Graduate (MA and PhD) F.A.Q.
When are applications due?
Application materials must be submitted by December 15.
What is the fee for applying, and can the fee be waived?
The fee is $30 and cannot be waived.
Can I apply directly to the PhD program if I don’t have an MA?
Yes. Students earn an MA degree midway through the PhD program. We do not offer a terminal MA degree outside of the 4+1 program.
I already have a Master’s degree. Can I apply some of those credits toward my Anthropology PhD at Tulane?
Yes. You will need to discuss transferring those credits with your advisor once you have been admitted into the program.
Do I need to have a BA or MA degree in Anthropology?
No. Students with a variety of backgrounds apply to our program. Your statement of purpose and writing sample should demonstrate your engagement with anthropology.
Can I pursue a Master’s degree in Anthropology at Tulane?
Our PhD students earn an MA degree on the way to getting their doctorates, and Tulane undergraduates who major in Anthropology can get an MA in Anthropology through our “4+1” program.
Do I need to take the GRE?
No. Our program does not require the GRE.
Do I need to take the TOEFL or IELTS?
Applicants who are not US citizens or are not from a country where English is the primary language must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Can I apply to be a part-time PhD student?
No. All students are admitted on fellowship and required to be full-time students. If you have special circumstances that require you to attend part-time, you should contact the Director of Graduate Studies.
Do you allow spring admissions?
No. We require that all admitted students start in the fall.
How many students are admitted each year?
Our program is highly selective. We admit between four and seven students each year. You should read the profiles of our faculty profiles and contact those whose research interests align with your own.
What kind of financial support does the program offer?
All PhD students accepted in the program receive a five-year funding package. The package includes a university stipend provided by the School of Liberal Arts and a tuition waiver. Please note that this funding does not cover mandatory student fees. For more information about these fees, please see the School of Liberal Arts page for Prospective Graduate Students.
What kind of service does the program require?
Graduate students are required to provide six semesters of service. This requirement is usually completed through five semesters of service as a Teaching or Research Assistant and one semester as an Instructional Teaching Assistant or ITA. As an ITA, advanced graduate students have the opportunity to design and teach their own course. There are no service obligations in their first semester in the program.
Is there summer support?
The regular stipend is paid over 12 months. The Department of Anthropology offers competitive summer research grants, which are generally provided for pilot studies for research in the summers after the first and second year of study. Advanced graduate students may qualify for the Graduate student Summer Research and Write-up Awards. Travel funding is also available through the J.E. Land Fund for School of Liberal Arts Graduate Student Travel and the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and the Graduate Studies Student Association.
Does Tulane provide housing for graduate students?
The Bertie M. and John W. Deming Pavilion is Tulane University’s graduate housing complex. You can find resources and information on rentals at the Off-Campus Housing website.