Questions on Bio Anthropology: Evo Bio VS Holistic Four-field

[mutualist007]

I prefer the four-field approach and wish to go in the direction of historic bioarchaeology. However, many of the big name schools with other interesting faculty on the cultural or historical sides are no longer four-field. Duke and Columbia are two examples where the subfield was absorbed within an evo bio department. I'm also interested in agrarian studies progams but wish to do the study of past societies with skeletal analysis. I also have another complicating factor; I wish to study old world societies in either Europe or highland Asia. I might change my mind on that and go to Central and South America.

Is it even possible to do bioarchaeology, political economy work in a department that is mostly concerned with paleohominid evolution.

I now have several questions I need to sort before deciding where to apply first:

Is going for the best fit still the best solution?

Would a terminal Masters (no PhD route) at a school where the faculty is a good fit be a good move before attempting to break into a name school?

What is more important in terms of job placement; a "prestigious" name school or a good fit program?

Which schools offer the best balance between bioarchaeology and political economy, and name recognition? (I'm working on this and I can recognize good fits, but I do not really know who has the best reputation for placing graduates.)

My preliminary list so far includes: ASU, OSU, UFL, UT Knoxville and Tulane. I also have a list of Masters only options if I need to do that to offer a counter boost to make up for my lack of a "prestige" background.

Edited October 15, 2010 by mutualist007

[mutualist007]

Add UNC Chapel Hill to my list!

[anthropologygeek]

Out of the schools you listed for bio a lot are in crisis. ASU is in a horrible budget crisis. Tenn is going through a transition with new faculty. Florida had one faculty leave so they are in the process of figuring that mess out.

For jobs it mainly matters who your adviser is not so much the school.

[mutualist007]

Out of the schools you listed for bio a lot are in crisis. ASU is in a horrible budget crisis. Tenn is going through a transition with new faculty. Florida had one faculty leave so they are in the process of figuring that mess out.

For jobs it mainly matters who your adviser is not so much the school.

I found Penn State's page and I am impressed. That may be my new top pick. Any comments on Penn State?

I really should have been looking more in depth for the subject "fit" but I am in the now and I have to find my path. I'll keep looking for four-field bio arch, old world and economic anthropology if I can find them all together.

[anthropologygeek]

Other than they are big 12 and require 1100 on gre I don't know much about Penn state due to lack of common interest when I was applying.

[mutualist007]

Other than they are big 12 and require 1100 on gre I don't know much about Penn state due to lack of common interest when I was applying.

The boards seem quiet now and I appreciate that you are responding. I do not want to overuse the one experienced person who is posting, but I suppose I have to until others chime in.

If the schools you mention are having some issues, what other schools would you recommend outside of Illinois? I am looking for some other viable options.

Thanks!

[anthropologygeek]

Well with this economy it will be tough. What you can do is go to the results page type in anthropology and then go though each program and decide if they fit you. Also you can see who inspires you and where do they teach and better where did they go. There's a lot of programs out there and I don't know what exactly interest you so I can't give you a list because it could be terrible for you. Like a list for bio would be different than a list for forensics. I just threw forensics out there since I noticed a lot of forensic programs on your list.

[sunshine6]

Hey 007,

We have similar interests, and I am finishing a MA bioanth program, and looking for phd programs. I second anthro geek on the concerns with ASU and UTenn.

I too am anxious about choosing an evo program, unless they have someone I would want really to work with.

The key is the faculty. After reading their bio's, go to google scholar or another search engine and see how often they publish. Look to see if they are working on something along the lines of your interests, and how recent that work was done. Contact them, yea it is awkward, but you'll want to know if they are accepting students. No point in applying somewhere if your chosen advisor is leaving on sabbatical in 6mo.

Grad school for bioarch is ALL about who you study under.

Send me a pm if you like, we can help eachother look for programs.

k