Anthropology Graduate 2022-2023 Cohort: (left to right) Chengwei Chen, Abigail Musch, Maddison Elliott, Grace Conrad, and Nagarathna Balakrishna
New Graduate Program in Anthropology
We redesigned our graduate program from the ground up. All students are admitted to the PhD program. We do not offer an MA program. Here are the most important highlights of our new program.
Cross-disciplinary and integrative: the new graduate program focuses on integrative and cross-disciplinary approaches in anthropology: biocultural approaches to health, human evolutionary history, and ecology and society
Research oriented: research training is an integral part of the program with courses in research design, grant writing, communicating anthropology, and a workshop on data collection and analysis methods.
Professional development: the hidden curriculum is not hidden in our program – mentoring and professional development are integrated in the program.
Communities of practice: join one or more of the intellectual communities in the department that focus on social-ecological systems, human evolutionary and adaptive studies, human biology, human complexity, and others.
Training by experts: faculty are involved in innovative, collaborative, and interdisciplinary research projects funded by the National Science Foundation, Wenner-Gren Foundation, and other granting agencies.
Careers in / with anthropology: The new program prepares students for academic and non-academic careers. Our department has a strong record of placement in degree-appropriate positions.
Streamlined curriculum: Completion of the program in five (to six) years – two years of training in courses, seminars, and workshops and three (or four) years of dissertation research.
Fully funded: Graduate training is fully funded. Generally, our students have one or two years of funding from university fellowships and five years of support from graduate teaching positions.
Requirements: students with BA/BS and MA/MS degrees are eligible to apply to our PhD program. We do not require a GRE and the minimum GPA is 3.0.
PhD program. All students accepted to the graduate program are accepted to the PhD program, but students may opt to earn a master’s degree as a terminal degree at Ohio State, or as a degree on the way to earning the PhD in our or another program.
If you have additional questions about applying to the program contact us at palazzo.66@osu.edu.
Graduate Application Guidelines
Application materials for the Ph.D. degree are due on November 20th for all applicants.
Every year, the faculty and the Graduate Studies Committee evaluate the pool of applicants and identifies students who are eligible for fellowships-- this is funding for graduate study provided by the Ohio State University. Eligibility is defined by the university as academic excellence, which includes course grades, theses, presentations, and other measures of academic achievement. The faculty in the department also evaluate how well each applicant fits with current research programs. University Fellowship information can be found on the Graduate School's website.
The Department of Anthropology also strongly encourages applicants to apply for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), which provides a three-year annual stipend along with a cost-of-education allowance. Applications to the GRFP are due in late October and are restricted to a single application in either the first or second year of study..
Applicants should also note that graduate students will be offered for a Graduate Teaching Associate Appointment, and will be eligible to serve as an instructor in the Department of Anthropology following adequate coursework. These appointments cover tuition and provide a stipend to support the student while they continue their coursework, degree requirements, and graduate research. All incoming students are considered for these positions and no extra materials are needed.
Materials must be submitted electronically.
Most items can be uploaded when completing the Graduate Admissions Application, which is an on-line application. If you have questions about the electronic submission of your application materials, please contact us at gpadmissions@osu.edu.
- Complete the Graduate Admissions Application for Anthropology. This will start the upload process for all additional documents.
- Upload with the Graduate Admissions Application an official transcript from each college or university attended, listing all courses taken, grades, and degrees earned. This includes post-secondary and community college transcripts.
- Upload with the Graduate Admissions Application a three-part statement (no more than two single-spaced typed pages) that:
- Applicants to the graduate program in the Department of Anthropology are asked to submit a three-part statement (totaling no more than two single-spaced typed pages) that: (1) articulates the applicant’s areas of interest and research plans; (2) demonstrates the applicant’s preparedness to undertake graduate work including experiences or other preparation that is not evident from other credentials submitted (e.g., coursework, field school, research experience, work experience); and (3) demonstrates how the applicant’s research interests align with the research expertise of two or more faculty in the department. The applicant should make a case for why they want to work with these specific faculty members and why the Department of Anthropology at the Ohio State University is an ideal setting for their graduate training.
- Upload with the Graduate Admissions Application a current CV or resume.
- Upload with the Graduate Admissions Application a writing sample that showcases your writing and analytical skills. The writing sample can be a paper written for a class, a thesis, publication, or any other piece of writing that demonstrates your skills.
- Include in the Graduate Admissions Application the emails of three persons acquainted with the applicant's academic program, scholastic ability, and/or professional performance and who will provide letters of recommendation. Applicants are advised to select referees who are familiar with their best work, particularly in anthropology and related disciplines. All recommendations must be submitted electronically. Recommenders cannot submit a letter until the application is submitted and the fee is paid.
There are additional requirements for international students. Please consult Graduate and Professional admissions for more information.
Q. Should I contact faculty members with whom I am interested in working?
A: Faculty members always appreciate hearing from prospective students, and want to know more about you. It is strongly recommended that you contact them several months before you apply to discuss potential research projects for your Ph.D.
Q: Will I get a fellowship or a Graduate Assistantship?
A: Our department is committed to finding all the graduate students that we admit to our program through a combination of university fellowships and graduate assistantships. We offer five years of graduate teaching assistantship to all our graduate students.
Q: Can you send me information by mail?
A: We no longer send hard copies of our graduate program information. However, all information is available here and on the Graduate Admissions website. If you have any questions, concerns or requests about your application to Graduate Admissions, contact palazzo.66@osu.edu.
Q: What are the minimum requirements for study in the Anthropology graduate program?
A: An applicant must submit documentation that fulfills the following admission criteria:
- An earned baccalaureate or professional degree from an accredited college or university by the expected date of entry;
- A minimum of a 3.0 cumulative point‑hour ratio (on the scale of 4.0 used at this university) in all previous undergraduate work;
- A major in anthropology, or,
- At least 25 credit hours in anthropology and closely related disciplines, or,
- Outstanding general academic preparation and evidence of exceptional scholarly potential;
- A minimum score of 79 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or of 80 on the Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency (MTELP). This requirement applies to an applicant from a country where the first language is not English, unless a degree was earned in an academic institution where English is used as the instructional medium;
- In addition to the criteria listed above, the academic interests and objectives of applicants will be evaluated to determine if the applicant's intended program can be undertaken in this department given the interests, specialties, and work load of our faculty
Q. Can I transfer from another Ohio State University graduate program to the Department of Anthropology?
A: Requests for transfer from another Ohio State University graduate program must be accompanied by the same materials submitted by first time applicants to the OSU Graduate Admissions.
Q: I am applying to the program for a second time. Do I need to submit everything again?
A: Yes, and you must resend your transcripts to Graduate Admissions.
Q: Do you require GRE scores?
A: We do not.
Q: I submitted my transcripts weeks ago but when I check my application status at Graduate Admissions it shows them as not having been received. What should I do?
A: When you check the status of your application online, you are checking the Graduate Admissions holdings. As Graduate Admissions processes all graduate applications, a backlog of submitted paperwork occurs, resulting in delays in the update of your application status. It is best to upload all materials with your application. If something is missing please contact Graduate Admissions at gpadmissions@osu.edu for an update on the status of your application.
Q: My CV/resume has been updated since I submitted it. Can I submit an updated copy?
A: Of course, just send it in and we will update your file.
Q: How firm is the deadline?
A: Applications and materials received after November 20th will not be accepted.
Q: Can I apply for admission besides the autumn semester?
A: No. If you miss the admissions deadline you will need to apply the following autumn.
Q: Based on these scores/grades/ etc what are my odds for getting into the program?
A: Unlike undergraduate education admissions where a person's skill can be boiled down into several years of grades and test scores, graduate education admissions focus more heavily on how well that particular individual's research interests and career goals mesh with the program to which they've applied. If you have any interests or inquiries into a specific body of research, feel free to contact faculty or graduate students who share similar research interests for more information about what the program can offer.
Q: How do I make an appointment to visit an advisor/to visit the department etc?
A: E-mail palazzo.66@osu.edu requesting help to set up a visit to the department.
Q: When will I find out if I have been accepted?
A: Notification letters are typically sent out in late March or early April. If you are concerned about the status of your application, please e-mail palazzo.66@osu.edu.
Note about the Waitlist: If you are offered admission from the waitlist, you will be given two weeks to accept or decline your offer before we move on to the next person on the list