We are currently accepting applications for students to enter our PhD program in Fall 2026 (application deadline is January 5th, 2026). Our unique PhD program has a focus on health, broadly conceived (including evolutionary medicine, global/public health, biomedical anthropology, medical anthropology, paleopathology, and other disciplines that are applied to understand past, present, and future populations.) The program emphasizes training in quantitative and qualitative methods, values diversity and inclusion, and aims to prepare graduates for jobs in academia, research, business or industry, government, and other vocations.
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PhD Program at a Glance
A unique program, with cross-disciplinary training in biomedical, medical, and applied anthropology to prepare graduates for jobs in academia, research, business and industry, government, and other vocations. Training is focused on a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, with an emphasis on health, statistics, communication and management.
Five years of guaranteed funding (stipend, tuition, and health insurance) in addition to travel and research funds. Some of this time will be spent as a research assistant with a faculty member or group, and other times will be spent as a teaching assistant or class instructor.
- A focused research agenda to complete the program in five years.
- Four specific courses:
- ANT 5311 Descriptive and Exploratory Methods in Anthropological Research
- ANT 5312 Laboratory Methods in Anthropological Research
- ANT 5313 Professional Skills and Grant Writing
- STA 5300 Statistical Methods
- Three additional courses in Anthropology.
- Three additional courses in statistics and methods, ranging from bioinformatics, experimental design, and remote sensing, to sampling techniques and ethnographic research and analysis.
- Two additional courses in communication and management, ranging from health communication and project management to economic analysis and public administration.
- Two additional courses in health, ranging from genomics and infectious diseases to ecological risk assessment and health inequalities. There are man electives to choose from.
- An internship with a local community organization that should produce a research product like a publication.
- Participation in a pedagogical workshop.
- Serving as a teaching assistant or instructor-of-record at least once prior to graduating.
- Submitting an NSF GRFP, NSF DRIG, and Wenner-Gren DFG application (or equivalent).
- Giving a podium presentation at a professional conference.
- Having one peer-reviewed paper accepted by a professional publishing house and another one submitted prior to graduation.
- Participation in the department colloquium series.
- Those that complete the required and elective courses will be awarded an MS in Anthropology.
- Transfer credits are permitted, but must go through an approval process.
- Students will have a diverse advisory committee with two primary co-advisors, one additional Baylor faculty member outside of the Department, and one member outside of Baylor.
- Those that complete the required and elective courses will be awarded an MS in Anthropology.
- An application letter describing the applicant's qualifications, desire for further study, career goals, and research interests.
- It is preferred that applicants contact potential faculty mentors to develop a possible research plan, and to articulate this in their application letter.
- A writing sample. This might include an undergraduate course paper at least ten pages in length.
- Three letters of recommendation from people qualified to evaluate the applicant's experiences, professional skills, and potential for future study and research.
- Official transcripts from all institutions where undergraduate courses were attempted /completed. At least one transcript must clearly document degree completion. Transcripts in languages other than English must be translated by an official translating agency.
- For applicants whose first language is not English, they must submit scores from TOEFL or IELTS. The score must not be older than five years.
You can apply online using Baylor's Graduate School Application. The application deadline is January 5th.
Baylor's Course Catalog is published online, and you can view the Department Anthropology PhD information.