The Integrative Anthropological Sciences PhD emphasizes cross-disciplinary empirical research on the dynamics of transformation and change in societies past and present. The program integrates methodologies from the science and technology components of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) with the theoretical and analytical strengths of social science to address critical social challenges.
The curriculum is comprised of the following basic elements: 1) a core curriculum focused on methodological expertise; 2) a topical curriculum covering the dynamics of transformation in human societies; 3) professional competence in workplace skills embedded into all courses; and 4) experiential learning via independent research. The central purpose of the program is to produce graduates with the necessary methodological expertise and analytical skills to create innovative solutions to the ongoing challenges of local and global disparities, environmental and anthropogenic crises, and the resilience and vulnerability of human populations.
The Integrative Anthropological Sciences PhD requires 51 credit hours beyond an earned master's degree. Required coursework minimally includes 12 credit hours of core courses, 24 credit hours of elective courses, and 15 hours of dissertation research. If foundational or theoretical coursework is not present in the earned master's, remaining credit hours may consist of additional electives, doctoral research, and a maximum of 9 credit hours of directed research and independent study.
Total Credit Hours Required: 51 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Master's Degree
Program Prerequisites
A master's degree or its equivalent in Anthropology or a closely related discipline.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
12 Total Credits No Rules
Core
9 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- ANG6002 - Proseminar in Anthropology (3)
- ANG6931 - Science, Technology, and the Transformation of Human Societies (3)
- ANG7075 - Advanced Anthropological Topics in Geospatial Analysis (3)
Research Methods
3 Total Credits
- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- ANG6498 - Advanced Qualitative Methods in Anthropology (3)
- ANG7496 - Advanced Quantitative Methods in Anthropology (3)
Elective Courses
24 Total Credits
- All students in the doctoral program must complete 24 hours of unrestricted electives. The unrestricted electives offer the student the opportunity to explore their interests, further advance their methodological skills, and gain interdisciplinary experience. To fulfill their unrestricted electives requirement, students may also take graduate-level courses in programs outside the department, particularly in Biology, Sociology, Political Science, History, and the College of Health and Public Affairs but, outside courses must not exceed 12 credit hours. The student's faculty advisor and the Graduate Program Coordinator must approval all graduate courses taken outside the department. The student may also use the second methods course identified in the Core requirement as an Unrestricted Elective. The departmental course options for the Unrestricted Electives include the following:
Unrestricted Electives
24 Total Credits
- Earn at least 24 credits from the following:
- ANG5094 - Writing in Anthropology (3)
- ANG5166 - Problems in Maya Studies (3)
- ANG5191 - Mortuary Archaeology (3)
- ANG5228 - Maya Iconography (3)
- ANG5486 - Quantitative Research in Anthropology (3)
- ANG5525C - Human Osteology (4)
- ANG5531 - Nutritional Anthropology (3)
- ANG5738 - Advanced Medical Anthropology (3)
- ANG5742 - Problems in Forensic Anthropology (3)
- ANG5822 - Maya Field Research (3)
- ANG5852 - GIS Methods in Anthropology (3)
- ANG5853 - Advanced GIS Methods in Anthropology (3)
- ANG6003 - Ethics in Anthropology (3)
- ANG6110 - Archaeological Theory and Method (3)
- ANG6125C - Applied Materials Analysis in Anthropological Sciences (3)
- ANG5168 - Maya Archaeology (3)
- ANG6181C - GIS Applications in Anthropology (3)
- ANG6184 - Advances in Archaeological Practice (3)
- ANG6324 - Contemporary Maya (3)
- ANG6405 - Food Security and Sustainability (3)
- ANG6467 - Advanced Topics in Medical Anthropology (3)
- ANG6520C - Advanced Human Osteology (3)
- ANG6536 - Advances in Bioarchaeology (3)
- ANG6587 - Seminar in Biological Anthropology (3)
- ANG6821 - Forensic Archeology Field Methods (3)
- ANG6701 - Public and Applied Anthropology (3)
- ANG6930 - Seminar in Cultural Anthropology (3)
- ANG6740C - Advanced Forensic Anthropology (3)
- ANG6801 - Ethnographic Research Methods (3)
Dissertation
15 Total Credits
- Earn at least 15 credits from the following types of courses: ANG 7980 Dissertation Research -15 credit hours In consultation with the advisor, each student must secure qualified members of their dissertation committee. The dissertation committee will consist of a minimum of four members. At least three members must be Anthropology Graduate Faculty, and the student's advisor will serve as the committee chair. One member must be from either outside the student's department or UCF. Graduate faculty members must form the majority of any given committee. A Dissertation Committee must be formed prior to enrollment in dissertation hours. A student who passes their candidacy exam (proposal defense) will begin the dissertation process. The dissertation serves as the culmination of the coursework that comprises this research-based degree. It must make a significant original theoretical, intellectual, practical, creative, or research contribution to the student's area within the discipline. Dissertations will be theoretically grounded, show expertise in the topic area, and utilize methodologically sound analysis of either quantitative data, qualitative data or mixed-methods data. The dissertation will be completed through a minimum of 15 hours of dissertation credit, which students will use to conduct original research.
Examinations
0 Total Credits No Rules
Qualifying Exam
0 Total Credits
- Students are expected to form their dissertation committee by the beginning of their third semester. The Qualifying Exam will consist of a collection of research statements written by the PhD student in consultation with their committee and an oral defense of the statements. The number and topics of the statements will be determined by the advisor in consultation with the student and the dissertation committee. Passing the qualifying exam is necessary before a student can schedule their Candidacy Exam.
Candidacy Examination—Written Proposal and Oral Defense
0 Total Credits
- Advancement to candidacy requires a successful defense of the student's dissertation grant proposal. This defense takes place in the semester prior to the one in which the student intends to enroll in dissertation hours, normally during the 4th semester. The proposal defense is based on a research proposal that follows the guidelines and format of a major external grant agreed upon by the dissertation committee.
Independent Learning
0 Total Credits
- As with all graduate programs, independent learning is an important component in the IAS doctoral program. Students will demonstrate independent learning through research seminars, directed research and the dissertation. Doctoral students are also expected to pursue additional independent reading beyond formal coursework relevant to their research and career direction.
Grand Total Credits: 51
Application Requirements
Application Deadlines
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
