CUNY Physical Anthropology

How to Apply

If you intend to apply to the CUNY PhD Program in Physical Anthropology, you should:

  • Review the CUNY faculty in physical anthropology and determine which faculty match your research interests. It is a very good idea to contact such faculty by email to enquire if they are seeking new graduate students and to determine how your interests might mesh. Prospective students who choose to visit us are encouraged to visit on Friday afternoon in order to attend NYCEP seminar and meet numerous faculty and students at one time; please arrange in advance with a faculty member.
  • Prepare and submit an application to the CUNY PhD Program in Anthropology following the instructions for admissions to the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Applications are due by December 15 (GRE scores and letters of recommendation must arrive by January 8).
  • Submit the NYCEP applicant tracking form to either Dr. William Harcourt-Smith (william.harcourt-smith@lehman.cuny.edu) or Dr. Andrea Baden (ab395@hunter.cuny.edu), the NYCEP Steering Committee Co-Chairs, by January 8th.
  • We hope that CUNY applicants will also have applied for a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship, as well as other external awards for which they may be eligible. CUNY students will be encouraged to apply for these external fellowships again during their graduate career. Teaching experience is a valuable component of a graduate career, and departmental positions as lab instructor or lecturer may be available, especially during the third or fourth year while dissertation proposals are being finalized. Some of these positions may be included as part of the original fellowship offer, while others may be paid adjunct positions.

General questions about the graduate program or application procedures should be directed to Dr. Larissa Swedell, the coordinator of the CUNY PhD program in physical anthropology:

  • Email: LSwedell [at] qc.cuny.edu

The CUNY faculty in Physical Anthropology typically meet to evaluate applications in February. Students whose applications are ranked highly may be invited to visit New York to meet with faculty and students, attend seminars or classes, and learn more about CUNY and NYCEP. CUNY offers funding packages to accepted students. Some packages may include responsibilities for service in research or teaching, with funding from a combination of NSF and CUNY sources. In addition, CUNY has special fellowship support for minority students. Individual offers will usually be made in March.