Students working toward the Doctor of Philosophy degree in anthropology will, under the guidance of their committee members, prepare statements of field in three areas of specialization that reflect their career goals and intellectual interests. Students frequently combine the dissertation prospectus and one of the three statements of field. After the completion and approval of the statements of field and prospectus, the student takes an oral Ph.D. Preliminary Comprehensive Examination, normally at the end of the fourth or fifth semester of doctoral work. Upon successful completion of this examination, the student concentrates on the research that will provide the basis for a required dissertation. Normally, all candidates are expected to engage in field work.

There is no general foreign language or tool of research requirement for degree qualification in anthropology. However, where the candidate’s guidance committee deems the acquisition of certain relevant skills as necessary for the effective pursuit of his or her research and professional objectives, the student may be expected to develop satisfactory levels of competence in the use of various research tools and/or languages.