MA
Candidates must complete 24 credits of coursework, including:
- Required courses (12 credits)
- ANTH 5060 3.0 Classic and Contemporary Theory in Social Anthropology
- ANTH 5020 3.0 Methods in Social Anthropology
- ANTH 5000 6.0 Graduate Seminar in Ethnographic Research, Practice, and Professionalization
The remaining 4 courses (12 credits) should be selected from the list of courses offered each year in the Social Anthropology graduate program, with up to 3 credits from a cognate discipline (at the discretion of the program director).
Candidates must write a research review paper in the range of 40-60 pages under the supervision of a two-member committee and on a topic approved by that committee and by the Graduate Program Director. The paper should demonstrate creative and analytical ability and an advanced understanding of the selected topic of research.
In the fifth term, all MA candidates must give a 15–20 minute presentation of their research in a Master’s Research Colloquium. The presentation should provide an overview of the candidate’s completed research, including major research questions and initial conclusions.
PhD
Candidates must complete 21 credits of course work, including the four required courses. They are:
- ANTH 5060 3.0 Classic and Contemporary Theory in Social Anthropology
- ANTH 6011 3.0 Theoretical Concepts in Ethnographic Inquiry
- ANTH 6020 3.0 Advanced Research Methods in Social Anthropology
- ANTH 5000 6.0 Graduate Seminar in Ethnographic Research, Practice, and Professionalization
The remaining six credits should be selected from the list of courses offered in the Social Anthropology graduate program, with up to 3 credits from a cognate discipline (at the discretion of the program director).
The comprehensive examinations are taken upon the successful completion of all coursework, normally completed in year one. Candidates are required to write two comprehensive exams and a detailed research proposal on a topic in their area of specialization. Normally the comprehensive examinations and proposal are completed by the end of the second year, after which the student may begin a period of fieldwork. A detailed research proposal must be approved by the candidate’s supervisory committee, the GPD, and the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
There is no formal language requirement but the supervisory committee will require a candidate to demonstrate an acceptable language competence if it is considered necessary for the purposes of research, literature comprehension, or fieldwork.
Each candidate will be required to conduct an original field research project of approximately twelve months. Under special circumstances candidates will be allowed to conduct archival or library research to fulfil the requirement for dissertation research. Normally, however, ethnographic fieldwork is preferred.
On completion of fieldwork the candidate will write a doctoral dissertation. It is expected to make a substantial and original contribution of knowledge and to the discipline of socio-cultural anthropology. When the dissertation is written to the satisfaction of the candidate’s supervisory committee the candidate will go to oral examination.
Learn More
The Graduate Program in Social Anthropology at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.