GRADUATE STUDIES

Ph.D. DEGREE

Ph.D. Degree Requirements

General Information:

The Ph.D. program assumes previous broad anthropological training in the undergraduate major and competence in a special field at the master's level. Ph.D. programs are flexible in content and are constructed individually within the field of specialization by the candidate, in consultation with the appropriate faculty.

Students working toward the Ph.D. degree with a major in anthropology who prefer to pursue a program leading to a specialization in, for example, linguistic anthropology, may elect to take a joint major. The requirements for such candidates will be determined by the certification committee, which includes members of the participating departments, and must be approved by the Graduate School.

Within the doctoral program, students are expected to seek additional training in areas relating to the field of concentration; in most cases, such related subjects may be taken as the required minor program. The archaeologist, for example, should elect course work in surveying, geology, cartography, zoology, history, and so on, depending on special interests. The biological anthropologist is expected to take work in comparative anatomy, human anatomy, genetics, and other biological sciences. The cultural or social anthropologist is encouraged to take further work in linguistics, history of science, psychology, sociology, area studies, geography, and related fields.

The university and vicinity provide many opportunities and facilities for training and research including specialized area and language programs, accessible American Indian reservations, significant archaeological sites, and important archaeological collections. Anthropological fieldwork is conducted in various parts of the world, and there is normally an archaeological field school every second summer. The department has major laboratories for biological anthropology and archaeology, and collaborates with the Center for Climatic Research. The Laboratory of Archaeology maintains comparative collections; microscopes; a thin-section lab; a lab of archaeological chemistry; computerized drafting equipment; and modern drafting, computing, and analytical equipment for research and teaching. Facilities for training and research in biological anthropology include well-equipped laboratories for forensic anthropology, human and other primate osteology anatomy, plant chemistry, stable isotope analysis, and bone histomorphometry, in addition to two large teaching laboratories.

Ph.D. Advisory Committee:

The student and his/her primary advisor will select two additional appropriate faculty members, at least one from the same major field as the primary advisor, to act as the Ph.D. Advisory Committee for the student. This committee is responsible for the guidance of the student in completion of requirements in the major field, minor field, language competence, and dissertation. It functions as the Reading Committee for the candidate's dissertation. 

Ph.D. Final Oral Exam Committee:

The Ph.D. final oral committee must consist of at least five current tenure-track faculty members from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.with at least one of the five from outside the major department. 

Joint Major for Ph.D. Degree:

At the Ph.D. level, each of the departments concerned must stipulate the required content of its portion of the doctoral program. Passing Preliminary Examinations in both departments is expected. The departments will place on file with the Graduate School the nature of their requirements for those involved in joint programs. The intention to pursue a joint degree should be indicated to the Graduate School no later than the beginning of the second year of graduate study. 

For other requirements, see Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, and Cultural Anthropology for specific sectional requirements. 

Archaeology: PhD Degree
Biological Anthropology: PhD Degree
Cultural Anthropology: PhD Degree
Table of PhD Degree Requirements