71–76.
- Course Work Required Courses:
- Anthropology and Global Heath Core (12 hours): ANTH/IPHS 415, 416, and 516.
- Anthropology Core (18 hours): ANTH 500, 501, 502, 503, and 595.
- School of Public Health Core (20 hours): CHSC 400, BSTT 400, HPA 400, EPID 403, EOHS 400, IPHS 650, IPHS 698.
- Students must choose one of the following two areas in Public Health: Community Health Sciences or Epidemiology.
- Community Health Sciences Core (15 hours): CHSC 431, 433, 446, 480, and one of the following: CHSC 527, CHSC 543, or HPA 430.
- Epidemiology Core (18 hours): EPID 404, 406, 410, 411, 591; BSTT 401.
- Electives: 6–8 credit hours chosen in consultation with graduate advisors.
- Comprehensive Examination None.
- Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Field experience and capstone project required. No other options available.
- Other Requirements Students in the joint program will have two advisors, one from the Department of Anthropology faculty in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and one from the Community Health Sciences or Epidemiology program in the School of Public Health.
Doctor of Philosophy
- Minimum Semester Hours Required 96 from the baccalaureate, 64 hours from the Master of Arts.
- Course Work Required Courses: ANTH 500, 501, 502, 503, and 595. Candidates must complete ANTH 500, 501, 502, and 503 with grades of B or better and ANTH 595 with an S. Courses must be completed within the first two semesters of the program.
- Preliminary Examination Required, written.
- Dissertation Required.
- Other Requirements Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of a research language.
Interdepartmental Concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies
Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Gender and Women’s Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for more information.
Interdepartmental Concentration in Latin American and Latino Studies
Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Latin American and Latino Studies. See Latin American and Latino Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for more information.
