Graduate Studies
Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Anthropology are offered in archaeology, cultural anthropology and evolutionary anthropology. The Cultural Anthropology program also offers a Peace Corps Master's International Program in Environmental Anthropology. Our program emphasizes a four-field approach through a series of core classes that all our graduates take in order to establish a solid foundation in Anthropology. Each program area offers specialized courses in methodological, theoretical and regional areas.
Graduate Program in Archaeology
Graduate Program in Cultural Anthropology
Graduate Program in Cultural Anthropology: Master's International
Graduate Program in Evolutionary Anthropology
Research/Training Programs
Graduate Program in Archaeology
The program in archaeology emphasizes the prehistory of the Americas including Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, the Great Basin, the Southwest, the Andes and Mesoamerica. Our faculty specialize in modeling and simulation; lithic and ceramic analysis; behavioral ecology; and environmental archaeology (including geoarchaeology, zooarchaeology, and palynology). This combination is unique to WSU and allows students to gain practical experience in archaeological methods through our rigorous laboratory training courses.
Please contact the Archaeology Graduate Coordinator or Student Representative for more information:
Archaeology Coordinator:
Student Representative: Annette Ruzicka, annette.ruzicka@email.wsu.edu
Graduate Program in Cultural Anthropology back to top
The graduate program in cultural anthropology at WSU emphasizes three constellations of subject matter within the broad range of the subdiscipline: (1) psychological and medical anthropology; (2) children, family, and gender; and (3) ecological anthropology. Within these specialties the cultural anthropology faculty has ongoing research and experience in Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, North America, Oceania, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The cultural anthropology program offers a general MA, an option to pursue M.A. field research in concert with U.S. Peace Corps service in public health (the “Master’s International” or “MI” program), and a PhD. All graduate programs in cultural anthropology emphasize the importance of conducting original field-based research as part of their graduate training.
Please contact the Cultural Anthropology Graduate Coordinator or Student Representative for more information:
Cultural Coordinator: Dr. Marsha Quinlan, mquinlan@wsu.edu
Student Representative: Emily Casillas, emily.casillas@wsu.edu
Graduate Program in Evolutionary Anthropology back to top
The program in evolutionary anthropology emphasizes the application of evolutionary theory and methods of analysis to data from ethnography, archaeology or bioanthropology. Our faculty have active research projects in Costa Rica, Dominica, Africa and American Southwest. Our faculty members specialize in a range of evolutionary approaches including reproductive endocrinology, phylogeography, cultural transmission, behavioral ecology and evolutionary archaeology. The range of interests represented by our faculty in concert with practical field and laboratory experience provide a unique training program for students.
Please contact the Evolutionary Anthropology Graduate Coordinator or Student Representative for more information:
Evolutionary Coordinator: Dr. Brian Kemp, bmkemp@wsu.edu
Student Representative:Courtney Helfrecht, chelfrecht@gmail.com
Application Process
We recommend that prospective students review our research areas and consider who might supervise their research. Prospective students should review our faculty biographies and contact any faculty with whom they wish to work with before applying to our program.
The deadline for receipt of a complete application and all supporting materials is January 10th. **Tip - The WSU graduate school receives thousands of applications a year. In order to ensure that your whole application reaches the Department of Anthropology by the deadline you should plan to have submitted it at least a week or two in advance**
Please review our admission requirements page and program pages for additional information. The application is completed on-line. Supporting documents should be sent to the Graduate School, PO Box 641030, Pullman, WA 99164-1030.
For answers to any questions not covered in these pages please email, call or write to us:
Main Office Information:
College Hall 150
PO Box 644910
Pullman, WA 99164-4910
Phone: 509.335.3441
FAX: 509.335.3999
Anthropology Facilities
List of Labortories and Research Facilities
Graduate Student Resources
List of our specialized Anthropology Graduate Student resources
Local Information
More information about Washington State Univeristy, the City of Pullman and the surrounding area
Anthropology Graduate Student Handbook
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