COURSE CURRICULUM

This graduate program is structured around advanced coursework and a major research thesis that develops students’ expertise in anthropological theory, methods, and specialized thematic areas. Students are required to complete two advanced research seminars chosen from four key areas: Inequality, Culture and Health; Ecology and Evolution; Visual Anthropology and Materiality; and Space, Place, Knowledge and Power. These seminars allow students to deepen their understanding of specific anthropological perspectives while engaging with current research debates. In addition, students complete a department-approved elective, which may include advanced seminars, upper-level undergraduate courses, or graduate-level directed studies, depending on their research focus and supervisor’s approval. Core requirements also include a Seminar in Anthropological Theory and a Seminar in Anthropological Research Methods, ensuring a strong foundation in both conceptual frameworks and methodological approaches. A key milestone is the Thesis Proposal Development course (ANTH 597), during which students prepare and refine their research proposal under faculty supervision, typically in the first year. The proposal must be formally approved before students proceed to the thesis stage. The thesis (ANTH 599) is the central component of the program and involves original, in-depth research on a chosen topic, often involving fieldwork or other empirical methods. The completed thesis is examined through an oral defense, evaluated by a supervisory committee and an external examiner from another department or institution. This process ensures academic rigor, originality, and professional scholarly development.