Prospective Graduate Students

Students applying for admission to the graduate program in Anthropology should have a minimum 3.0 grade point average in their last two years of undergraduate work (the mean GPA of each entering cohort is significantly higher). 

Applicants to the graduate program need not have an undergraduate degree in anthropology. We recommend, however, that students have some background in anthropological theory, physical anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Students will usually have earned at least 12 undergraduate credits in anthropology before entering the program. An undergraduate course equivalent to ANP 206 (Intro to Physical Anthropology) is required. Students who do not have undergraduate preparation in physical anthropology will need to consult with their advisor regarding preparatory work for ANP 840. Options might include sitting in on ANP 206, being a TA for ANP 206, or taking a one-credit reading course. 

In the absence of the recommended course credits and/or coursework, applicants should demonstrate in their application that they have a suitable background to succeed in the program. At Departmental discretion, applicants, if accepted into the program, may be required to complete additional coursework as necessary, which will be described in their letter of acceptance. 

Most incoming students will already have a Master’s degree. Those without a Master’s degree may still be admitted to the graduate program, and the faculty may recommend completion of the Master’s degree along the way to the PhD. Every student has the opportunity to earn a Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis) Master’s degree on their way to earning a PhD degree. 

Graduate students are admitted for the Fall semester only. All necessary materials must arrive at the Department or be uploaded to your application by December 1st. This deadline applies to all students – even to students who are not requesting financial aid. The Department’s Admissions Committee finalizes decisions on admissions around mid-March. 

You should have a clear statement of what you want to pursue for your research and how that fits with particular faculty presently in our Department. The Graduate Admissions Committee considers not only the student’s past preparation and performance, but also their interests and needs, and how these align with the research foci of this Department. The Department does not admit a student unless there are at least two faculty members who indicate that they are interested in working with the student. You are strongly encouraged to research faculty interest areas and communicate directly with the faculty you are interested in working with prior to submitting an application for graduate study. 

Apply to the Anthropology Graduate Program here: https://explore.msu.edu/apply/. The application fee is payable online. The application includes information about applying for financial aid. Applicants should also include all supporting materials in their online application. 

• Michigan State University now requires applicants to pay the application fee before a department can access the application. Applications are not reviewed until they are complete and the application fee has been paid. 

• Make sure you select your area of interest and list faculty members with whom you wish to work. 

• It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their applications are complete and to verify their status. Prior to submitting your application, you may save and revise it as often as you wish. Once you have submitted your application, you can continue to upload materials, but you cannot change the responses that you provided in the application itself. 

The following additional documents are required by the Department and should be uploaded to your application by the December 1st deadline:  

1) Official Transcripts. Transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate studies should be sent directly to the Department via official electronic methods (e.g. Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse) or via mail. Any mailed transcripts should be in a sealed envelope and should be sent directly from the institution to the following address:  

Department of Anthropology  

655 Auditorium Road, Room 350  

Michigan State University,  

East Lansing, MI 48824  

2) Official GRE Scores. GRE scores are required for all applicants, including domestic and international applicants. You must ensure that their official report of GRE scores is sent to Michigan State University. The university code for MSU is: 1465. You will enter your scores on the application if they are available, but you must also have the official report sent to the university. You should have your GRE scores sent at least 6 weeks in advance of the application deadline of December 1. The GRE must have been taken within the last five years prior to application for graduate study. We do not have a required minimum GRE score. In general, a more recent score is most helpful in the admissions process. No one is turned down for admission based solely on GRE scores. 

3) Three Letters of Recommendation. Three letters of recommendation from persons of high credibility who are in a position to judge the applicant’s academic ability and accomplishments. We recommend that at least one of these letters is from a professional or academic anthropologist. Letters of recommendation can only be submitted by the recommenders via the online application.  

4) One or Two Writing Samples. For example: undergraduate or graduate research papers, published paper, or electronic copy of presented conference poster.  

5) Personal Statement. The personal statement focuses on your ability and preparation to do graduate level scholarly work, as well as personal and professional experiences that may have led to your interest in anthropology. Therefore, in this essay you should emphasize your academic and personal preparation for graduate study, including undergraduate coursework and professional experiences, awards, and undergraduate research experience. Highlight leadership opportunities and how your personal history and experience can promote the understanding among persons of different backgrounds and ideas. 

6) Academic Statement. In addition to the above essay, the Department requires a separate essay (1-2 pp, double-spaced), called your academic statement. This is a forward-looking statement that should focus on why you are interested in graduate study in anthropology, and your interest in pursuing graduate education here. Some questions to consider: Why do you think that MSU would be a good fit for your graduate education? What topics and geographic areas are you particularly interested in? Include a brief summary of communications you have had with potential faculty advisors and explain why you believe they are a good match. How do you anticipate that your graduate studies in anthropology at MSU will prepare you for your career? 

7) Curriculum Vita. The CV outlines your professional training and accomplishments. The Department appreciates that incoming students with extensive experience or prior graduate education will have a lengthier CV than students who are applying for graduate school directly after obtaining the bachelor’s degree. Although the format of a CV can vary, the following topics are usually included (as appropriate): 

• Your name, email address, contact information 

• Education (list of institutions, your major field of study, graduation dates) 

• Honors and awards (honorary society memberships, graduation honors) 

• Fellowships and grants received (for example: for undergraduate or graduate study, for travel) 

• Research interests (for example: possible geographic area of interest, possible general topics of interest) 

• Relevant experience (for example: intensive travel, fieldwork (including field schools), research experience, relevant professional experience, relevant volunteer experience) 

• Any publications (or unpublished manuscripts, including the title of your bachelor’s thesis, or master’s thesis, as appropriate; fieldwork reports, research reports, papers or posters presented to a professional audience or at a public event) 

8) English Language Competency (if applicable). International applicants should have all test scores sent from the testing agency directly to Michigan State University. For an updated list of acceptable tests and scores, please review The Graduate School website. 

International Applicants 

International applicants should review The Graduate School’s website for information regarding language requirements, transcripts, and more: https://grad.msu.edu/internationalapplicants  

Additional resources for international applicants can be found on the Office for International Students and Scholars’ website: https://oiss.isp.msu.edu/  

Each year, a limited number of teaching and research assistantships are offered to incoming graduate students, typically for the first four years in the program. These assistantships include a monthly stipend, nine (9) credits of tuition per semester (fall and spring) and student health insurance. Continued funding is contingent on adequate progress in the program and the availability of Department funds. 

Because of the uncertainty and limited extent of Departmental funding, students are encouraged to apply for funding from other MSU sources, as well as from government funding agencies and foundations. In general, most students do find support and funding. 

Some students may have earned graduate-level credits in anthropology as an undergraduate, graduate student elsewhere, or as a non-degree student before admission to the graduate program. The Department decides which, if any, of these credits can apply to the graduate program (up to 9 total credits). For any courses taken outside MSU, the student must petition to have the courses counted, and must present a copy of the class syllabus and transcript. A student admitted under the MSU Lifelong Education program may petition the Department to apply up to 9 credits to a graduate degree. Students may NOT enroll in ANP 830 or 840 under the Lifelong Education Program. Courses earned under the Undergraduate Lifelong Education status are seen as being preparatory and generally cannot be applied to a graduate degree program.