Graduate Admissions

On this page:

Graduate Program Applications

Admission Criteria

  • The minimum GPA for admission to the PhD program in Anthropology is 3.2.
  • The minimum GPA for admission to the MA program in Anthropology is 3.0.

Critical Museum Studies Admissions
Please visit the Critical Museum Studies page for admissions procedures related to this program.

Deadlines

The current application deadlines in the Anthropology Department are:

  • December 1 for funding consideration -
    • Departmental Teaching Assistantships (PhD applicants)
    • Presidential Fellowships (PhD applicants)
    • Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowships (MA and PhD applicants)

Schomburg Fellowship applicants must submit a statement within the completed application by December 1. 

  • March 15 for all other international applicants.
  • May 1 for all other U.S. applicants.
  • Decisions will begin in January for completed applicants.

Application Materials and Requirements

GRE Not Required for Application

The Department of Anthropology does not require MA or PhD applicants to submit GRE scores with their program application. 

International applicants must also provide the following:

In addition to the above, you must provide the below documentation to the department upon acceptance:

More information on international graduate admissions at UB may be found on The Graduate School website.

Non-matriculating Students

If you are interested in registering for Anthropology graduate courses on a non-matriculated basis, you must submit a non-degree application available through The Graduate School. Applicants should also upload all supporting application materials through this electronic application.

The Department of Anthropology requires the following:

  1. Before you submit an application for non-degree status, you must submit an email to each faculty member teaching the course(s) asking if you may take their course as a non-matriculated student. If the instructors agree they will send an email to the department's Director of Graduate Studies affirming consent.
  2. Send a letter or email to the Director of Graduate Studies (Dr. Frederick Klaits, fklaits@buffalo.edu) stating why you wish to be enrolled as a non-matriculated student. Include in your communication the specific Anthropology graduate course(s) you wish to take that semester and a transcript showing conferral of a BA or BS degree.
  3. If your request for non-matriculated status is approved by the department then you may submit the online application. There is a $35 application fee upon application submission.

Please note non-matriculated students are not allowed to register for the below survey courses intended for matriculated anthropology graduate students only:

  • APY 651 Graduate Survey Physical Anthropology
  • APY 652 Graduate Survey Archaeology
  • APY 654 or 655 Graduate Survey Social Anthropology

Contact Us

Frederick Klaits

Associate Professor; Director of Graduate Studies

Department of Anthropology

362 Academic Center, Ellicott Complex

Phone: (716) 645-6388

Email: fklaits@buffalo.edu

Maria Portera

Graduate Studies Coordinator

Department of Anthropology

380 Academic Center, Ellicott Complex

Phone: (716) 645-6242

Email: mportera@buffalo.edu