Applied Anthropology (Ph.D.)
Ph.D. Applied Anthropology
Program Overview
The Department of Anthropology at Texas State prepares Ph.D. students for their future careers. Ph.D. students regularly take part in externships, work with professionals on applied projects, and present and publish their work. Ph.D. students also take at least two classes in other disciplines including business, history, geography and public health.
Course Work
TXST offers a unique, intense five-year program. During the first two years, students take classes in ethics, grant/contract writing, professional conduct, research design, methods of data collection, project management, and the use of theory in data interpretation. Comprehensive exams focusing on students' dissertation topics take place in year two.
The final three years of the program are devoted to applied externships, research, and dissertation writing. As a whole, the curriculum emphasizes skills that train students for a broad range of nonacademic and academic jobs.
| Degree | Course Work | Dissertation | Total Hours | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Degree Ph.D. | Course Work 36 hours | Dissertation 18 hours minimum | Total Hours 54 hours | Location San Marcos |
Program Details
Texas State is the third university in the nation - and the only university in Texas - to have a doctoral program in Applied Anthropology.
Program Mission
At TXST Anthropology, we are transcending the borders that divide us and restrain us - whether that's transnational borders, disciplinary borders, or the borders between academic and practicing anthropologists. Our research and learning engage theoretically-grounded, evidence-based, applied, public, and creative anthropologies to make impacts beyond the borders of anthropology.
The mission of the Ph.D. program is to educate and train students to become professional, practicing anthropologists in the 21st century. Ph.D. students can focus their studies on archaeology, biological anthropology, or cultural anthropology.
Career Options
The global economy has created a tremendous need for research-based information and pragmatic uses of anthropological knowledge and skills. This has created exciting and extensive career opportunities for applied anthropologists. Career paths for Ph.D. anthropologists include the academy, the corporate and business sector, public agencies, and non-profit and community-based organizations.
Program Faculty
Faculty in the department conduct research across the world, in the U.S., and locally in Texas. Faculty regularly include Ph.D. students in their research and mentor them as they pursue their own projects.
The department also hosts the Center of Archaeological Studies, the Forensic Anthropology Center, and the InnoAnth Lab, all of which provide hands-on educational opportunities and training to ensure Ph.D. students have marketable skills for employment.
Contact us for general questions about your application, funding opportunities, and more. If you have specific questions after reviewing the program details, contact the program's graduate advisor.
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Nicole Taylor
ntaylor@txstate.edu
512.245.2473
Evans Liberal Arts (ELA), Room 266
Advisor Support
Gerardo Galeana
gbg18@txstate.edu
512.245.5852
Evans Liberal Arts (ELA), Room 266
Apply Now Already know that Texas State is right for you?
Application Deadlines
| Deadlines | U.S. Citizen | International |
|---|---|---|
Deadlines Fall | U.S. Citizen December 1 | International December 1 |
This program's deadline is firm. This type of deadline means the application and other application requirements must be submitted by the program's specified deadline day.
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Funding Information For scholarship, fellowship or assistantship consideration, applications must be completed by the deadline above. |
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Decision Timeline This program reviews applications on a firm basis. |
Admission Requirements
The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.
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Application
- Completed online application
Review important information about the online application.
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Application Fee
- $55 Nonrefundable application fee, OR
- $90 Nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
Review important information about application fees.
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Transcripts & GPA
- baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
- master's degree in anthropology or a closely related field from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a U.S. Master’s degree. Master’s degrees following a three-year Bachelor’s degrees may not be equivalent; please contact gradcollege@txstate.edu if you are unsure.)
- a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
- competitive GPA, which typically means an overall GPA of 3.3 or higher, in all completed graduate course work.
If your master's degree is not in anthropology or a closely related discipline, you may be required to take leveling courses if you lack sufficient background course work. Any required leveling course work must be completed with grades of B or better.
Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.
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Test Scores
GRE
- GRE not required
Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores
Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.
- official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
- official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
- official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
- minimum individual module scores of 6.0
- official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
- official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.
Review important information about official test scores. -
Documents
- resume/CV, complete and current
- statement of purpose (3–5-page maximum, double-spaced) that includes
- the anthropological subdiscipline for which you are applying
- your background, experience, and skills
- identification of the professor(s) with whom you would like to work
- specific dissertation research interests
- reasons for interest in the Texas State program
- readiness to complete the program in the specified time frame
- professional plans and goals
- if applicable, any crossover areas of research from other anthropological sub-disciplines
- three letters of recommendation addressing and evaluating your skills, academic potential, and ability to successfully complete the program in the specified time frame. Letters should be written by professors, academic instructors, and/or applied anthropology professionals.
- writing sample, such as your master's thesis or other sample of professional or academic writing
Review important information about documents.