
Graduate Program
The Department of Anthropology graduate degree programs include the following:
Graduate training in Anthropology at Stanford is designed for students who seek the Doctoral (Ph.D.) degree. Eligible Ph.D. students from other disciplines at Stanford University may also pursue a Ph.D. Minor in Anthropology.
In addition, graduate training in Anthropology is also designed for students who seek the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree. The M.A. program offers the following options for current Stanford students who seek a M.A. degree in Anthropology:
The Coterminal Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and M.A. degree in Anthropology is for current Stanford undergraduates seeking to obtain a M.A. degree while completing their B.A. degree in the same or different department.
The Terminal M.A. degree in Anthropology is for Stanford graduate students, taking advanced degrees in other disciplines at Stanford as well as for current Anthropology Ph.D. students at Stanford University, who fulfill the M.A. degree requirements for the M.A. ‘on the way to the Ph.D.’
Over 1,500 doctoral dissertations have been completed in the department since 1895. Anthropology alumni pursue successful careers in teaching, research, or non-academic careers in the United States and worldwide.
Dissertations submitted in Anthropology at Stanford University:
Doctoral Program in Anthropology
Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences
Doctoral Program in Cultural and Social Anthropology
Doctoral Program in Sociology and Anthropology
The evolution of Anthropology at Stanford University:
Department of Anthropology (2009-present) Read More: Stanford Magazine and Stanford News
Department of Anthropological Sciences (1999-2008)
Department of Cultural and Social Anthropology (1999-2008)
Department of Anthropology (1957-1998) Read More: Stanford Magazine and Stanford News
Department of Sociology and Anthropology (1949-1956)
Beyond the Classroom
In close collaboration with Stanford faculty members and department leadership, our graduate students organize number of event series that contribute to the department's intellectual life and community. The Graduate Student Organization (GSO) representatives act as a liaison between the department leadership and the graduate student body, actively participating in department issues, and providing a supportive community for the first-year Ph.D. student cohort as well as other for other Ph.D. and M.A. graduate students. Graduate students also engage with unique research, curricular, and professionalization activities.
Fields of Study
Our graduate students may choose from the following Department tracks: 1) Archaeology; 2) Culture and Society. Students work closely with faculty members who are engaged in research informed by a wide array of theoretical perspectives from political to spiritual. Subfields in Archeology include: cities, gender and sexuality, and materiality. Students interested in Culture and Society can focus on a wide range of issues such as: linguistic anthropology, culture and mind, medical anthropology, and global political economy. Explore each Research Area and its faculty.
Funding
The Anthropology Department offers 5 years of financial support to Ph.D. students. No funding is offered for student enrolled in the co-terminal and terminal M.A. programs.
Join dozens of Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences students who gain valuable leadership skills in a multidisciplinary, multicultural community as Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS). As a scholar, students join a distinguished cohort, participate in up to three years of leadership programming, and receive full funding for up to three years of Doctoral studies at Stanford. The KHS application deadline is October 12, 2022. Learn more about KHS admission.
How to Apply
Please review admissions for policies and requirements for each degree program by visiting the specific degree program page listed above. Please also consider reviewing the Stanford School of Humanities & Sciences' Guide on Getting into Grad School to explore which graduate program may best suit your interest, what graduate committees look for, and the benefits and challenges for pursuing a graduate degree.