Anthropology Department

Programs and Course Descriptions

Faculty

The Anthropology Program

The Department of Anthropology at William & Mary offers a Master’s and a Ph.D program. The M.A. in Historical Archaeology is a terminal degree designed to prepare students for careers in historical archaeology and related professions. The Ph.D. program, with specializations in Historical Archaeology and Historical Anthropology, is designed to prepare students for research and teaching positions in Anthropology.

Admission

Students have the option of enrolling directly into the M.A.-only program, into the sequential M.A./Ph.D. program, or into the Ph.D. program. Applicants to the Ph.D. program must have completed the Anthropology M.A. degree, either at William & Mary or at another institution. Students who have completed an M.A. in a discipline closely related to Anthropology may petition the Graduate Committee to determine whether their degree may be accepted in lieu of an M.A. in Anthropology.

Admission is competitive, based on such criteria as grade point average, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, experience, and educational history. Minimally, each applicant must have a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology, history, or a related discipline, and a 3.0 grade average (on a 4.0 scale). Graduate studies begin in the fall; there are no spring admissions.

Application materials consist of the College’s standard form, GRE scores taken within the past five years, undergraduate transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a writing sample. Foreign applicants will also be required to submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applications and supporting materials for both the M.A. and the M.A./Ph.D. programs must be received by January 15. The Ph.D. programs in Anthropology at William and Mary require full-time study. Full-time and part-time students will be considered for admission into the M.A.-only program.

Programs and Course Descriptions

Programs

Courses

Anthropology

Description of Courses

Unless otherwise noted, all courses are graded using standard grading [A, B, C, D, F] scheme (See Grading and Academic Progress in the section entitled ‘Graduate Regulations ’) and may not be repeated for credit (See Repeated Courses requirements in the section entitled ‘Graduate Regulations’).

See the Open Course List to search for open seats in a term.