CLA Anthropology PhD Admissions

How to Apply

Establish personal contact with at least one faculty member in Temple’s Department of Anthropology before preparing and submitting your application for admission. This should be a faculty member whose areas of research interest overlap with yours, and who could potentially serve as your faculty advisor.

To apply, submit Temple’s online graduate application along with an application fee of $60.

A master’s degree is not required but students that have an MA or MS may petition the Department’s Graduate Committee after completing their first academic year for advanced standing. The maximum number of advanced standing credits is 24. A bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) is required but it doesn’t need to be a degree in Anthropology.

Submit the following along with your application.

Supporting Materials

Transcripts

Submit official transcripts from every college and university you have attended.

An applicant is expected to have some academic background in Africology and African American Studies. All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of the appropriate baccalaureate degree at Temple University.

Letters of Recommendation

Submit three letters of recommendation from faculty and professionals.

Statement of Goals

In approximately 800 to 1,000 words, you should address

the experiences that have led you to graduate studies in anthropology;
the specific reasons for your interest in Temple’s graduate program and the faculty members with whom you envision yourself working most closely;
the specific research topic that you intend to be the focus of your graduate studies;
your career goals; and
your main area(s) of scholarly interest.

Standardized Test Scores

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) general test scores are required.

Résumé

A current professional résumé is required.

Official electronic transcripts must be sent via email to [click-for-email]. Official transcripts can be mailed to the following address.

Temple University College of Liberal Arts
Dept. of Anthropology
1115 W. Polett Walk
210 Gladfelter Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6089

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet the following minimum scores.

TOEFL iBT: 79
IELTS Academic: 6.5
PTE Academic: 53

See more detailed instructions on applying to Temple as an international student.