Anthropology Graduate Student Handbook

Introduction and disclaimer

The information contained in this handbook is meant to be used for guideline purposes only. The handbook is updated periodically but policy changes can and sometimes do abruptly occur. Thus, this guide may not reflect current University, Graduate School or Department policy.  Please verify all details with your advisor and/or the Graduate Program Director prior to making any important decisions! The anthropology handbook does not constitute a contractual commitment. Graduate programs may not offer all of the courses as described, and policies are subject to yearly review and changes with program director and Graduate Council approval.

This guide provides graduate students of The University of Nevada, Reno with information on the structure of the M.A. and Ph.D. programs in anthropology. It is provided to assist students in completing their work as expeditiously and as meaningfully as possible while complying with general graduate school regulations. To some extent, this guide replicates information for graduate students available in the most current General Catalog, which sets forth the official Board of Regents' Policies and University Regulations on admission procedures, completion of degree requirements, filing for graduation and other pertinent information.

Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet the requirements for their degree as set forth in this Graduate Student Manual, that the completion of each formal requirement is properly recorded and that their departmental and Graduate School files are complete and up-to-date. Departmental faculty, however, are ready to assist whenever necessary. 

Required forms are available in PDF form to allow viewing, but students and faculty must use the Docusign version for official use.  

Financial assistance

The department offers a limited number of teaching and research assistantships. Teaching assistantships typically go to Ph.D. students, and the duties vary widely and may involve assisting a faculty member in a course or lecturing in an introductory course (the latter for Ph.D. students only). Research assistantships are dependent on external and internal funding for specific research projects, meaning they will be awarded to the Ph.D. or M.A. student who has been identified by the lead researcher of that research project (typically a faculty member) as qualified to work on that research project; teaching assistantships and research assistantships may be allotted as 20 hour, 15 hour and 10 hour appointments in accordance with the estimated weekly workload for each teaching and research appointment, a teaching assistantships is normally 15 hours/semester, whether the teaching assistantships is assisting a professor or teaching their own course.

Tuition waivers are proportionate to the number of hours received. Please see our Tuition and Fees Website for a breakdown of how this works for both domestic and international students.

Renewal of an assistantship is subject to the student’s good standing and satisfactory progress toward their degree. Renewal of funding is not automatic and all students are re-evaluated each year after which funding is distributed on a competitive basis (meaning students who are performing well in classes, making satisfactory progress towards their degree and meeting or exceeding their responsibilities as teaching assistantships or research assistantships will be more likely to obtain funding). All students must complete a report on their progress early in the spring semester of each year. This information is used by the graduate committee to award funding and to evaluate student progress. The self-reporting forms will be emailed by the Graduate Program Director.

Information on competitive scholarships (e.g., Kitselman Fellowship, Splatt Scholarship, Promise Award, and Artemisia Archaeological Research Fund/AARF research assistantships) for Anthropology graduate students at the university are available on the departmental webpage. Students are encouraged to apply for these assistantships, scholarships, and stipends, and should work closely with Advisory Committee members to develop proposals and applications.

All students, especially those who are in the Ph.D. program, are strongly encouraged to apply for funds outside University of Nevada, Reno. Information on funding opportunities is posted on the departmental bulletin board, disseminated by e-mail, available from the University of Nevada, Reno Proposal Office and through the department website. Faculty may assist students in developing funding proposals. Ph.D. students are expected to apply to national agencies (e.g. NSF, NIH, NEH, Fulbright, Fulbright-Hays, SSRC, Wenner-Gren Foundation) to fund their dissertation research. Obtaining funding for the dissertation write-up phase is also encouraged.

Health insurance

All domestic degree-seeking graduate students who are enrolled in six or more credits (regardless of the course level) in a semester will be automatically enrolled and billed for the University-sponsored health insurance for each term they are eligible (fall & spring/summer).

If a student has other comparable coverage and would like to opt out of the student health insurance, it is the student’s responsibility to complete the University online waiver form prior to the deadline. If approved, a health insurance waiver is good for the current academic year only. A new waiver must be submitted each academic year.

All international graduate students are required to carry student health insurance, and the cost will be automatically added to your student account. Any international graduate students with insurance questions must contact the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) directly.

Advising

Students who have entered the program without a planned advisor should consult with the Director of Graduate Programs by September 15 about general program requirements and faculty expertise. Based on this meeting, students are assigned an interim advisor. A permanent adviser should be chosen as soon as possible, but no later than October 15. This person serves as the Chair of the Advisory Committee. Each student should fill out a Declaration of Advisor form and have the graduate program director sign it. 

The advisory committee for a M.A. student consists of at least three individuals from the graduate faculty, including the chair; most often, two are from the Department of Anthropology (a list of the graduate faculty in anthropology is provided on the departmental webpage). One committee member represents the graduate school and must be selected from outside in the Department of Anthropology. For Ph.D. students, the committee consists of at least five members, including the chair and one member who serves as a representative of the graduate school. Please refer to the M.A. and Ph.D. program descriptions for specific information on the composition of these committees.

Advisory Committees set requirements and guide students through their programs of study and research. Students are responsible for arranging meetings and consultations with their Advisory Chair and other committee members and for arranging periodic meetings of the Advisory Committee. In the first year, a new student must schedule a meeting with the committee by March 15 at the latest.

Students may wish to change their Advisory Committee Chair or a member of their committee during the course of their studies. To do so a student must first notify his/her Chair and then file a Graduate Advisory Committee form showing the change with required signatures. 

The Anthropology graduate program requires that all graduate students have an Advisory Committee Chair (i.e., an advisor).  Students must secure an official advisor by the end of their first year at the latest.  The advisor may decide at any time to withdraw their advising support due to a variety of factors (e.g., the student’s excessive course Withdrawals, multiple Incompletes, grades of B- or lower, GPA below 3.0, repeated failure to respond to communications, poor professionalism, ethical issues, and/or other factors).  An advisor who decides to withdraw advising support will notify the student in writing. The student then has until the end of the semester to secure another advisor in Anthropology and file a Declaration of Advisor form bearing the new advisor’s signature.  If the student is unable to find a new advisor, they are unable to progress in the program and are no longer in good standing. The Anthropology department can work with the Graduate School to understand what steps may need to be taken in accordance with the Graduate School's policies regarding academic standing. See Graduate Student Academic Standing for more information. 

Programs of study

The Advisory Committee must meet with the student during their first year in the program to develop a Program of Study (POS). This meeting must take place on or before March 15. If it is not possible to meet by this date, the student and advisor should inform the Graduate Program Director. During the meeting, the committee assesses the student’s study plan and provides directions for carrying out any additional work that is deemed necessary for the successful completion of the student’s research and degree. Students should also discuss research interests and potential thesis or dissertation topics in this initial meeting. Ph.D. students should also formulate ideas about their reading lists for the qualifying exam, decided how they will complete the language requirement/research tool, and provide a timeline for completion of all degree requirements. Later meetings can be held to update the study plan as needed.

The student must file the Program of Study in the Graduate School by the end of the first academic year (but the form must be completed for the department by March 15). The program of study form serves two purposes: it outlines all coursework anticipated for the degree and also establishes the student’s committee.  All committee members sign the program of study form. Required forms are available in PDF form to allow viewing, but students and faculty must use the Docusign version for official use.

Annual evaluations

The Anthropology School regulations require that a student's performance be evaluated by the faculty at the end of each academic year. Such evaluations are completed by the Program Director and the Graduate Committee, in consultation with the Advisory Committee Chair and the faculty. Prior to this evaluation, students must submit the self-reporting form to the department so that it can be used by the faculty in their evaluations. The call for these forms is sent out by the Anthropology School Director in January or February. The evaluation is maintained in the student's departmental file. The evaluation is based on the student's overall performance in coursework, research and as a teaching or research assistant (where applicable). The evaluation will read “satisfactory,” “concerning,” or “unsatisfactory.” It is the responsibility of Anthropology School to inform the student of the results of this annual evaluation no later than two weeks following the end of the spring semester.

Upon receipt of the completed evaluation form from the Program Director, the student must sign and return it to the department office. If a student receives a “concerning” evaluation, the Advisory Committee specifies the conditions to be met and a timeline for completion. Failure to meet the specified conditions results in an unsatisfactory rating on the next evaluation. Students who receive two consecutive unsatisfactory reports may be recommended to be dismissed from the program.

M.A. students admitted on a prescribed basis can achieve good standing in the program by completing 9 hours of coursework in one semester or 12 hours of coursework in two semesters. A grade of B or better must be earned in all courses. For PhD students admitted on a provisional basis, good standing can be attained after one year and a minimum of 12 hours of coursework, all with a grade of B or better. Only students in ‘good standing’ are eligible for departmental assistantships.

Students on a prescribed or provisional program (i.e., students admitted to program who either fall below minimum GPA of 3.0 and/or minimum combined verbal/quantitative score of 297 for GRE) are only eligible for funding once they have achieved the status of good standing in the graduate program.

To remain in good standing, graduate students must enroll for a minimum of three credits during every fall and spring semester of their graduate tenure (summers are exempt). It is possible to obtain a leave of absence by filling out an Approved Leave of Absence Form. Approved leaves of absence still count against the time limits set for the M.A. (six years) and Ph.D. programs (eight years).

Masters degree program

A masters degree in anthropology is an advanced degree that may either lead to further study in a Ph.D. program or to work in a professional career. The department expects that most applicants for the M.A. degree either hold a B.A. or B.S. degree in anthropology or have had an equivalent of at least 15 semester credit hours in anthropology along with an undergraduate degree in another field. In the latter case, the normal expectation is that the applicant has successfully completed lower division courses in at least three of the four subfields of anthropology (archaeology, physical/biological anthropology, social/cultural anthropology, and linguistics), two of which should be at an advanced undergraduate level. Exceptions may be granted under some circumstances.

If the faculty determines the student’s academic background is deficient in a particular area, they may require undergraduate courses (without graduate credit) or additional graduate courses beyond those normally required for the M.A. degree to remedy such deficiencies. The precise requirements are developed by the student's Advisory Committee and recorded in the student's file. If remedial work is indicated, the student may spend additional semesters earning the degree.

Student learning objectives for the masters program

• Students should be able to discuss the concepts that allow the intellectual integration of four sub-fields together into anthropology and each sub-field’s major contributions to the scientific and humanistic study of our own species.
• Students should be successful in finding professional employment in their specialty; or alternatively students should be able to apply successfully to doctoral programs.
• Students who graduate with an M.A. in anthropology from University of Nevada, Reno will have skills and experience in original research.

Masters completion timeline

Year 1

Fall

• Advisor Shopping, due by October 15
• Initiate plan for thesis research with advisor
• Brainstorm funding; begin pursuing if applicable
• Prioritize core seminars and topic seminars in consultation with advisor and committee

Spring

• Final selection of committee and meeting, due by March 15
• Completion of Program of Study, due by March 15
• Develop research design and secure permits/IRB approval for summer thesis research (if applicable)
• Prioritize core seminars and topic seminars in consultation with advisor and committee

Summer Break

• Some students may begin field or laboratory work for their thesis project

Year 2

Fall

• Thesis topic refined and discussed with committee; develop/refine research design, due by October 15
• Identify and pursue funding sources
• Human subjects (IRB) (If applicable)
• Continue or begin thesis research and writing

Spring

• Take "special question(s)" comprehensive exam
• Finalize any remaining coursework
• Continue thesis research and writing
• Thesis defense (if applicable)

Year 3 (if necessary)

• Field/lab work thesis research, writing and defense

Required courses

All M.A. students must successfully complete (i.e., with a “B” or better) two of the following courses (as part of the coursework requirement). If a student earns less than a B (including B-), they must retake the seminar (assuming they are in good standing in the program). Students should consult with their committee about which seminars are most relevant for their program of study, but they must complete the seminar in their own sub-discipline. ANTH 706 (seminars on special topics in anthropology) cannot be substituted for any of these core seminars. Students are strongly encouraged to take the core seminars the first year of the program when possible.

• ANTH 703: Graduate Seminar in Cultural Anthropology
• ANTH 704: Graduate Seminar in Physical Anthropology
• ANTH 705: Graduate Seminar in Archaeology and Prehistory
• ANTH 709: Graduate Seminar in Linguistic Anthropology

M.A. students must complete a minimum of 31 credits for the thesis option (24 credits of course work at the 600 or 700 level, with a minimum of ). This includes 6 credits of Thesis (ANTH-797) and one credit for the Comprehensive Exam (ANTH 795). See the general catalog for specific requirements for the M.A. degree. A certain number of credits have to be earned in on-campus courses. The non-thesis option requires a minimum of 30 credits. See the Admission, Transfer, and Examination Credit Webpage for the procedure to transfer graduate courses from other institutions. You must submit a Graduate Credit Transfer Evaluation Request Form and receive department approval in the case of transferring credits.

Comprehensive exam

One credit of Comprehensive Exam (ANTH 795) is taken during the semester that the student receives the Special Question (or questions) that serves as the comprehensive exam. The question (or questions) is/are developed based on a reading list of at least 30 sources on topics relating to the student’s thesis research and general anthropological knowledge. The reading list is developed by the student and approved by their advisor prior to the exam. After receiving their Special Question(s), the student has one week to prepare their responses, after which their advisor and one additional committee member in anthropology has one week for their evaluation. Normally, students will always take the M.A. exam during the fall or spring semester. If a student wishes to take the exam off cycle (during the summer or winter term) this must be approved by the entire M.A. committee.

Students must consult with the advisor the semester before signing up for the comprehensive exam credit. Together, the student and advisor will decide which semester the student takes the exam. Students must register for comprehensive credit under the graduate director’s name. When you contact the graduate director to register for the credit, please cc your advisor.

The exam can be taken at any point during the semester of the comprehensive credit. Students are expected to complete the exam the semester they sign up for the exam credit; if there is an emergency (e.g. illness, family crisis), please consult with the advisor and graduate director.  If a student registers for the credit but is concerned that they won’t be ready to take the exam that semester, the student should drop the credit. This decision should be made in consultation with the advisor very early in the semester. M.A. students must have thesis committee approval of the comprehensives reading lists early in the semester of the exam credit. So, students planning to take the comprehensive exam in Spring, they should have reading a list approved early in the Spring semester.

Successful completion of ANTH 795 entails producing a high-quality written essay. The student’s performance will be assessed using two categories: (1) pass; and (2) fail. Pass: To receive a passing grade (i.e., an ‘S’ satisfactory on the transcript), the student must demonstrate mastery of all examination material.

Fail: If the student demonstrates major deficiencies (e.g., a poor understanding of fundamental concepts, an inability to synthesize or derive implications from relevant material, poor overall preparation), the student will fail and will receive a ‘U’ and will no longer be in good standing in the program. The Anthropology department can work with the Graduate School to understand what steps may need to be taken in accordance with the Graduate School's policies regarding academic standing. See Graduate Student Academic Standing for more information.

If a student demonstrates a general understanding of the material with minor deficiencies, the committee may opt to provide the student a second opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the material. In such cases, the student’s committee will provide feedback on areas requiring improvement shortly after the initial defense. The student will have four weeks to prepare for one or more additional comprehensive examination questions designed to assess whether the student has overcome any deficiencies. Upon receiving the additional question(s), the student will have no more than one week to craft a new essay following the same guidelines outlined above. A second grading will occur shortly after the new essay is submitted, except in cases when it is submitted outside of the academic year (i.e., late May-late August or during winter break). In such cases, although the essay must still be submitted no more than one week after the student receives the second question, the actual grading will not occur until the following semester begins unless all committee members agree to a summer/winter break effort. In such cases, an unsatisfactory grade (‘U’) will result if the semester in which the student enrolled in ANTH 795 concludes before the process is complete. A successful second attempt will result in the ‘U’ grade being changed to ‘S’. An unsuccessful second defense will result in the student receiving a ‘U,’ and they will no longer be in good standing in the program.

Thesis and defense

At the very latest, it is expected that by the beginning of a student's second year in the program, the student will have defined a thesis topic and research question. Some sub-disciplines will require this to be done in the second semester of the first year. The student is guided in completion of the thesis project by his/her Advisory Committee, with primary responsibility resting with the Advisory Committee Chair. An outline of the thesis topic must be approved by the student’s advisory committee. Some programs require a written proposal and others do not. There should be a written verification from the committee chair that the student’s thesis topic has been approved. The thesis, upon approval of the written draft by the committee, is defended in a session open to the public. Students may write a standard thesis or an article option. Thesis guidelines, including alternative formatting (in which the article option would be considered) are outlined in the Thesis and Doctoral Filing Guidelines.

Thesis timeline

1. The final thesis draft should be submitted to the committee at least three weeks in advance of the planned proposal defense.
2.  Once the thesis has been approved, the student may schedule the defense, which is to be an oral public presentation. Students are required to create and post flyers in conspicuous places to advertise the event specifying the date, hour, place, and event. The student should see the department’s Office Manager for available time slots for the defense and for help in producing the flyers.
3. As specified in the General Catalog, the defense consists of a presentation by the candidate. The length of the presentation is determined by the Advisory Committee (30-45 minutes as a general guideline). Following the presentation, there is a question period open to all individuals attending the defense. After all questions from the audience are addressed, the audience is dismissed and the individual is then questioned by the Advisory Committee Chair and members of the Advisory Committee.
4. After a period of questioning by the general public and Advisory Committee, the student is excused. The Advisory Committee determines in closed session whether or not the student passed or failed the defense. Even when the student passes the defense, they may be advised to make revisions the committee deems necessary. The student then submits the revised thesis for the committee's final approval in accordance with regulations as set forth in the General Catalog.  Students should refer to the American Anthropological Association guidelines for formatting of publications (e.g., in the journals American Anthropologist, American Antiquity, Current Anthropology, American Journal of Physical Anthropology, etc.) to conform to disciplinary conventions.

Progress with good standing

To remain in good standing in the department, a student must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better, must meet with the interim advisor at least once per semester until the Advisory Committee Chair is designated, must designate an Advisory Committee Chair and assemble a committee meeting no later than March 1 of the second semester. Students are strongly encouraged to select a research topic no later than the end of the third semester. Receiving departmental funding (T.A., R.A.) is contingent upon remaining in good standing. Students who fail to remain in good standing are placed on probation for one semester, and asked to correct the problems. Students who do not correct the problems after one semester will be dismissed from the program. When a student is placed on probationary status, they will receive a written notification from the Director of Graduate Programs in Anthropology. If a student does not correct the problems after one semester, the Anthropology department can work with the Graduate School to understand what steps may need to be taken in accordance with the Graduate School's policies regarding academic standing. See Graduate Student Academic Standing for more information.

Dismissal

A student may be dismissed from a graduate program for numerous reasons. Please review the Graduate School's academic standing and dismissal policy for full details. 

Program duration and readmission policy

Official degree requirements for the M.A. degree are stipulated in the course catalog. Regulations state that all requirements for the M.A. degree must be completed within a six-year time period. The faculty expects that, in the normal course of events, a student with an adequate background in anthropology at the undergraduate level should complete all the requirements for an M.A. degree in two to three academic years.

Masters overview

• An appropriate number of credits at the 600 and 700 level, plus thesis credits (see above).
• At least two core seminars chosen from ANTH 703, 704, 705, and 709.
• One credit of Comprehensive Exam (ANTH 795) to be taken during the semester that the student receives the Special Question that serves as the comprehensive exam, along with the successful completion (B or better) of the two required seminars.
• Maintain continuous registration (3 credits/semester) and good standing (GPA or 3.0 or better).
• Time limit: six years to degree following admission to program.
• Anthropology does not have a language requirement at the M.A. level.

Plan A: Thesis

• Minimum 31 credits
• A thesis with oral defense
• Comprehensive exam

Plan B: Non-Thesis

• Minimum 30 credits
• Comprehensive exam
• Non-thesis track is allowable for direct-to-Ph.D. students

Ph.D. program

The Ph.D. degree in anthropology is a research degree for which the department offers highly individualized training in areas of graduate faculty expertise. In the majority of cases, the department expects applicants to the Ph.D. program to hold an M.A. or M.S. degree in anthropology (other disciplines are occasionally accepted), and to have chosen the University of Nevada, Reno because they are fully aware of the specializations offered by and the strength of the faculty. In some cases, individuals with a B.A. or B.S. degree in anthropology may be admitted directly into the Ph.D. program. These are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Ph.D. Committee composition

The University regulations specify that an Advisory Committee for Ph.D. students consist of at least five members of the Graduate Faculty: (1) the chair; (2 and 3) at least two faculty members from the student’s major department/program, (4) at least one faculty member from a department in a field related to the student’s major and (5) at least one faculty member from outside of the Department of to serve as the Graduate School Representative; this member can be the same as (4).

Ph.D. coursework requirements

See the general catalog for up to-date requirements for the Ph.D. degree. A minimum of 61 credits is required for the Ph.D. This can include up to 24 transfer credits for students coming into the program with an M.A. degree in anthropology (or in special circumstances, a related discipline), meaning a student’s coursework for their M.A. can count towards the 61-credit coursework requirement at the University. For students coming into the Ph.D. program with an M.A. from an institution other than the University of Nevada, Reno, a minimum (depending on how many MA credits transfer) of 24 credits of new coursework at the 600 and 700 level are required (including three core seminars chosen from ANTH 703, 704, 705, and 709), along with 12 credits of dissertation (ANTH 799) and one credit for the Comprehensive Exam (ANTH 795). At least 30 post-baccalaureate credits must be at the 700 level, not counting thesis and dissertation credits. Specific coursework requirements set by the student's committee are aimed to help doctoral students develop broad expertise in the field and more specialized training in research areas associated with their dissertation.

For students coming into the Ph.D. program with an M.A. from an institution other than the University of Nevada, Reno, additional coursework (depending on how many M.A. credits transfer) at the 600 and 700 level is required (including three core seminars chosen from ANTH 703, 704, 705 and 709), along with credits of dissertation (ANTH 799) and one credit for the Comprehensive Exam (ANTH 795). Specific coursework requirements set by the student's committee are aimed to help doctoral students develop broad expertise in the field and more specialized training in research areas associated with their dissertation. 

All Ph.D. students must successfully complete (i.e., with a “B” or better) at least three of the following courses (as part of the coursework requirement). 

Students should consult with their committee about which seminars are most relevant for their program of study, but they must complete the seminar in their own sub-discipline. ANTH 706 (seminars on special topics in anthropology) cannot be substituted for any of these core seminars.  Students are strongly encouraged to the core seminars the first year of the program when possible. 

• ANTH 703: Graduate Seminar in Cultural Anthropology
• ANTH 704: Graduate Seminar in Biological/Physical Anthropology
• ANTH 705: Graduate Seminar in Archaeology and Prehistory
• ANTH 709: Graduate Seminar in Linguistic Anthropology

Students with M.A. degrees from University of Nevada, Reno are exempt from the requirement to take the three core anthropology seminars as they will have already taken two. They are required, however, to take one additional core seminar to bring their total up to the three core seminars required of all Ph.D. students. In special circumstances, doctoral students may petition to be exempted from a seminar if they can document the satisfactory completion of a comparable course at another institution. However, the department does not encourage this and in most cases, doctoral students will take the core seminars at the University of Nevada, Reno. 

Ph.D. timeline for completion

Year 1

Fall

• Advisor Shopping (if necessary); consider committee, due by October 15
• Identify dissertation topic/research question
• Brainstorm funding; begin pursuing if applicable
• Prioritize core seminars and topic seminars in consultation with advisor and committee

Spring

• Selection of committee and first meeting, due by March 15
• Completion of Program of Study, due by March 15
• Prioritize core seminars and topic seminars in consultation with advisor and committee

Year 2

Fall

• Topics for qualifying exam approved by committee, due by October 1
• Submit draft bibliographies, due by December 1
• Identify/ pursue funding sources, due by December 1
• Directed study credits (ANTH 701) to prepare for qualifying exam

Spring

• Final bibliographies submitted to advisor for approval, due by February 1
• Prepare for, take and defend qualifying exam, March-April
• Directed study credits (ANTH 701) to prepare for qualifying exam

Year 3

• Human subjects (IRB) (if applicable)
• Apply for permits to conduct fieldwork (if applicable)
• Apply for external funding

Fall

• Prospectus, due by November 15
• Oral defense of prospectus, due by December 1

Year 4

• Fieldwork, dissertation, research

Year 5

• Dissertation research, writing and defense 

Residence

Six semesters of residence beyond the bachelor’s degree is required of all Ph.D. students. This includes two consecutive semesters where the student takes a minimum of 9 credit hours during each semester. Summer sessions and winter semesters are not included in this residency requirement.

Language(s) and/or research tool

Ph.D. students are required to demonstrate competency in one language other than English or a research tool; either option should be relevant to the student's work. If the research tool option is chosen, requirements will be determined by the student in consultation with the student’s Advisory Chair and Committee. If the language option is chosen, this condition can be met by four semesters of study at the undergraduate level, but the language must be acceptable to the Advisory Chair and Committee. Language proficiency can also be determined by an examination in a form agreed to by the Advisory Committee; this is usually done through the Department of World Languages and Literatures. In such exams, a Ph.D. student is typically expected to translate an article in the language and area of specialization appropriate to his/her field. The student may choose, however, to take the language proficiency exam of the Educational Testing Service.

Written qualifying and oral comprehensive examinations

To qualify for advancement to candidacy, Ph.D. students must complete a written qualifying exam and defend their responses in an oral defense. This will usually occur in the student’s third year in the program. The exam and oral defense will be scheduled for the semester following the student’s development of and advisory committee approval of a comprehensive bibliographic reading list (including articles, book chapters, and books [edited volumes and single-authored works]) designed to establish mastery of the state of knowledge in three specified areas of anthropological research. Students must consult with the advisor the semester before signing up for the Ph.D. qualifying exam credit. Together, the student and advisor will decide which semester the student takes the exam.  Students must register for comprehensive credit under the graduate director’s name. When you contact the graduate director to register for the credit, please cc your advisor. The exam can be taken at any point during the semester of the comprehensive credit; Ph.D. students must factor in the oral exam defense in planning the timing of the exam.

Students are expected to complete the exam the semester they sign up for the exam credit; if there is an emergency (e.g. illness, family crisis), please consult with the advisor and grad director.  If a student registers for the credit but is concerned that they won’t be ready to take the exam that semester, the student should drop the credit. This decision should be made in consultation with the advisor very early in the semester.

Ph.D. students must have dissertation committee approval of the three bibliographic reading lists the semester prior to taking the exam credit. So, students planning to take the qualifying exams in spring should have reading lists approved at the end of the previous fall semester (at the latest, just before the spring semester begins).

The exam will consist of three questions developed by the student’s advisory committee, one per specified area of anthropological research; it will be designed to assess the student’s mastery of and ability to synthesize the information contained in the bibliographic reading lists. Following the distribution of the questions to the student, the student will have 14 days (this includes weekends) to answer all questions in formal essays (appropriate citations and references cited sections for each essay are required). The limit for the three essays is 18,000 words (approximately 60 double-spaced pages), or roughly 6,000 words (20 pages) per essay. The references cited sections are not included in the page limit. As a general guideline, each essay should be 5,400-6,000 words (18-20 pages). After the student submits their essays, the advisory committee will have two weeks to evaluate the student’s responses prior to the oral comprehensive examination.

The oral comprehensive exam will be scheduled approximately two weeks following the student’s submission of their essays. Successful completion of ANTH 795 entails both producing high quality written essays and an effective oral defense of those essays. The student’s performance in both arenas will be assessed using two categories: (1) pass; and (2) fail.

Pass: To receive a passing grade (i.e., an ‘S’ satisfactory on the transcript), the student must demonstrate mastery of all examination material.

Fail: If the student demonstrates major deficiencies (e.g., a poor understanding of fundamental concepts, an inability to synthesize or derive implications from relevant material, poor overall preparation), the student will fail, will receive a ‘U’ and will no longer be in good standing in the program. See Graduate Student Academic Standing for more information. 

Second Opportunity: If a student demonstrates a general understanding of the material with minor deficiencies, the committee may opt to provide the student a second opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the material. In such cases, the student’s committee will provide feedback on areas requiring improvement shortly after the initial defense. The student will have four weeks to prepare for one or more additional comprehensive examination questions designed to assess whether the student has overcome any deficiencies. Upon receiving the additional question(s), the student will have no more than 14 days to craft new essays following the same guidelines outlined above. A second defense will be scheduled shortly after the new essays are submitted, except in cases when they are submitted outside of the academic year (i.e., late May-late August or during winter break). In such cases, although the essays must still be submitted no more than 14 days after the student receives the second question(s), the actual defense will not occur until the following semester begins unless all committee members agree to a summer/winter break defense. In such cases, an unsatisfactory grade (‘U’) will result if the semester in which the student enrolled in ANTH 795 concludes before the process is complete. A successful second defense will result in the ‘U’ grade being changed to ‘S’. An unsuccessful second defense will result in the student receiving a ‘U’ and they will no longer be in good standing in the program. See Graduate Student Academic Standing for more information. 

Ph.D. prospectus

Following the successful defense of the oral comprehensive exam, Ph.D. students will develop and present a written prospectus that describes their dissertation research. The prospectus must be defended within one year of passing the comprehensive exam. The prospectus should detail the research topic, with particular attention to the theoretical framework, research methodology, relevant literature and (if relevant) development of a pertinent database. The dissertation prospectus should be no longer than 10 single spaced pages with font no smaller than Times New Roman 11 pt; up to 5 additional pages of charts, images, or graphs are permitted. In addition to clear descriptions of research question(s), background and methodology, the prospectus should include sections on intellectual merit (i.e. for anthropology) and broader impacts (i.e. beyond anthropology). The format of the prospectus can follow the Wenner-Gren Dissertation Fieldwork Grant or NSF Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (appropriate sub-discipline). The written prospectus must be presented and defended in front of the Advisory Committee. The student’s prospectus and defense will be assessed using three ordinal categories: (1) pass; (2) pass pending revision; and (3) fail.

Pass: After a successful defense of the prospectus, the student is eligible to advance to candidacy. This sets the stage for the final phase of a Ph.D. program: independent research, and then writing and defending a doctoral dissertation.

Pass pending revision: If the prospectus defense is passed but the prospectus requires revision, the student has one semester to complete the revisions and resubmit the proposal for the approval of the Advisory Committee Chair (and the Advisory Committee, if so determined by committee); another defense is not required. If the revised prospectus is approved, the student is eligible to advance to candidacy.

Fail: If the prospectus defense is not successful, the student is no longer in good standing in the program. The Anthropology department can work with the Graduate School to understand what steps may need to be taken in accordance with the Graduate School's policies regarding academic standing. See Graduate Student Academic Standing for more information. 

Research funding: All Ph.D. students are encouraged and expected to apply for external funding to support their research, and the prospectus can be tailored to the specifications of various funding bodies; students should consult with the dissertation advisor and the Advisory Committee about submitting grants and fellowship applications.

Progress with good standing

To remain in good standing in the department, a student must maintain a 3.0 GPA or better and perform satisfactorily in other areas. A new student must meet with the interim advisor at least once a semester until the Advisory Committee Chair is designated, and must designate an Advisory Committee Chair and assemble an Advisory Committee no later than March 15 of the first program year. Following this, the student should meet with the Advisory Committee once per year. A research topic should be developed no later than the end of the third semester. Receiving departmental funding (TA, RA) is contingent upon remaining in good standing. Please visit the Graduate School’s Academic Standing and Dismissal Policy for full details.

Ph.D. program duration, leaves and readmission

Regulations state that all requirements for the Ph.D. degree must be completed within an eight-year time period. Extension and readmission are possible only under exceptional circumstances and only with the concurrence of the student's Advisory Committee, the Anthropology Graduate Program Director and the Dean of the Graduate School. 

Ph.D. overview

• An appropriate number of credits at the 600 and 700 level, plus 12 dissertation credits (ANTH 799).
• Three of the four subdiscipline core seminars passed with a “B” or better, including the seminar in the student’s subdiscipline.
• One credit of Comprehensive Exam (ANTH 795) to be taken during the semester that the student delivers the oral defense of their qualifying examination.
• One non-English language OR research tool determined by student in consultation with advisory committee.
• Qualifying and oral comprehensive exams.
• Written dissertation prospectus and defense.
• Advancement to Candidacy.
• Written dissertation with public oral defense.
• Maintain good standing with 3.0 grade point average or better.
• Time limit: eight years to degree following admission to program.

Optional masters degree for direct-to-Ph.D. students

For students entering our Ph.D. program without transferring credits in from an M.A. degree in Anthropology or a related field, it is possible, though not required, to obtain an M.A. en route to the Ph.D. 

A minimum number of graduate level credits are required to earn the M.A. degree en route. These credits must include 1 credit of ANTH 795 (Qualifying Exam). Students must pass the qualifying exam and must write and successfully defend their prospectus to receive the M.A. degree. All credits (or more) for the M.A. degree can be applied toward the Ph.D. This means that Ph.D. students who wish to earn a M.A. degree en route will not need to need to complete any more credits than students who are pursuing a M.A. degree via the traditional route. A student who wishes to obtain a M.A. degree en route must submit a Program of Study form for the M.A. Degree to the Graduate School accompanied by a memorandum from the Graduate Program Director stating that the M.A. degree has been obtained en route and that the student will remain enrolled in the Ph.D. program.

Advancement to candidacy

With advancement to candidacy, the department certifies that the student has: (1) met the university’s residence requirements; (2) completed the coursework outlined in the program of study; (3) successfully completed the written qualifying and oral comprehensive examinations; (4) developed a dissertation topic approved by the Advisory Committee; (5) presented and defended a research prospectus; and (6) fulfilled the department’s language/research tool requirement. Visit Graduate School Forms Webpage for the Admission to Candidacy form. 

Dissertation and defense

Generally, at the beginning of his/her second year in the Ph.D. program, a student should have defined a dissertation topic. The student is guided in completion of the dissertation by his/her Advisory Committee, with primary responsibility resting with the Advisory Committee Chair. Students may write a standard dissertation or a three-article option.  Dissertation guidelines, including alternative formatting (in which the three-article option would be considered) are outlined in the Thesis and Doctoral Filing Guidelines.

The dissertation, upon approval of the written draft by the committee, is defended in a session open to the public. Please also refer to the Dissertation Title Form, and the Doctoral Dissertation Final Review Approval Form for appropriate dissertation resources. Note: Required forms are available in PDF form to allow viewing, but students and faculty must use the Docusign version for official use.

PhD students are required to enroll in a minimum number of dissertation credits (ANTH 799). 

• The final dissertation draft should be submitted to the committee at least three weeks in advance of the planned proposal defense.
• A copy of the approved dissertation must be submitted to the department office one week before the dissertation defense.
• The date of the defense is set by the student and the Advisory Committee (along with an alternate date). The student must arrange a room for the defense. Since this is a public defense, the student is required to create and post notices specifying the date, hour, place and event.
• The defense consists of a presentation by the candidate, followed by a question and answer period. The length of the presentation is determined by the Advisory Committee (typically 30-40 minutes). Following the presentation, the Chair opens the questioning to the public. Subsequently, the audience is dismissed and the Advisory Committee Chair conducts the defense meeting along with members of the Advisory Committee. Afterwards, the Advisory Committee meets in closed session to pass or fail the student on the defense. The defense is unsuccessful when there is one (1) negative vote cast. If the vote is positive, the student is advised on revisions the committee deems necessary, when applicable. The student then submits the revised dissertation for the committee's final approval in accordance with University Regulations.
• Students must conform to thesis format requirements and to thesis submission deadlines as specified in General Catalog. Students should refer to the American Anthropological Association guidelines for formatting publications (e.g., in the journals American Anthropologist, American Antiquity, Current Anthropology, etc.) to conform to disciplinary conventions. The final date for submission of the dissertation (in final approved form) is one week prior to the close of the semester.

Progress with good standing

Students who are in the direct to Ph.D. program, meaning they enrolled in the Ph.D. without transferring credits in from an M.A., will be evaluated after the third semester. This evaluation will be based on the student’s coursework, and will be done by the advisor along with the graduate committee and dissertation committee. The third semester evaluation will determine if the student is likely to succeed in the Ph.D. program or be more likely to succeed with a transfer to the M.A. program.

General policies

In our department, the faculty serve as direct mentors to graduate students, which requires developing very close working relationships. Students are expected to maintain professionalism in the classroom, in teaching assistant assignments and in departmental spaces such as labs, offices and the copy room, as well as in other professional spaces such as field schools and conferences. 

The office staff members keep the Department of Anthropology running. The office manager/assistant to the chair and their assistants (when we are able to hire them) has an enormously important role, and it is very important to treat all department staff with the respect and courtesy they deserve. Please be attentive to all emails from the department staff, and be sure to reply to any inquiries promptly. Please also be patient with staff who may not be able to help you immediately.

If you are working with undergraduate students as a teaching assistant or in the lab, please make sure you model professional and respectful behavior and are adhering to all university protocols regulating supervisory relationships.  Please familiarize yourself with the policies as outlined by the Equal Opportunity &Title IX Office, as well as the Department of Human Resources. 

Grievance procedures and campus support

Students may feel, as individuals or as a group, that they have a grievance with another student(s), faculty member(s), the department, or the university. Examples of grievances may include microaggressions, bullying, sexual harassment, discrimination, academic or professional misconduct, among others. When such circumstances arise, it is suggested (as appropriate and depending on the nature of the grievance) that the matter be openly and frankly discussed in consultations with the advisor, the Graduate Program Director and/or the Department Chair. If a grievance is not satisfactorily resolved within the department, or is of a nature that it cannot be handled by the department, students should contact the Graduate School Dean and/or the Equal Opportunity – Title IX Office. 

The university also has ample resources for students who are struggling. All students are welcome to use the university Counseling Service.

The Crisis Call Center has a 24 hour staff to help students in need: (775)-784-8090.

All students have the right to an education without fear of discrimination. We have an office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX on campus: (775)-784-1547.

If you witness or experience an act of hate or bias in the classroom or elsewhere on campus, you can make an anonymous report at the Equal Opportunity and Title IX. You may also call the Equal Opportunity and Title IX office directly to report a Bias or Hate Incident at (775) 784-1547 or the Bias or Hate reporting line at (775) 784-1030.

If a graduate student has been found to be in violation of the policies outlined by the university or the department, there are several possible repercussions. A course of action will be determined by the Graduate Program Director, the Department Chair, the advisor, the Graduate Programs Committee, the Graduate Dean, Equal Opportunity – Title IX Office and/or Human Resources, as appropriate. 

Ethics in research

Students must adhere to the professional ethics guidelines of the anthropological community (i.e., the AAA Website) and their subdiscipline (e.g., the SAA’s Principles of Archaeological Ethics Website, the code of ethics of the World Archaeological Congress Website and that of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists. Students are encouraged or may be required to conduct field research, which may in turn require interacting with human subjects, human remains, or performing archaeological survey or excavation. It is absolutely critical that anthropology students be cognizant that research on human subjects, human remains and archaeological research on public lands and in foreign countries is regulated by U.S. federal and international law and may also be regulated by local legislation and enforcement. It is also subject to review by the Office of Human Research Protection. Students are responsible for obtaining the appropriate permits and permissions from communities, agencies and others who may be involved in or affected by their research. All proposals, including those for summer research, are reviewed by the faculty with this in mind. Consult with your advisor and committee as to what types of permissions you need to obtain before conducting your research. Two critical types of permission are discussed below: IRB (Institutional Review Board) Approval and ARPA (Archaeological Resources Protection Act) permits. 

IRB approval

IRB Approval in all cases must be secured before research on human subjects commences. This applies to even seemingly innocuous and informal situations where interactions with individuals or groups are related to a student’s research. A statement on the use of human subjects is required in which potential harm to human subjects is discussed, as well as means to avoid or minimize any such potential harm. This statement must be signed by the proposed investigator. The student should specify the proposed research methods, such as participant observation, questionnaire, interview schedules and so forth. A consent form for study participants is also typically required. Refer to Research Integrity Office for University policy and procedure for IRB Approval and work closely with your advisor and committee to ensure this critical component of working with human subjects is adhered to, if required. Students should also contact a representative of the IRB prior to writing a protocol application.

ARPA permitting

Conducting archaeological research on federally-managed public lands (e.g., U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management) requires in most cases issuance of an ARPA permit by the agency responsible for managing the land on which the student plans to conduct research. The application for such consists of a research design, methodology and plan to curate any collections made as part of the research.  See the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management websites for more information.  Additional or other types of permits may be required for your field research, depending on where (especially internationally) and how it is conducted. Consult with your advisor and committee as to the specific permitting requirements of your research.

Academic integrity and student misconduct

All students must abide by academic standards as outlined in Section II of the Student Conduct Regulations and Policies. Violations of these standards include behaviors such as cheating on exams, plagiarizing and other forms of intellectual dishonesty as well as indecent or dangerous conduct, theft, false accusation, discrimination, the use or threat of force or violence, sexual harassment, hazing and violations of local, state and federal law. Section III of the document explains penalties for violating university standards, and they can be severe (up to and including expulsion from the university). Please familiarize yourself with these regulations and policies.

Plagiarism

Office of the Provost defines plagiarism as “…submitting the language, ideas, thoughts or work of another as one's own; or assisting in the act of plagiarism by allowing one's work to be used in this fashion. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials. Penalties for plagiarism include warning, grade adjustment, and receiving a failing grade or no credit for the assignment, exam or course for which the plagiarism was committed. Other penalties may be imposed by the Department of Anthropology and the Office of Student Conduct. These penalties may include probation, suspension, expulsion from the program or university, withholding of transcripts, denial or revocation of degrees and other disciplinary actions; please review the Administrative Manual for disciplinary actions.

For more information on plagiarism, review library site guide on avoiding plagiarism.

Graduate program policy and procedure for misconduct

Misconduct by students in graduate program in anthropology, including but not limited to evidence of cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct, may be referred to the department’s graduate committee at the request of the individual identifying the misconduct, in most cases faculty members and other instructors like LOA’s. The identifying individual will submit to the graduate program director directly, in writing, the evidence for the misconduct including, but not limited to the date of the misconduct, the type of misconduct and the reasoning for their accusation. Based in this information and in consultation with the graduate committee and the identifying individual, the graduate program director will develop a plan to deal with alleged misconduct, which in egregious cases may affect a student’s standing in the program. See Graduate Student Academic Standing for more information. 

Failure to maintain required grades or grade-point average

Students must maintain required grades or required GPA (3.0) for the program or for a course within the program to remain in good standing. Students may challenge a grade by utilizing a grade appeal process.

Failure of M.A. Comprehensive Examination/Ph.D. qualifying examinations and oral defense

Students must pass M.A. Comprehensive Examination or Ph.D. Qualifying Examination and Oral Defense to remain in good standing. There is no appeal. 

Lack of professionalism or unethical conduct

Students may not egregiously engage in unprofessional behavior, unethical conduct and other infractions of the standards outlined in Student Code of Conduct. Violations of these standards include but are not limited to cheating on exams, plagiarizing, and other forms of intellectual dishonesty. They also include indecent or dangerous conduct, theft, false accusation, discrimination, the use or threat of force or violence, sexual harassment, hazing, and violations of local, state and federal law.

Lack of anthropology advisor

Students must have an advisor in Anthropology by the end of their first year.  If a student’s advisor withdraws their support, the student has until the end of the semester to secure another advisor in Anthropology. A student without an official advisor is not able to progress through the program. See Graduate Student Academic Standing for more information.

Dismissal procedures

Procedures for dismissal are based on the graduate programs policies on probation and dismissal.

Forms

Graduate students must submit numerous forms during the course of their studies.  The most common forms are available in the forms section of the Graduate Schools website. 

Graduate student culture, citizenship and advice

• You are a member of a scholarly cohort. Graduate students learn from each other by reading, studying and arguing with one another. Colleagues may have insights into solutions for the obstacles you may encounter, just from having spent more time in the program or by having different experiences.
• Graduate school is immersion. Participation in all events is recommend, this include lectures, volunteering and the Anthropology Club. Participate in all of the department events you can. Be here, be active and be engaged.
• Be a reader. You will have plenty of reading in your classes, but you should also be tracking journals and reading additional articles in your areas of interest. Subscribing to RSS feeds of journals, Google Scholar alerts, or other databases within your area of interest are good ways to keep up with the new literature. Allot blocks of time each week as “library days” to intentionally read beyond the material required in classes and beyond areas of knowledge of which is required.
• Be professional. All behavior reflects on the entire cohort, department and the university. Though you are enrolled as a student, this is first and foremost a place of work, study, research and serious intellectual inquiry; your behavior and the respect you show others should reflect this. Though you are enrolled as a student, this is first and foremost a place of work, study, research and serious intellectual inquiry; your behavior and the respect you show others should reflect this.
• Take advantage of the advisors. The advisors have experience and recommendations to assist during the completion of graduate degrees. Take the initiative to meet the professors in the department and learn about their research. When you do this, you will gain a sense of the times when you can visit informally versus times when a visit with a professor should be scheduled, prepared and task-oriented. You might also learn something outside of your coursework and research.
• Your advisor is more than a title. This person is your mentor, colleague, and advocate. The advisor respects you and your work (otherwise they wouldn’t have taken you on as a student) and is deeply committed to your education, your research, the completion of your degree, and your success after graduation. Show them the same level of respect and commitment in part by taking their advice and direction seriously and following through, on time and to the absolute best of your ability, every single time. Be prepared for criticism and be aware that it is offered in the most constructive manner possible and with the ultimate goal of facilitating your education and improving your research. If you are having trouble reaching your advisor or scheduling time with your advisor, please contact the Graduate Program Director. You can also contact the external member of your committee with any concerns about your committee. 
• Committee meetings should be no less than once per year. The more you stay in contact with your committee, the more on-track you’ll stay, even if the meeting is just a half-hour long. You are responsible for approaching your chair to propose a meeting, for tracking down all your members, and for finding a date and time that is good for everyone.
• Cross reference resources for the most up to date information. Handbooks, graduate school officials, advisors, departmental administrative assistant and Graduate Program Directors are all resources to find accurate information. Once you form your committee, however, do note that you will find that there is the potential to tailor your education to your specific educational and research needs.
• Have fun. Despite the work and stress involved in graduate school, you are here for much more than just a degree and the advancement of your professional career. You are here because you are passionate about anthropology, lifelong learning and conducting your own original research. Getting to do this with your life is a privilege that will ultimately lead to new discoveries and deeper insights. As such, your education and work will hopefully end up being not only intellectually but also quite emotionally rewarding. This is a type of fun. Maybe not the same kind of fun found downtown or up at Mt. Rose, but a deeper kind of fun that provides truly lifelong rewards.

Graduate Student Association

The purpose of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) shall be to promote the welfare and interests of the graduate students of the University. The GSA defines a graduate student as any student enrolled in a graduate degree program as well as all students enrolled as graduate specials. The government of this GSA shall function through the Council of Representatives, Executive Council and established committees. The GSA shall work closely with all appropriate university administrative offices, including the Graduate School and Student Services. To learn more, visit the GSA website. 

Contact

• Department Chair: Chris Morgan, ctmorgan@unr.edu
• Graduate Program Director: Marin Pilloud, mpilloud@unr.edu
• Office Manager/Assistant to the Chair: Jeannie Harrison, bharrison@unr.edu, (775) 784-6704