Programme Coordinator: Patty Gray

M.Litt. in Anthropology (Research Master's)

A Russian Hare Krishna's household shrine

The MLitt is a two-year Master's degree that is taken via research only. Students enrol in this programme only in certain circumstances, and the option should be discussed with a member of staff before it is pursued. Students who complete the One-Year Taught Master's and who want a more in-depth anthropological fieldwork experience at the master's level might subsequently enrol in the M.Litt. M.Litt. students must pass a minimum of 10 credits in taught modules from the Structured PhD programme. Minimum requirements for acceptance into the M.Litt. programme are a BA in Anthropology (2.1 or equivalent) and a proposal accepted by the Department.

If you think the M.Litt. might be the right programme for you, please get in touch with the Director of Postgraduate Studies in the Department of Anthropology to discuss it.

PhD in Anthropology

The PhD is an advanced research degree that requires considerable initiative on the part of the student to engage in independent, original scholarship. The objective of the PhD programme is to provide students with professional training in academic research in Anthropology, and to produce scholars capable of contributing to international networks in the discipline in an original, ethical, and effective fashion. To this end, the programme provides students with the necessary research skills, along with any other specialist training, required for their particular project. Above all, the department aims to provide students with the opportunity to pursue effectively their own specific research interests, working independently under the mentorship of members of staff, who will provide detailed feedback and advice on the work.

The PhD in Anthropology at NUIM is a 'structured' four-year degree (six years part-time). Students must register for a minimum of 30 credits in taught modules, and these must be divided into at least 15 credits of Professional Development modules (what the NUIM Graduate Studies Office refers to as "generic/transferable skills") and at least 15 credits of Subject Specific and/or Advanced Specialist modules. All PhD students must register for AN801 in the first year. Modules are selected in consultation with the PhD Advisor; PhD students generally register for two or three modules in the first year, then turn their attention to preparing for and carrying out anthropological field research in the second and third years, and take the remaining modules in the final year of study. Aside from the compulsory module AN801, most Anthropology modules are undertaken through independent, mentored study or self-directed, mentored student groups. With departmental permission, modules may be taken in other NUIM departments or at other universities. While there is no limit to the number of modules that may be taken, students are discouraged from overloading themselves with taught modules, as the purpose of PhD study is to focus on independent, original research.

PhD students are expected to regularly attend and actively participate in the Anthropology Seminar Series, which runs on Thursday afternoons. These seminars provide students the opportunity to learn about contemporary trends in anthropological research and to engage with world class scholars in the discipline. Past visitors to the Anthropology Seminar Series have included Jean Comaroff, Didier Fassin, Joseph Masco, Elizabeth Tonkin, Michael Silverstein, Lawrence Cohn, Richard Bauman, David Nugent, and many others.

Research Areas
Students are free to take up research in any area that interests them, as long as they can secure the agreement of a member of staff to serve as Advisor the project. The Department has a very strong international profile in several sub-disciplines of Social-Cultural Anthropology. Please browse the staff pages and the research pages of our website for details on the specialities of academic staff and current research projects of both staff and postgraduate students.

Entry Requirements
Normally students are admitted to the PhD programme only after completing a master's degree in anthropology. In the exceptional circumstance that a student were accepted with only a BA in hand or with master's level work in a field other than anthropology, that student would be required to sit 30 credits of modules in our taught MA programme before continuing on with the PhD programme. It is advisable that students make contact directly with the Anthropology Department to discuss the suitability of their interests and qualifications with an appropriate member of staff before their formal application.

How to Apply
The first step in applying for the PhD in Anthropology is to make contact with the PhD Coordinator and with the desired PhD dissertation advisor. Formally, applications must be made online at www.pac.ie - this is a University requirement. However, when starting an online PAC application, please also send an email to <anthropology.office@nuim.ie> to let us know to look for your application. All of the following information and documents must be uploaded on the PAC system before an application can be considered complete and a decision on acceptance can be made:

• Online PAC application form
• A statement of your academic and professional goals (approx. 1000 words), plus an outline of the proposed research project for the PhD thesis (3000 to 5000 words)
• A copy of your Birth Certificate or valid Passport (non-NUIM students only)
• Official Transcripts of degrees not earned at NUIM
• Two academic letters of recommendation in support of your application (names of referees are not sufficient; however, referees can be asked to email their signed, scanned letters directly to anthropology.office@nuim.ie)

Closing Date: We prefer to receive applications no later than May 31^st for the following academic year, but PhD applications are generally accepted at any time, and decisions are made on a rolling basis on completed applications. However, please note: if you are applying for funding from the university, such as from the Hume Scholarship, we must receive your PhD application by the May 31st deadline in order to be able to make a decision on your funding applicaition.

Commences: PhD students adjust to the life of the department best when they begin in September, but starting dates are negotiable.

PAC Codes:
MHC02 PhD Full-time
MHC03 PhD Part-time
MHC04 MLitt by Research Full-time
MHC05 MLitt by Research Part-time

Programme Structure:

PhD modules - Advanced Specialist
AN801 Theory and Practice for Anthropologists (COMPULSORY-Semesters 1 & 2)
AN831 Directed Readings in Anthropology (by prior arrangement with staff)
AN841 Anthropology Writing-Up Seminar (to be taken post-fieldwork)
AN851 The Use of Linguistic Data in Social Scientific Research
AN854 Knowledge, Power and Institutions (offered Spring 2013) (download pdf of syllabus)
AN861 Designing Research in Anthropology (Highly recommended/6-week module/Sem. 1)

PhD modules - Professional Development
AN821 Professional Development in the Classroom (for Tutors and TAs)
AN832-835 Research Tools in Anthropology (by special permission only)
AN842 Conference Participation
AN843 Writing for Peer-Reviewed Publication
AN862 Ethnography Winter School (JANUARY)
AN863 Ethics in Anthropological Research (Highly recommended/6-week module/Sem. 2)
AN864 Fieldwork in Anthropology

Optional Modules that can be selected by PhD Students (Subject Specific)
Semester 1
*AN641 Theory & Ethnographic Practice I
*AN642 Theory & Ethnographic Practice II
AN613 Introduction to Anthropology and Development
AN614A Topics in Anthropology and Development I
Semester 2
*AN643 Theory & Ethnographic Practice III
*AN644 Theory & Ethnographic Practice IV
AN615A Topics in Anthropology and Development II
AN616A Topics in Anthropology and Development III
*AN641-644 count for 10 credits each when taken as compulsory modules for MA students; PhD students will earn only 5 credits each toward the 30-credit requirement.

Anthropology PhD students can also opt for some PhD modules taught in other departments, with permission of their Advisor. For example:

Contact Details
Programme Coordinator: Dr. Patty A. Gray
Tel: +353 (0)1 708 6084 / 3984 Fax +353 (0)1 708 3570
Email: patty.gray@nuim.ie OR anthropology.office@nuim.ie
Address:
Department of Anthropology
Rowan House Rm. 2.18
NUI Maynooth
Maynooth, Co. Kildare
IRELAND