Ph.D. Program and Designated Emphasis
The Anthropology graduate program at UC Santa Cruz is one of the foremost in the country and is widely recognized for the creative scholarship of its students and faculty. Graduates have continued their careers at leading academic and governmental institutions, including Cambridge University, Stanford University, Yale University, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Our goal is to support graduate students in becoming proficient researchers who communicate effectively as teachers and professionals, inside or outside of academia.
Ph.D in Anthropology
Program requirements
Learning Outcomes
- Knowledge of key debates and theoretical concepts across chosen anthropological subfield
- Trained in the research methods appropriate to chosen anthropological subfield
- Comprehensive knowledge of at least two specialized fields of anthropology and related literature in the appropriate sub-field
- Ability to construct an original research prospectus
- Grasp ethical considerations associated with research in chosen subfield
- Ability to conduct intensive independent research and produce written analysis based on that research
Curriculum
The Ph.D. in Anthropology normally requires three years of coursework, one to two years of dissertation research (fieldwork), and one year of dissertation write-up. The anticipated time frame for completion is seven years, though circumstances vary. Although applicants are accepted only for the Ph.D. program, students may obtain an M.A. degree after fulfilling specific requirements during the first and second year. Students specialize in one of the three major subdisciplines.
We encourage Ph.D. students in the archaeology or bioanthropology tracks to seek co-mentorship from two or more faculty members. This allows students to draw creatively from the expertise of multiple faculty members in developing their research projects.
Archaeological anthropology track
The Ph.D. program in anthropological archaeology focuses on the pre-colonial and early post-colonial history of Africa, Mesoamerica, the Caribbean, and western North America. It is distinctive in insisting that theories of power, production and exchange, human ecology, gender, ethnicity, and technological practice be explored through rigorous laboratory and field research methods.
Biological Anthropology track
The Ph.D. program in biological anthropology has a methodological emphasis on innovative approaches to human and non-human primate ecology and diversity founded on our expertise in genomics and isotope biochemistry. Our capacity to support additional graduate students in the Biological Anthropology Ph.D. track is low, so interested applicants should contact relevant faculty members prior to submitting an application. At this time, we do not have faculty working specifically on forensic anthropology or osteology.
Cultural anthropology track
In the cultural anthropology track, we teach our graduate students to let their ethnographic practice generate new theoretical insights and to emphasize the unexpected: surprising articulations of difference, unpredicted mappings of the world, creative ways of living in the midst of catastrophe.
Designated emphasis
Graduate students from other departments may obtain a designated emphasis in Anthropology on their Ph.D. diploma, indicating that they have completed an additional specialized course of study with our department. Requirements are listed in the UCSC General Catalog. Students within our Ph.D. program are also welcome to add a designated emphasis in a different field and should consult our graduate program coordinator for more information.
Anthropology faculty
The small size of our Ph.D. program offers close interactions between students and faculty with diverse educational, work, and cultural backgrounds. We teach anthropology in conversation with other disciplines and intellectual traditions, as well as with various forms of public knowledge. Our faculty challenge students to think at the edges of our areas of expertise and develop their own creative interventions. We encourage prospective students to learn about faculty areas of research expertise before applying.
Funding opportunities
Ph.D. students at UC Santa Cruz benefit from a five-year funding package, which is typically comprised of some combination of Teaching Assistantships (TA), Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) positions, and internal or external fellowship funding. A suite of Enhanced Support Programs also provides funding and other support to meet costs and challenges faced by graduate students. Of note, the department offers a grant writing class (ANTH 228) to support students as they seek funding for fieldwork and dissertation writing.
The Anthropology Department and its affiliated research centers (such as the Archaeological Research Center, or SEACoast) periodically provide fellowship funds for research-related expenses during the academic year and summer. This funding supports ethnographic field research, conference attendance, language learning, or other activities that substantially contribute to the completion of the writing or language requirement, Qualifying Examinations, dissertation research, and professional development.
Meet our students and alumni
Danielle Dadiego: Society for American Archaeology Dissertation Award winner
UC Santa Cruz alumna and Ph.D. recipient Danielle Dadiego (M.A. Anthropology, ’17; Ph.D. Anthropology, ’20) won the 2022 Society for American Archaeology Dissertation Award, the most prestigious dissertation award in the Archaeology field.
Alec Apodaca: Ph.D. candidate studying Indigenous natural resource stewardship at UC Berkeley
Alec Apodaca (’17, B.A.) is an environmental archaeologist conducting historical ecological research on Indigenous stewardship practices ongoing today and throughout the Late Holocene in California. Apodaca says the experience he gained in Professor Tsim Schneider’s Laboratory for the Study of California Pasts helped make him a top candidate for jobs and graduate school.
Seth Phillips: Conducting research on chimpanzee “termite fishing” in Tanzania
Ph.D. Candidate Seth Phillips went to Issa Valley, Tanzania, to study how chimpanzees use tools to collect and eat termites, a behavior originally discovered by Jane Goodall. The team’s research offered new insights on the seasonal availability of termites.
View our full list of Ph.D. recipients >>
More student stories
More alumni stories
Application requirements
Recommended preparation for the anthropology Ph.D. program includes a strong background in anthropology or related disciplines and a thorough knowledge of at least one language in addition to English. The majority of students are admitted to the cultural track. Smaller numbers are accepted to pursue graduate tracks in anthropological archaeology and biological anthropology. Applications will be reviewed only after all the application materials and the application fee are received. The Anthropology Department does not admit students seeking a Master’s Degree.
The annual application deadline and instructions for applying to the Ph.D. program in Anthropology may be found through our application portal. To apply for an application fee waiver through the department, follow these instructions.
Additional information for international students
International students are generally eligible for Teaching Assistantships after proving English language competency. International students should consider applying for extramural support as they apply for admission. Many students have been able to secure a Wadsworth International Fellowship or participate in the Fulbright Program for International Students. Some countries offer fellowship opportunities to students studying abroad. This is especially important for first-year funding for non-resident tuition, since there are a limited amount of tuition fellowships.
Non-resident tuition for international students can be waived in years 2 and 3. After advancing to candidacy, typically in year 3, international students are eligible for a 3-year non-resident tuition waiver, for a total of five years of non-resident tuition waivers. All international applicants are considered for the tuition waiver fellowships and Guru Gobind Singh Fellowship at the time of application.