The Department of Anthropology offers the Doctor of Philosophy with a major in anthropology and concentrations in archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and zooarchaeology. Additional information on the anthropology graduate program may be obtained from the departmental brochure (see the department’s website) or by contacting the department.

Concentrations (Required)

Archaeology
Biological Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology
Zooarchaeology

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Admissions Standards/Procedures

• Have a BA or MA degree in anthropology or a minor in anthropology and a degree in a related field such as biology, sociology, geology, classics, history, historic preservation, or geography.
• Have a GPA above 3.30 overall in undergraduate or graduate work.
• Furnish the department and Graduate School the same materials as applicants for the MA program (see Admission under Master of Arts). The online application must specify that the applicant is applying for admission to the PhD program, and state the concentration (archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, zooarchaeology) the student will pursue.
• Master’s thesis candidates in anthropology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who apply and are conditionally accepted into the PhD program can enroll as doctoral students the semester following conferral of the MA.
• All other students with a BA or MA must apply by December 1 for admission the following fall and, due to the requirements of the program, must begin their studies in the fall semester.

Credit Hours Required

• 72 graduate credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree: 48 credit hours coursework plus 24 credit hours of dissertation 
• 48 graduate credit hours beyond the master’s degree: 24 credit hours coursework plus 24 credit hours of dissertation 

Required Courses

• At least 9 credit hours of 500- or 600-level courses outside of anthropology, distributed as appropriate to the individual’s program of study.
  • A minimum of 12 of the 24, or 30 of the 48 credit hours of coursework must be graded A-F.
• Coursework must include the three core classes taken in the first year:
  • ANTH 510  (3 credit hours)
  • ANTH 560  (3 credit hours)
  • ANTH 590  (3 credit hours)
• All PhD students must attend the graduate section of the visiting lecturer program (ANTH 550 ) each year until they are admitted to candidacy.
• Two graduate courses in statistics, usually
  • STAT 537  and STAT 538  or
  • ANTH 504  and ANTH 604  
• Courses in research methods, information technology or GIS may be substituted for these requirements, as approved by the student’s doctoral committee and the department head.
• ANTH 600  (24 credit hours)

Non-Course Requirements

• A formal performance review of each PhD graduate student’s progress will take place each year.
• A formal dissertation proposal or equivalent publication or document must be orally defended,
• The successful completion and final oral presentation and defense of a dissertation.