Anthropology
Supported Degree Objectives
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Master's Degree
- Non Degree
Required Supporting Documents
- Transcripts
- Recommendation Letters
- Three (3) letters of recommendation are required for degree-seeking applicants. The letters should preferably be from persons who can assess your academic potential such as faculty members or others who have served as advisors; those who have taught courses you have taken or have supervised you in a field-school or research setting. For applied anthropology, you may have letters from employers or supervisors that discuss your academic abilities, related work background, and potential for success in graduate school. Online recommendation providers will receive an email notification with instructions for accessing the recommendation system during the application process once you enter their names in the application.
- Statement of Purpose
- Anthropology at Purdue University is a leading-edge research-intensive department with a public service mission. We work across disciplines and use innovative, integrated anthropological approaches to expand human knowledge and address global grand challenges.
- The statement of purpose (usually one to three pages) should state your research interests and professional plans. The statement should also identify the area(s) of concentration or specialization that attract you to the anthropology program at Purdue and any individual faculty with whom you hope to work. Describe any skills you have developed or experiences you have had, such as publications, awards, achievements, abilities, and/or professional history, that have helped you prepare for graduate study in anthropology. You also may explain any special circumstances applicable to your background. Our program emphasizes training for academic positions and non-academic positions involving social science research. Describe how this training fits with your career goals. If you are applying for the MS and anticipate continuing to the PhD, you may indicate this in the Statement of Purpose.
- Writing Sample
- An academic paper written in English. The writing sample should be an academic paper written in English and/or research or project report for which the applicant had lead authorship. The sample will be uploaded as part of the application.
- An academic paper written in English. The writing sample should be an academic paper written in English and/or research or project report for which the applicant had lead authorship. The sample will be uploaded as part of the application.
- Provisional PhD Research Topic (PhD applicants only)
- Please submit a one-page single-spaced summary of your intended PhD research topic. Please include theoretical frameworks, research questions, methods anticipated, and a selected bibliography with key sources. The bibliography does not count toward the one-page limit of the summary. The writing sample and research topic can be uploaded as one document.
- Curriculum Vitae
- We request that you list in your CV under the heading "Preparation for Research" any research-related skills and experiences, such as: language competence, technical skills, qualitative and/or quantitative skills, lab experience, practitioner experience, previous research, and any other relevant experience.
- Diversity Essay (optional)
- Please use this space to submit an essay of 500 words or less that describes your leadership, work experience, service experience, or other significant involvement with racial, ethnic, socio-economic, or educational communities that have traditionally been underrepresented in higher education, and how these experiences would promote a diversity of views, experiences, and ideas in the pursuit of research, scholarship, and creative excellence. This optional essay may be used to inform admissions decisions (if submitted) or forward candidates for internal fellowship programs.
English Proficiency Requirements
Non Degree Program Requirements
- Statement of Purpose
- Curriculum Vitae
Master's Degree Program Requirements
- Cumulative Grade Point Average from most recently conferred undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree:
- 3.0 or equivalent (A=4.0)
Doctoral Degree Program Requirements
- Cumulative Grade Point Average from most recently conferred undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree:
- 3.0 or equivalent (A=4.0)
- Master's Degree Required
Application Deadlines
-
Fall Spring Summer December 15 No Entry No Entry U.S. Citizen December 15 No Entry No Entry International
Program Contact Information
-
Name Brian Johnson Phone 765-496-7400 Email anthgrad@purdue.edu Web Program Website Address Department of Anthropology
Purdue University
Stone Hall, Suite 219
700 West State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2059
USA
Additional Information
- Current master's students wishing to be admitted to a doctoral degree program in this same graduate program will need to discuss the process with the Director of Graduate Studies and Academic Program Manager.
