APPLYING FOR GRADUATE STUDY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY The Deadline for receipt of Fall 2009 applications to the Graduate Program in the Department of Anthropology is 1 February 2009. Application materials received (not postmarked) later than 1 February will not be reviewed. Applications to both the department and to the University Graduate Division should be completed online. The application consists of two separate parts: the application to the University Graduate Division and the application to the Department of Anthropology. (That's TWO separate applications)
Do not send Graduate Division materials to the Department. Do not send Department materials to the Graduate Division.
PART 1
	Send all of the following (except for the department application form and GRE scores) to the Department of Anthropology in one package (DO NOT SEND ITEMS SEPARATELY):
		A completed Department of Anthropology Graduate Program Application form.
		A 1-3 page (typed) Statement of Purpose. This statement should explain your experience, interests, and goals within anthropology. Be sure to indicate the specific area (e.g., archaeology, biological, cultural, visual) in which you wish to concentrate and specify the faculty with whom you are interested in working. For tips on preparing a statement of purpose read Considering Graduate School on the Graduate Information Page. You may also include a curriculum vitae, but it is not required.
		Three Letters of Recommendation. These should be from professors who can address your potential for graduate study. Applicants should obtain recommendation letters from referees typed on official letterhead, sealed in envelopes with the referee's signature over the sealed flap, and include them with their entire application. Referees should not under any circumstances send letters directly to the department.
		One or two Writing Samples. Specifically, the admissions committee is looking for examples of advanced level writing such as a Senior Thesis, Honors Thesis, published paper, or comparable written work giving evidence of both writing ability and the capacity for research, analysis, and original thought at the graduate level. Writing samples should be no more than 15 typed pages in length. Applicants to the Visual Anthropology emphasis who have made videos are requested to submit a DVD of one recent work.  Applicants who have made more than one video should submit that which is most anthropological.   Other applicants who have still photography experience should send a CD or DVD with twenty or thirty representative stills.  A writing sample is also required of Visual Anthropology applicants.
		Official transcripts for all previous academic work. Transcripts must be sent separately to the Graduate Division and the department. Do not send multiple copies to either location.
		Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. GRE scores must be sent directly to the department from ETS. Applications will not be reviewed without GRE scores. GRE scores must be from the past five years.  Be sure to take the GRE early enough so that scores will be available by the application deadline.
		All students, regardless of citizenship, whose native language is not English and whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English, are required to attain a score of 550 (written test) or 213 (computer test) or 79-80 on the IBT (Internet Based Test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an equivalent score (6.0) on the International English Language Test Scheme (IELTS). Applicants who do not meet these minimum standards are not admitted to the program.
All of the above (except the Graduate Program Application and GRE scores) should be sent to the department in one envelope. The application package should be addressed to: Graduate Coordinator Department of Anthropology San Francisco State University 1600 Holloway Avenue San Francisco, California 94132-4155
PART 2
	Apply directly to the SFSU Graduate Division on the Standard Graduate Application.
Do not send department materials to the Graduate Division. Do not send parts of the application materials separately. Do not send any of the material by email or fax. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant.
*****IMPORTANT***** ALL CAMPUS DELIVERIES (USPS, UPS, FEDEX, ETC.) MUST GO THROUGH CENTRAL CAMPUS RECEIVING BEFORE THEY ARE ROUTED TO DEPARTMENTS. MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALLOW TIME FOR THIS. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU SEND YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS ON JANUARY 31 FOR NEXT-DAY DELIVERY WE WILL NOT RECEIVE YOUR APPLICATION ON FEBRUARY 1. SENDING PACKAGES THAT REQUIRE A SIGNATURE WILL SIGNIFICANTLY DELAY THEIR DELIVERY TO THE DEPARTMENT. FOR BEST RESULTS USE USPS FIRST CLASS OR PRIORTY MAIL AND ALLOW ADEQUATE TIME FOR DELIVERY.
When the Anthropology Department Office receives your application materials, the complete file is forwarded to the graduate coordinator. The faculty of the applicant's program area evaluate the applicant's file and recommend admission or denial based on the following criteria:
		Overall grade point average - Minimum required GPA is 3.00
		Completion of course work equivalent to SFSU B.A. degree requirements in anthropology
		Statement of purpose
		Writing Sample(s)
		Letters of recommendation
		Undergraduate transcripts
		GRE scores - minimum combined score of 1000 (quantitative + verbal, not including analytical writing) with no less than 450 on any section and a minimum analytical writing score of 4.
	In addition to inadequacy in any of the above criteria, denial of admission may also be based on:
		Applicant's interests are not represented by current faculty, or
		Faculty in the applicant's area of interest unable to support additional students
The department accepts students for the Fall semester only. Applications for Fall 2009 must be received no later than 1 February 2009. Applications received later than this date will not be reviewed. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without review. We do not accept any part of the application via e-mail. All students are admitted to the program as conditionally classified. A conditionally classified student must meet certain conditions (such as specific courses) as stated in the letter of acceptance to the Graduate Program. Students with no curricular deficiencies (generally those who have a B.A. or a minor in anthropology) must pass Anthropology 710 and the Graduate Foreign Language Examination in order to become fully classified. Full classification is necessary to submit the Graduate Approved Program and to begin work upon the thesis. When conditions of acceptance have been completed, the student can file to become fully classified. Other than conditions that must be satisfied prior to filing their GAP, conditionally classified graduate students have the same privileges and opportunities as unconditionally classified graduate students.
Updated 12 February 2008
Anthropology Department Homepage | Graduate Division | Graduate Coordinator