The doctoral degree requires a total of 72 points. On completion of at least 60 points of course work and no later than one year after completion of all Ph.D. course requirements, a student must take the written Ph.D. comprehensive examinations. These examinations cover work in three areas of specialization and are evaluated by the student’s Ph.D. committee. After completing all Ph.D. course work and passing the comprehensive exam, the student is eligible for the M.Phil. degree. Completion of these requirements as well as an oral defense of the dissertation proposal means that the student has achieved Ph.D. candidacy and may pursue dissertation research. After completion of the dissertation, the student defends the dissertation at a final oral examination conducted by members of the Ph.D. committee and two additional scholars. Three members of the examining committee must be from the anthropology faculty.
Biological Anthropology: Students in the biological track of the Ph.D. program generally take (1) Departmental Seminar, ANTH-GA 1000 (required), or an alternative course approved by the director of graduate studies and their M.A. advisory committee, (2) all three of the New York Consortium for Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP) core courses, and (3) Seminar: Physical Anthropology I, ANTH-GA 3217 or II, ANTH-GA 3218, or an equivalent seminar approved by their advisory committee.
Archaeological Anthropology: Students in this track generally take (1) Depart-mental Seminar, ANTH-GA 1000 (required), (2) either History of Archaeological Theory, ANTH-GA 2213, or History of Anthropology, ANTH-GA 1636, (3) Archaeological Methods and Techniques, ANTH-GA 2214, or an approved substitute, (4) one archaeology course focusing on a specific geographic region, and (5) a supervised field trip experience approved by their advisory committee.
Cultural and Linguistic Anthropology: Students in this track generally take (1) Departmental Seminar, ANTH-GA 1000 (required) or an alternative course approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and their M.A. advisory committee, (2) Social Anthropology Theory and Practice, ANTH-GA 1010, (3) History of Anthropology, ANTH-GA 1636, (4) Linguistic Anthropology, ANTH-GA 1040, and (5) at least one Ethnographic Traditions course, chosen in consultation with their advisory committee.