Graduate Program

       The graduate program in Evolution, Cognition, and Culture (ECC) is organized around courses taught by each of the core faculty. They are encouraged to do a small independent research project early in their graduate career and to present the findings of that research at professional meetings in their 2nd or 3rd year. They are encouraged to complete the exam for an MA by the end of their second year.

       Graduate students in the program obtain their degrees in Anthropology, and must therefore satisfy the requirements of both the ECC Program and the Anthropology Department (http://www.anth.uconn.edu/), as well as those of the UConn Graduate School. We attempt to incorporate all of these requirements here, but students should also consult the Graduate catalogue, and the Department pf Anthropology and Graduate School websites. Students normally enter our program to pursue the PhD degree and obtain the MA as they progress toward the PhD.

The Application Process

       Applications to the ECC Program are made through the Graduate School; details of the application process can be found on the Graduate School website (http://www.grad.uconn.edu). Your first point of contact should be either with the faculty member you expect to work most closely with or with the ECC Program Director, Richard Sosis. The Department of Anthropology's graduate program committee makes admissions decisions. Sally McBrearty chairs the committee, and general application inquiries may be made to her. We judge applicants based upon three primary criteria: academic excellence, preparation in the discipline, and goodness of fit between the student and our program; we also encourage women and members of underrepresented minorities to apply to our program. In reviewing applications, the committee carefully weighs transcripts, GRE scores, and letters of recommendation for evidence of academic background, interests, and achievements. The written statement of purpose is very important in determining what issues the student wishes to address in their research, and therefore which members of the faculty might serve on the student's advisory committee. If no member of the faculty feels willing or able to serve as a student's major advisor, the student will not be admitted.  

       Prospective students are advised to learn about the program and about members of the faculty and their research before applying. Students are encouraged to make email contact with faculty members with whom you would like to study. Students should consider visiting the UConn campus, or at a minimum arrange to speak with your potential advisor on the telephone. The purpose of a campus visit or interview is for both faculty and student to determine whether the program is right for the student and whether the student is right for the program. While faculty members are conducting research abroad they often do not have regular access to their email. If you do not receive a reply to your inquiries about the program, it may be helpful to check with the Department of Anthropology administrator (terese.andrews@uconn.edu) to see if the faculty member you wish to speak with is on campus, and if not, to find out with whom you should correspond.    Students should begin the application process during the fall semester. The deadline for applications is January 15 and admissions decisions are made in early spring, usually during the months of February and early March, with letters of acceptance or non-acceptance mailed in early April. Acceptance letters usually contain information regarding any offers of financial aid, although financial details may sometimes be clarified in a subsequent letter.

Graduate Student Funding   

       UConn and the Department of Anthropology endeavor to provide 10 semesters of funding to each student who performs well in the program. Normally this is in the form of teaching assistantships, although some students are funded through faculty research grants. Additional sources of funding at UConn can be found on the Graduate School website (http://www.grad.uconn.edu), and students are encouraged to apply for externally funded fellowships (e.g. Jacob K. Javits Fellowships Program, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). UConn Graduate assistantships include tuition waivers and health insurance. Figures on current graduate stipends can be found on the Graduate School website where available student benefits are also described. Nominal increases in stipends can be expected when the student is awarded the MA and successfully passes the PhD exam. Modest summer fellowships are available from the Department of Anthropology to fund exploratory fieldwork. Normally students seek external funding to finance dissertation research, which takes place abroad. Upon return from the field, students may expect to receive one year of funding during the data analysis and write-up phase of the dissertation. This award will normally include some teaching dutiess.