Applying to Graduate School in Anthropology at TAMU

Applications

Please read these guidlines before preparing your application.

Applications are submitted online, using the Texas Common Application, via the Office of Admissions and Records.

Programs

Information regarding requirements for the Ph.D. and M.A. programs can be found under the tab for Degree Programs on this web site.

Note that course requirements differ for students in Nautical Archaeology than in the other subfields (Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Cultural/Folklore. Students without an undergraduate background in Anthropology may need to take additional undergraduate coursework in addition to the normal curriculum. Admission and funding are quite competitive, and space may not be available for all qualified applicants in a given year.

Potential applicants should research the list of faculty and their research interests, and should contact faculty who share their interests by email to discuss the possibility of attending TAMU. You will probably want to read some of our work, so that you have a better sense of exactly what we do. Graduate school is very different from undergraduate studies. In essence, it is about learning how to do independent research. Thus, GRE and GPA are not the only measures that we use to evaluate potential students.

Application Statement of Purpose

• This is the most important part of your application. Spend time on it!
• Clearly indicate at the top of your statement which sub-field you are applying to (Nautical, Cultural, Biological or Archaeology).
• Research our faculty on this web site, and indicate in your statement which faculty most closely share your personal research interests. Why is Texas A&M a good fit for you? And, specifically, why are you a good fit for us?
• In addition to describing your past academic experience, tell us about your future research interests and goals. Specifically, what fuels your curiosity?

Funding

We have a limited amount of funding available to incoming Ph.D. students, and this funding is very competetive. Although the deadline for admissions is January 1, students who desire to be considered for funding should apply by early December. Please follow up with your references and transcripts to ensure that they have indeed been submitted promptly.