Department of Anthropology
114 MacBride Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242-1322
Phone: 319-335-0522
Fax: 319-335-0653
E-mail: anthropology at uiowa.edu
I. Introduction
II. General Regulations
III. The Masters Degree in Anthropology
IV. The Ph.D. Program in Anthropology
V. Student Complaints
VI. CLAS Student Academic Misconduct
VII. Policy on Rights and Responsibilities of R.A.s
VIII. Policy on Rights and Responsibilities of T.A.s and Instructors
IX. Teaching Assistant Tiers
X. Policy on Human Subjects Research
I. INTRODUCTION
This document provides information about the Graduate Program in Anthropology at The University of Iowa. It specifies requirements and policies related to graduate study in this department.
A. Statement of Objective
Anthropology is the study of human beings, the societies they live in, and the cultures they create, in all parts of the world at all times. It provides a framework for understanding the place of human beings in the natural world; the evolutionary background and development of Homo sapiens; the organization of social life, cultural and symbolic systems; the evolution of cultures and societies; and the interrelations among society, personality, and shared canons for thought and feeling. Anthropologists take it as axiomatic that societies all over the world must be studied in order to arrive at a general understanding of human thought and behavior. One of the major strengths of anthropology is that it has traditionally bridged the biological sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities. The other great strength of anthropology is that it takes as its primary object of study all aspects of human life and development, thereby approaching the analysis of human beings from a holistic vantage point.
The discipline of Anthropology has two major fields, Sociocultural Anthropology and Biological Anthropology. The former is subdivided into three subfields, referred to as Linguistics, Archaeology, and Sociocultural Anthropology. Each of these fields and subfields incorporates numerous areal and topical interests, alone or in combination, frequently integrating the subfields. The holistic and comparative aspects of the discipline provide a disciplinary matrix within or against which these apparently diverse and divergent interests may be considered to have unifying themes. The graduate programs in anthropology at The University of Iowa begin from the premise that all graduate students should have some preparation in three of the four subfields of biological anthropology, linguistics, archaeology, and sociocultural anthropology.
Graduate study in anthropology at Iowa is designed to provide specialized training in at least one of the discipline’s subfields with strong preparation minimally in two others. Graduates are well qualified for a variety of careers in education and research, the medical and biological sciences, government service and institutions in which a knowledge of human relations is important.
B. Graduate Training in Anthropology
The Department of Anthropology offers programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology. The Master of Arts program consists of a program in General Anthropology and a program in Feminist Anthropology.
The remaining sections of the Guide specify the exact requirements of the department for advanced degrees, course work, examinations, etc., affecting all graduate students enrolled in the Department of Anthropology at The University of Iowa.
C. Graduate Student Regulations
Students should be familiar with each of the following items: The Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College of The University of Iowa, The University of Iowa Bulletin, The Guide to Graduate Theses, and this Student Guide. Note that the Department of Anthropology has established higher minimum requirements in certain areas than those specified by the Graduate College.
D. Financial Aid
The Department offers financial assistance, usually in the form of teaching and research assistantships , to the great majority of graduate students in good standing for five years. Students making satisfactory and timely progress through the graduate program are in good standing. Eligibility for financial aid will be reduced after two years in the Master's portion of the graduate program, after two years in the doctoral portion of the graduate program, or after one year of post doctoral fieldwork/research enrollment. The Department typically provides a one-year tuition scholarship to doctoral students conducting research for the dissertation. The amount and types of aid depend on the departmental needs. The Department will award financial aid to most entering graduate students every year.
Notification in writing of a provisional financial award will be given to the student in the semester prior to the semester or summer session for which the award has been granted. As financial aid awards are made before the end of the semester, each award is contingent upon satisfactory completion of that semester's work by the awardee.
A full-time graduate student is normally expected to carry a nine-hour load. Financial aid is normally only given to full-time students.
II. GENERAL REGULATIONS
A. Admission
Students applying for admission to the graduate program in anthropology will be considered regardless of the field of their previous training. Students without previous training in anthropology will be expected to perform additional work as necessary to achieve the levels of competence expected for the degree desired.
Students are normally admitted to the Ph.D. program. The first two years of the Ph.D. program for students without an M.A. degree in anthropology are devoted to fulfilling the requirements of the M.A. degree. After those requirements are completed, the student's committee will make a recommendation to the faculty about continuation in the Ph.D. program. Because all students except those who request otherwise will have been admitted to the Ph.D. program already, continuation is assumed if no recommendation to the contrary is made and passed by the faculty.
Students with an M.A. degree in anthropology from institutions other than The University of Iowa may proceed directly into a Ph.D. program organized around their special research interests. If they are lacking any of the requirements of the graduate program in anthropology at Iowa, they will be informed of those requirements in their letter of admission. The University of Iowa regulations concerning the acceptance of credit hours from other institutions will be followed.
Candidates for admission to the graduate program are required to submit the following documentation:
1. A complete university application form.
2. Transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work.
3. Three letters of recommendation from individuals competent to judge the candidate's potential for graduate training.
4. Scores from the aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Examination.
5. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores for non-English-speaking foreign students whose previous university work was not conducted in English.
6. At least example of previous work (e.g., a term paper or original experiment). Applicants with an M.A. degree from another university are required to submit a copy of their Master's thesis; in cases where an M.A. has been granted without thesis or where the Master's thesis is not yet complete, type-written or printed copies of three papers completed in graduate school should be submitted.
Applicants should have a 3.0 or B grade point average or better. Applicants with lower grade point averages may be admitted with conditional status if other criteria show them to have the potential for graduate work. If admitted on conditional status, the applicant will receive a letter stating courses that must be taken and grades to be achieved in order to remove the conditional status. Graduate College regulations require that to continue in the program the student must complete the conditions set forth in the letter of admission by the end of the second semester.
An application for "change in graduate status" from conditional to regular may be initiated by the student, faculty adviser, or DEO. However, such applications always must be signed by the DEO before the form is distributed. The "change in status" form will be sent to the Office of Admissions after approval by the DEO.
The Departmental Admissions Committee makes final decisions on admission. For students who have been admitted, have completed their M.A. work at The University of Iowa, and are ready to continue with Ph.D. work in the Department, the final decision for continuation rests with the faculty.
Applicants with an M.A. degree in another discipline must seek admission as a first-year graduate student. They may be permitted to proceed to the Ph.D. without completing the paper or thesis requirements for the M.A., but all other coursework requirements must be met. The student's committee will recommend to the faculty whether the student should be required to write an M.A. paper or thesis or not.
Admission is normally based in part on the ability of the faculty to direct work on the student's research interests. If a student's research interests change after admission to the program or the research interests and composition of the faculty change, every effort will be made to accommodate the student's research interests within the department and through inter-institutional programs such as CIC.
Admission to the Program in Feminist Anthropology is a two-step process, although only one application is required. Students must first meet the entrance standards of the Department of Anthropology. Next, the student must submit a letter requesting admission to the Feminist Program to the Program coordinator. This letter should indicate the student’s research interests and indicate a faculty member has agreed to chair the student’s committee. Following review by faculty members in the Program in Feminist Anthropology the coordinator responds to the student. Normally, adequate undergraduate coursework in both anthropology and feminist studies is required for admission. Applicants to the Program in Feminist Anthropology with insufficient work in anthropology or in feminist studies will be given, in writing, a list of additional courses which must be completed to gain admission to the Program in Feminist Anthropology. In some cases, these courses may be taken during the student's first year in conjunction with other course work. In other cases, successful completion of these courses may be a prerequisite for enrollment in subsequent courses in the Program in Feminist Anthropology.
B. Number of Degrees at The University of Iowa
The Department of Anthropology encourages students who have received the B.A. degree in Anthropology from The University of Iowa to continue their studies at another institution. If, however, they enroll in the graduate program in Anthropology at The University of Iowa, there is no restriction in the number of degrees that may be earned.
C. Advisory and Review System
To insure that graduate students progress toward their degree goals in an effective manner, the Department of Anthropology has established the following advisory procedures.
Students admitted into the Graduate Program will be assigned a First Year Advisor. Ordinarily the Director of Graduate Studies will initially serve as the First Year Advisor. In addition to helping the student select courses and advising on all other academic matters, the First Year Advisor is responsible for the compilation of information on each advisee in connection with the Annual Review of Graduate Students. Any necessary petitions will be developed in collaboration with the First Year Advisor.
Before the end of the second semester of graduate study for entering students who do not hold the MA degree, the student should have selected an advisor in the appropriate sub-field whose interests complement those of the student. In consultation with the advisor, the student will form a committee.
1. Composition of Graduate Student Committees
Guidance committees are of two types, M.A. and Ph.D.
A faculty member must be a member of the graduate faculty (ordinarily a full-time faculty member with a Ph.D.) in order to serve as chair or as a member of a guidance committee. Departmental faculty members who are not members of the graduate faculty may serve as ex officio members of a guidance committee; however, each guidance committee must have the requisite minimum number of official members.
Membership on a student's committee is by mutual agreement of the student and faculty member. A memo signed by the student and each committee member is placed in the student's file. The chair of the guidance committee acts as the student's faculty adviser, approving semester programs of study, changes in registration and such other matters as require consultation and the signature of a faculty adviser. The guidance committee as a whole acts in matters related to forming a plan of study leading to a degree, overseeing the student's progress toward attaining that degree, and making recommendations to the departmental faculty regarding the student's future graduate career. It is the responsibility of the student's adviser to place a written record of all decisions reached at these committee meetings in the student's permanent file. Such written records must be initialed by the student and all committee members.
Each guidance committee is responsible to the departmental faculty, and must report regularly once a semester on the student's progress toward the immediate goal. Committees that do not function effectively may be dissolved by the DEO.
The guidance committee will have different responsibilities as the student proceeds through different levels of the program. It is to be expected that the membership and/or the composition of the guidance committee will change in relation to the student's needs. To effect a smooth transition the M.A. guidance committee will be dissolved upon completion of the M.A. When this point is reached it will be the student's responsibility to initiate the formation of a new guidance committee with a membership appropriate to the student's interests.
Changes in committee membership may be initiated by either a faculty member or by the student. The person initiating the change informs the other party and then provides a memo detailing the changes and signed by everyone affected by the changes. The memo is placed in the student's file. The DEO may also write the memo detailing changes, in lieu of the student or committee member.
2. M.A. Committee
The student forms the M.A. committee no later than the fifth week of the third semester of registration. This committee guides the student in setting up a program leading to the M.A. degree, in preparing the paper or thesis proposal if that is part of the M.A. program, and in writing the paper or thesis.
The M.A. committee is composed of at least three official members from the Anthropology Department, one of whom serves as the chair and as the student's faculty adviser. Committees may include additional members from within or outside the department. This committee operates until the student has achieved the degree objective or the student's program is terminated by the department.
3. Ph.D. Committee
The Ph.D. committee consists of at least five official members, at least three of whom must be from within the department. This committee advises the student in forming a program of study leading to the Ph.D. It is the committee's responsibility to schedule, conduct, and participate in the evaluation of the comprehensive examination required for the awarding of the Ph.D. The committee advises the student in preparing a research proposal, and in arranging for the defense of the dissertation proposal before the faculty. It also guides the student in doing the research and writing the Ph.D. dissertation. The dissertation (final exam) committee must include one member from outside the department.
It is a Graduate College regulation that the committee that evaluates the comprehensive examination and the committee that approves the final examination (dissertation defense) must actually meet to deliberate these matters. Therefore, if a student wishes to have members who cannot attend these events, either because they are away on leave or are not at this University, they must be replaced for the purposes of these two examinations. They may sign the approval sheet of the dissertation, however, and need not be on campus to do so.
D. Change in Status
An application for "change in graduate status" from conditional to regular may be initiated by the student, faculty adviser, or DEO. However, such applications always must be signed by the DEO before the form is distributed. The "change in status" form will be sent to the Office of Admissions after approval by the DEO.
E. Probation
If, in the judgment of the faculty, a student's work is unsatisfactory, departmental probation may be advised. In such a case the student is informed in writing by the DEO of the probationary status, the reasons for such probation, and the specific steps that must be taken and the time allowed to return to good standing. Failure to meet probation requirements in the time allowed will result in dismissal from the graduate program in anthropology. Students should be aware that, as stated in the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College, when a doctoral student’s GPA falls "below" a 3.0 the individual is automatically placed on academic probation by the College. The Graduate College places students working toward the Master’s degree on academic probation when the GPA falls below 2.75. An “Incomplete” automatically changes to an “F” if the grade “I” is not changed to a letter-grade by the end of the semester following the one in which an “I” was given.
F. Leave of Absence
Students in good standing who must withdraw from academic work temporarily must seek official approval for a leave of absence. A student contemplating such a leave should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies for complete information. If the leave of absence is for one academic year or less the student probably will be readmitted to the program at the level achieved before leaving. Should more than one academic year elapse before the student returns to the program, the Admissions Committee will review the record and recommend the level at which the program may be resumed.
Students on a leave of absence should keep in contact with the Director of Graduate Studies during their leave. When applying for readmission to the program, the student will inform the Director of Graduate Studies in writing of intention to return. Such written notice should be sent no later than three months before the beginning of the semester/session in which the student intends to resume graduate studies. If the student wishes financial aid the Director Graduate Studies should be contacted regarding appropriate deadlines.
"Students who are admitted to and enroll in the Graduate College, but then fail to register for a period of 36 months or more must apply for readmission. Their acceptance is dependent upon departmental approval for the semester for which readmission is desired. Consideration of the application for readmission will be governed by the departmental and Graduate College admission Standards in effect at the time of application" Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College.
G. Petitions and Appeals
1. Petitions
A petition is a written request to the departmental faculty for approval of a course of action which either fulfills or departs from the regulations set forth in the Guide. For example, a student may petition for permission to substitute previous academic work in fulfillment of departmental requirements.
To submit a petition, the student should consult the guidance committee who will help prepare a written request for consideration, together with additional documentation that the committee deems necessary. The chair of the guidance committee or the First Year Adviser has the responsibility to inform the DEO that a petition has been submitted. The DEO will place the matter on the agenda of the next faculty meeting. The faculty will vote on the petition, and the decision reached will be reported to the student and the faculty adviser. A written summary of the disposition of the petition will be placed in the student's file and copies will be sent to the student and the faculty adviser.
2. Appeals
An appeal is a written request from the student asking the faculty to reconsider or review a decision that affects the student's status in the graduate program. The student prepares a written appeal together with such documentation as is deemed necessary. The appeal should be submitted to the DEO who will circulate it to the faculty and appoint a committee to investigate the merits of the appeal. This report should contain a recommendation for disposition of the case, to be voted on by the departmental faculty.
A student who intends to submit an appeal should consult first with the guidance committee, and when necessary, with the DEO. The student should also be acquainted with the procedures involved in appealing to extra-departmental authority outlined in the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College. The student who feels it is necessary to seek redress from a decision is strongly urged to exhaust departmental procedures before turning to external agencies.
H. Independent Study
No more than 12 hours of Independent Study courses may be applied toward the M.A. degree requirements in Anthropology, for those students who write a Master's paper. No more than 6 hours of Independent Study courses may be applied toward the M.A. degree requirements in Anthropology, for those students who write a Master's thesis. There is no limit on the number of Independent Study course hours in Anthropology which may count toward the Ph.D. degree. However, excessive reliance on these is discouraged.
I. Archaeology Field Courses
Excessive reliance on archaeology field method courses to fulfill class hour requirements is discouraged.
J. Non-Anthropology Courses
No more than 9 hours of non-anthropology courses may be applied toward the M.A. degree requirements in anthropology.
A total of 18 hours of non-anthropology courses may count toward the 72 hours required for the Ph.D. The 18 hours include the 9 hours permitted at the M.A. level and are not in addition to them.
K. Grading
It is the policy of the department that only grades of B- (2.67) or better are considered passing for courses taken to satisfy either specific graduate requirements or general credit hour requirements. All grading for independent study, thesis, dissertation and research credits will be done on a satisfactory, unsatisfactory basis rather than by letter grades.
L. Committee Meetings
It is the responsibility of the student to call committee meetings when necessary and to meet deadlines described in this Guide.
M. Courses Taught by Graduate Students
No anthropology graduate student may enroll for graduate credit in any anthropology course at The University of Iowa taught by another Anthropology graduate student.
N. Submission of M.A. Thesis or Ph.D. Dissertation
In submitting an M.A. Thesis or a Ph.D. Dissertation to the student's committee, the department prefers that this sequence be followed.
1. Initial submission is to the committee chair. Only when all revisions have been made to the chair's satisfaction should the thesis or dissertation be submitted to other members of the committee.
2. A clean but not final copy should be circulated among the other members of the student's committee. A period of four weeks should be allowed for committee review.
3. Once revisions have been made to the satisfaction of the committee a clean copy must be placed in the department office for circulation to the faculty at least one week prior to the defense.
III. THE MASTERS DEGREE IN ANTHROPOLOGY
A. Program of Study
The M.A. degree in Anthropology is designed to be awarded to students after two years in the graduate program. Although all students except those who request a master's degree only will be admitted to the Ph.D. program, the convention of calling the first two years the Master's Program will be followed here. The Master's Program consists of a Program in General Anthropology and a Program in Feminist Anthropology, which has more specific requirements than the general program.
1. General Anthropology
a. Required Core Seminars (9 s.h.)
Students must complete core seminars in at least three of the four subfields for a total of 9 semester hours. The four core semesters are:
113:240 Seminar: Sociocultural Anthropology
113:271 Seminar: Linguistic Anthropology
113:268 Seminar: Archaeological Theory and Method
113:285 Seminar: Biological Anthropology
In addition, all students are required to take 113:210 Anthropological Data Analysis or another course in statistics within the first three years of the graduate programs. Students are encouraged to take this course in their Master's Program, i.e., during the first two years of graduate study.
b. Elective Courses (21 s.h. minimum)
Students must successfully complete a minimum of 21 more semester hours of course work during their first two years of study. These courses should be selected in consultation with the student's advisor and committee members. Elective hours may include courses in other disciplines, directed study, or up to 6 semester hours of thesis credit (if applicable).
2. Feminist Anthropology (9 s.h.)
In addition to completing the requirements for the degree in General Anthropology, students in the Feminist Anthropology Program students must take the following core seminars:
113:220 Seminar: Feminist Anthropology
113:273 Seminar: Language and Gender
113:290 Feminist Perspectives on Biology and Culture
Exemptions may also be permitted by petition, with the approval of both the Program in Feminist Anthropology and the Anthropology faculty.
Elective Courses (6 s.h.)
113:105 Motherhood and Reproduction
113:141 History of Feminist Anthropology
113:154 Anthropologies and Sexualities
113:175 Gender and Development Studies
113:182 Women, Health, and Healing
113:221 Seminar: Feminist Ethnography
113:223 Seminar: Feminist Medical Anthropology
Students must successfully complete two courses, selected from the list of elective courses above, during their first two years of study. Substitution of other courses may be approved by petition, with the approval of the Program in Feminist Anthropology Faculty.
Other Elective Courses (12 s.h. minimum)
Students must successfully complete a minimum of 12 more semester hours of course work during their first two years of study. These courses should be selected in consultation with the student's advisor and committee members. Elective hours may include courses in other disciplines, directed study, or up to 6 semester hours of thesis credit (if applicable).
B. General Requirements
1. Hours Required
The number of credit hours for the M.A. may vary from 30-36 semester hours depending upon the student’s previous anthropological training. A student with no prior experience in anthropology probably will be required to complete 36 hours. Those with some training in anthropology will likely fall somewhere in between. The decision on the minimum number of hours required for the Master's degree for each individual will be made by the student's advisory committee.
2. Program of Study
The program of study for the first-year graduate student in anthropology at The University of Iowa entering with a B.A. degree is based upon the extent of previous exposure to anthropology courses. Those enrolled in the Program in Feminist Anthropology will be expected to have a broad undergraduate background in anthropology (although not necessarily a major in the field), and also an undergraduate background in feminist studies. Those students who lack exposure to one or more of anthropology's four major subfields (sociocultural anthropology, linguistics, archaeology, biological anthropology) at the undergraduate level will be asked to enroll in coursework to gain background in these subfields.
3. M.A. Paper or Thesis
During the second year of enrollment in the M.A. program, students are expected to write a paper, of journal length and publishable quality, which will be reviewed and approved by the student's committee. While writing the MA paper, students should enroll in 113:383 Independent Study: Anthropology; the course, 113:385 is reserved only for those writing the MA thesis.
When the committee accepts the paper and all the M.A. course and hour requirements are completed, the student will be granted an M.A. The M.A. paper will serve as the final exam for the M.A. degree, and will also be presented in a public forum, such as the department colloquium, before graduation. A meeting of the committee and student may be scheduled to symbolically mark the closure of the candidate’s degree. The submission of the M.A. paper to journals for publication is encouraged. Students may choose, as an alternative to the M.A. paper, to write a formal M.A. thesis. Graduate College guidelines for theses must be followed. Students are required to deposit a final copy of their MA thesis or paper to the Anthropology Department.
4. Option to Petition
Any requirement of the M.A. program may be appealed by petition.
C. Evaluation Procedures and Mechanisms
During the second semester of the first year the First Year Adviser reviews and makes a preliminary evaluation of the student's progress and ability based on course work taken during the first two semesters, summarizes this information for the faculty which uses it to make a final decision on the recommended future course of study for the student within the graduate program.
1. First Year Evaluations
a. The student may be dismissed from the program at the end of the first year. Performance resulting in this recommendation consists of a grade of C+ or lower in two or more courses during the first year or other evidence of demonstrably unsatisfactory graduate performance.
b. The student may progress toward an M.A. degree.
The basic but not exclusive criterion for this recommendation is a grade point average of at least 3.0 over all courses taken. If this recommendation is made the student may choose to take a non-thesis M.A. (write the M.A. paper) or may take an M.A. degree with thesis.
2. Faculty Expectations
Students should understand that the faculty assumes that the great majority of candidates admitted to the graduate program will perform well. It is the faculty's expectation that only a very few students will fail to measure up to the department's standards once they have been admitted. When this occurs, however, the faculty will not hesitate to recommend that the student be dismissed from the Program. Under such circumstances, such evaluation is in the best interests of the student who may thus avoid wasting one or two additional years in graduate school.
3. Second Year
a. Committees
If the faculty recommends that the student may progress toward the M.A. degree, the student will form an M.A. committee. If it has not previously been formed the committee must be formed by the 5th week of the student's third semester.
b. Non-Thesis M.A. (M.A. Paper)
A non-thesis M.A. requires the completion of the M.A. paper, which should be of journal length and publishable quality. The topic should be determined in consultation between the student and the M.A. committee. The paper will serve as the final examination and will also be presented in a public forum.
c. Thesis M.A.
A thesis M.A. requires the completion of the thesis. An oral defense of the thesis must be scheduled. It is not possible to enroll for more than 8 hours of thesis credit, and only 6 hours of thesis credit count toward the hour requirements of the M.A. in Anthropology.
d. Responsibilities
The student is responsible for becoming informed on all Graduate College deadlines and degree requirements. Appropriate materials are available from the Office of the Dean of the Graduate College in Gilmore Hall.
e. Deadlines
It is expected that full-time students will complete the M.A. paper or thesis by the end of the fourth semester. If the degree requirements have not been completed by the end of the sixth semester of full time registration the student will be put on probation during the annual review. No full time student may continue in the graduate program if the M.A. degree requirements are not completed by the end of the seventh semester of full time registration. Adherence to the timetable is important in funding considerations.
f. M.A. Final Examination
The M.A. Final Examination, a Graduate College requirement, will be scheduled by the faculty adviser in consultation with the student and the committee during the semester in which the student expects to complete the M.A. degree requirements.
Non-thesis M.A. degree candidates will take an examination consisting of two parts: the M.A. paper, which will be evaluated by the committee; and the public presentation of the paper to the department. The paper should be deposited with the department. If the student intends to continue in the Ph.D. program, the paper should be available to faculty one week before the faculty meeting at which the committee recommends continuation in the Ph.D. program.
Candidates for an M.A. degree with thesis must schedule an oral defense of their thesis. The thesis should be made available to faculty in the department office one week prior to the defense.
If the examining committee so recommends, a candidate who fails the examination may choose to be re-examined, but not sooner than the next regularly scheduled examination period in the following term (semester or summer session).
g. Evaluation
After the requirements for the degree are completed, including the final examination, the student's committee makes a recommendation to the faculty on the future course of study for the student within the Graduate Program in Anthropology.
The student may be dismissed from the program after completing the M.A. The basic criterion for this evaluation is that the M.A. paper or thesis, in the judgment of the committee, does not show the potential for Ph.D. work.
The student may progress toward a Ph.D. degree. If this recommendation is made, the student should form the Ph.D. committee.
IV. THE PH.D. PROGRAM IN ANTHROPOLOGY
A. Objectives
The Ph.D. represents a balance between general competence in three of the four subfields of anthropology obtained at the M.A. level and professional specialization and competence for independent research and teaching one of the four subfields.
To insure focus on the student's research interests, there is an integrated process of simultaneous preparation of reading lists, research proposals for submission to granting agencies, a dissertation proposal, and preparation of position papers. Successful completion of position papers will be reported to the Graduate College as successful completion of comprehensive examinations and the student is advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. The student then does dissertation research, writes a dissertation, and defends it to complete the Ph.D.
B. Requirements
1. Hours
Minimum of 72 hours beyond the B.A. This is a Graduate College requirement.
2. Required Courses
Students take one theory course beyond the course they took to fulfill the M.A. requirements in the subfield in which they are specializing. This course should be one of the following:
Sociocultural
113:201 Seminar: Anthropological Theory
113:205 Reading French Theorists
113:220 Seminar: Feminist Anthropology
113:240 Seminar: Sociocultural Anthropology
113:241 Economic Anthropology
113:244 Semiotics: Interpreting Signs in Language and Culture
113:250 Theoretical Approaches to Ritual
Linguistics
113:172 Language and Culture
113:174 Ethnography of Communication
113:191 Structure of Mayan Languages
113:244 Semiotics: Interpreting Signs in Language and Culture
113:271 Seminar: Linguistic Anthropology
113:273 Seminar: Language and Gender
Archaeology
113:164 Comparative Prehistory
113:178 Hunter-Gatherer Ethnoarchaeology
113:268 Seminar: Theory and Method
Biological
113:165 Human Variation
113:169 Human Evolutionary Anatomy
113:170 Primate Evolutionary Biology
113:188 Primate Behavior and Ecology
3. Foreign Language
Demonstration of a reading and/or speaking knowledge of one foreign language is required. The language requirement must be completed before beginning dissertation research.
4. Relevant Courses
Students are advised to take all lecture courses and seminars relevant to areas to be covered in their position papers and reported as their comprehensive examinations (see below).
5. Non-Anthropology courses
A total of 18 hours of non-anthropology courses may count toward the minimum of 72 hours required for the Ph.D. The 18 hours include the 9 hours at the M.A. level and are not in addition to them.
6. Independent Study Courses
Excessive reliance on Independent study courses is discouraged.
7. The Comprehensive Process
The process of working toward a Ph.D. consists of several phases after the completion of M.A. work. Students should work closely with their committees at all stages. In consultation with the committee, students may invert the order of b. (Research Proposal) and c. (Position Papers) below according to individual needs.
a. Annotated Bibliography
Immediately after the completion of the M.A. the student will begin consultations with the committee and start to compile an annotated bibliography of works relevant to the future research program. This is not a formal requirement, and does not require committee or faculty review; it is a working document for the student's use in the succeeding phases of the Ph.D. program.
b. Research Proposal
After the completion of 45 hours of graduate study but not later than the 6th semester, working closely with the committee, the student drafts research proposals for the program of dissertation research.
After completing at least 54 hours of graduate study but not later than the 7th semester in the program, having refined the proposal over the summer, the student submits the research proposals to funding agencies, prepares a formal dissertation prospectus, and defends it before the student’s Ph.D. committee before the end of the semester. The defense is also open to other students and faculty who may wish to attend. A copy of the student’s dissertation proposal should be made available in the department office one week prior to the defense.
c. Position Papers
After completion of 63 hours of graduate study but not later than the 8th semester in the program, the student will complete two position papers: one in the areal specialization and one of the primary topical area. In some fields, e.g. biological anthropology, a geographical area may not be relevant. The questions are prepared by the committee in consultation with the student.
The papers should demonstrate analysis, evaluation and synthesis--control of a body of information (knowledge and comprehension), critique a major problem or debate (application and analysis), develop a position on an issue and provide an explanation or theoretical justification for the position (evaluation and synthesis).
Length: each paper should be no more than 30 double-spaced typewritten pages (250 words/page). The minimum length will be determined by each committee in consultation with the student. Some questions might be better treated by two or three smaller position papers rather than one larger one, but the total length should not exceed 35 pages for each of the two areas.
Timing: The committee will give the first question(s) to the student no later than the second week of the semester. The student should turn in the position paper no later than the end of the eighth week, when the committee will give the student the second question(s). The second position paper is due by the end of the fourteenth week of the semester. The committee will report this result to the Graduate College as the outcome of the Comprehensive Examination by the deadline for end of the semester.
Reading and evaluation: All members of the student's committee will read the position papers. The chair and two other committee members will evaluate each paper depending on expertise. Ratings will be:
Satisfactory
Satisfactory with Reservations
Unsatisfactory with permission to retake
UnsatisfactoryRemedies for less than satisfactory work: If the committee judges that additional work is necessary for less than satisfactory ratings, it will decide on the nature of the work. The committee may decide that such work would include oral discussion, a formal re-writing of the position paper, or some other option.
Successful completion of this process advances the student to candidacy for the Ph.D.
If this process has not been completed by the end of the fifth year of graduate registration, the third year in the Ph.D. program, the student will be placed on probation.
8. Ph.D. Dissertation
All doctoral candidates are required to carry out original anthropological research. The comprehensive process leads to the dissertation research and students will usually conduct dissertation research after they complete this process and are advanced to candidacy. Dissertations are usually based on fieldwork. Some are based on data from archival collections, laboratory projects, collections, or other source materials. All Ph.D. students should familiarize themselves with both the "Principles of Professional Responsibility of the AAA" and "Four Statements for Archaeology" of the SAA (available in the departmental office).
Students are responsible for obtaining all necessary research permissions and Human Subjects Reviews.
The Graduate College has established a rule requiring completion of the dissertation within a five year period after admission to candidacy. Unless a student demonstrates satisfactory progress, the faculty of the department will not ordinarily recommend any extensions of this five year period.
Students in the Ph.D. program who do not carry a full-time load will be treated individually.
V. STUDENT COMPLAINTS
The Department of Anthropology is guided by the College of Liberal Arts policy on student complaints concerning faculty actions:
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
Office of Academic Programs
116 Schaeffer Hall
(319) 335-2633
STUDENT COMPLAINTS CONCERNING FACULTY ACTIONS
The procedures described below apply to complaints concerning any member of the teaching staff in the College of Liberal Arts. Complaints may concern grading grievances, inequities in assignments, inappropriate course materials, inappropriate faculty conduct, or incompetence in oral communication. For complaints involving the assignment of grades, it is College policy that grades cannot be changed without the permission of the department concerned. Students with complaints are responsible for following these procedures:
1. Ordinarily, an attempt to resolve the matter with the instructor should be made first.
2. If the complaint is not resolved, go to the course supervisor (if the instructor is a teaching assistant), to the departmental executive officer, or, in some departments, to the person designated to hear complaints to discuss the matter further.
3. If the matter remains unresolved, submit a written complaint to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Office of Academic Programs, 116 Schaeffer Hall. (Graduate students should submit complaints to the Graduate College, 202 Gilmore Hall.)
The Associate Dean will attempt to resolve the complaint and, if necessary, may convene a special committee to recommend appropriate action. In any event, the Associate Dean will respond in writing regarding the disposition of the complaint.
If the complaint cannot be resolved through these procedures, a student may file a formal complaint under the procedures established for alleged violations of the statement on "Professional Ethics and Academic Responsibility" (see sections 20.266 and 20.290) in the University Operations Manual. Copies of the University Operations Manual are available in all departmental offices and in the Office of Academic Programs, 116 Schaeffer Hall.
If your complaint involves sexual harassment, you need to follow these procedures. The University policy on sexual harassment and consensual relationships in the instructional context can be found in "Policies and Regulations Affection Students" (available at the Campus Information Center, Iowa Memorial Union, in the Office of Affirmative Action, 202 Jessup Hall [telephone 335-0705] and in September as a supplement to The Daily Iowan).
The Office of the University Ombudsperson (C108 Seashore Hall, telephone 335-3608) responds to problems and disputes brought forward by all members of the University community--students, staff, and faculty--that appear irresolvable through existing channels. Before consulting the ombudsperson, ordinarily an attempt should be made to resolve problems by following the procedures described above.
Questions about any of the procedures described above can be answered by program assistants in the Office of Academic Programs, 116 Schaeffer Hall (telephone 335-2633).
VI. THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
STUDENT ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
Plagiarism or cheating may result in grade reduction and/or other serious penalties.
You are plagiarizing or cheating if you:
* present someone else's words or ideas as your own, in writing or in speaking
* present ideas without citing the source;
* paraphrase without crediting the source;
* use direct quotes with no quotation marks;
* use direct quotes without footnotes or other textual citation of the source;
* present work in a group project that is not your own or the work of the group;
* submit the same paper for credit in more than one course without discussing this option with the instructors involved;
* submit a paper or assignment for which you have received so much help that it is no longer your own work;
* do not do an equal part of the work on a group project;
* copy someone else's exam, graded homework, or laboratory work;
* refer to a text, class notes, laboratory, or other materials during an exam without being authorized to do so;
* purposefully allow another student to copy your work or to submit work you have written as his/her own; or
* collaborate with others on a take-home exam, or spend more time than that specified by the instructor on a take-home exam.
If you are unsure about the proper use of sources, the extent to which collaboration on an assignment is permissible, or exam or assignment directions, talk to your instructor.
Disciplinary Action by the Instructor: An instructor who suspects you of plagiarism or cheating must inform you as soon as possible. Instructors who detect cheating or plagiarism may, in consultation with the departmental executive officer (DEO) decide to reduce the grade on an assignment or in the course, even to assign an F. The DEO sends a written report of the case to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs; a copy is sent to the student.
Disciplinary Action by the Dean: The Associate Dean for Academic Programs or the Committee on Student Academic Conduct may uphold, as the offense may warrant, the following or other penalties: placement on disciplinary probation until graduation, suspension from the College for a semester or longer, or recommendation of expulsion from the University by the president.
Appeals: If you feel that the finding of plagiarism or cheating is in error or the penalty unjust, you may request a hearing. Complete information is available in the Office of Academic Programs.
Record of Disciplinary Action: Reports of student academic misconduct reside only in the Office of Academic Programs and are destroyed when the student graduates, or after five years if the student has left the University or has not graduated. Notation of disciplinary action does not appear on a student's permanent record.
Further Information: Questions about the procedures described above can be answered by program assistants in the Office of Academic Programs, 116 Schaeffer Hall (telephone 335-2633).
VII. POLICY ON RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF RAs
1. The Department will make explicit the maximum total number of hours per semester of work expected of quarter-time RAs. This maximum will be calculated according to the number of weeks in the semester (not including breaks and finals week) and the expectation that quarter-time RAs work on the average of ten hours per week=150 hours per semester.
2. The scheduling of work over the semester will be mutually agreed upon by faculty members and their RAs. This schedule will be set at the beginning of the semester but the RA or the faculty member may negotiate changes at any time in the semester.
3. RAs will not be required to work (a) before the semester begins; (b) during holidays and breaks; (c) during finals week; and (d) after the semester ends. If the faculty member and the RA mutually agree, work may be done during these time periods.
* Duties of an RA will be related only to the faculty member's research needs.
* RAs will keep logs of the number of hours they work per week at different tasks.
* The Department chair will resolve disputes between RAs and faculty members concerning rights and responsibilities. If the RA is working for the chair, the Director of Graduate Studies will resolve any such disputes.
VIII. POLICY ON RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TAs AND INSTRUCTORS
1. Instructors should make clear at the outset the division of labor in a course. Particular care should be taken to ensure an equitable division of work between half-time and quarter-time TAs.
2. TAs and the instructor should meet before the beginning of classes. A complete syllabus should be available at this meeting. The syllabus should show weekly lecture topics and readings and give the dates in which exams are given and assignments are due. The following topics should be covered at this initial meeting:
1. The scheduling of exams and assignments over the semester.
2. The division of labor in grading.
3. Guidelines for make-up exams and quizzes.
4. Guidelines for accepting late assignments.
5. Dates when the instructor will be out of town and information about what will be done in class on these dates.
* There should be regular meetings throughout the semester (we suggest at least twice a month) with all TAs and the instructor. At these meetings:
a. The instructor should indicate what materials should be covered in discussion sections.
b. The TAs should coordinate the activities in discussion sections.
c. Administrative and disciplinary matters should be discussed.
* TAs are not obligated to lecture. Instructors may invite TAs to give lectures. TAs have the right to decline such invitations for whatever reasons.
* If material approved by the instructor and used in section leads to a student complaint. Instructors should make all audiovisual needs clear and give timely notice when particular films or videos will be shown.
* TAs are responsible for setting up microphones and running audiovisual equipment. Instructors should make all audiovisual needs clear and give timely notice when particular films or videos will be shown.
* The instructor has the primary responsibility for making up examinations. However, TAs should also be involved in their construction.
* Grading procedures should be as follows:
a. TAs should not be solely responsible for grading. Instructors should at a minimum provide criteria for the grading of questions.
b. To reduce the grading load, some "objective," easily graded (preferably by computer) questions should be included in examinations.
c. Exams should be returned in a timely manner.
d. Ultimately, the instructor is responsible for resolving conflicts or disputes regarding grades.
e. At the end of the semester, the instructor is responsible for keeping the grade book.
* All duties assigned to TAs must be related to the requirements of the course to which they are assigned.
* The teaching team should attempt to resolve any internal conflicts informally. If this proves to be impossible:
a. The instructor is responsible for resolving conflicts between TAs.
b. The Department chair is responsible for resolving conflicts between TAs and instructors.
IX. ANTHROPOLOGY DEPARTMENT TEACHING ASSISTANT TIERS
Teaching Assistants are assigned to one of two tiers according to the following guidelines:
Tier I: Teaching Assistant.
All TAs are required to:
1. enroll in the department's Teaching Pro-Seminar (113:235)
2. attend course coordination meetings
3. meet regularly with TA mentors
4. distribute and collect course evaluations
Tier I TAs will receive the minimum salary (level I)
Tier II: Teaching Assistant/Peer Mentor
Peer Mentors must have completed the training described above for Tier I, and must have served as a TA for at least two years in the program (or the equivalent TA experience in Anthropology at another institution or in another department at The University of Iowa). They agree to assist other TAs with their teaching by permitting observation of their own classes, observing and/or filming other TAs on request, consulting about lesson preparation, and attending and providing advice during the Teaching Pro-Seminar. Peer Mentors are selected by the Director of Graduate Study in consultation with the department’s TA Selection and Evaluation Committee and the faculty course supervisors. Appointment to this status is not automatic. Tier II TAs receive level II salary.
Tier III: Issues Course Teaching Assistant
Issues Course Instructors have:
a. completed the training described above for Tiers I and II,
b. served at least three years as a TA in the department (or have completed equivalent training at another institution)
c. served a year as a peer mentor
d. completed comprehensive exams and demonstrate excellence in at least one theoretical area of expertise
e. demonstrated ability to design a syllabus, lectures, course plan for a focused course on a specific issue in contemporary anthropology
f. submitted a course syllabus and course plan for a proposed Issues Course to be evaluated by the department’s TA Selection and Evaluation Committee in a competitive selection process
Issues Course TAs work under the supervision of an assigned faculty member. Appointment to this status is not automatic; Tier III TAs are selected in a competitive process (see f). Tier III TAs receive level III salary.
X. POLICY ON HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH
All non-federally funded research projects involving human subjects must receive prior approval from the Human Subjects Office before research is conducted.
The University of Iowa
XI. Academic Grievance Procedures for Graduate Students
(Effective February 1, 1996)
Graduate students are associated in various ways with both The University of Iowa and the Iowa City communities, and therefore may share characteristics and responsibilities of many other groups. Within the University, graduate students are first and foremost students, but many will, at some time in their graduate career, be employed as Teaching Assistants (T.A.s) or Research Assistants (R.A.s) . A TA or RA works under the supervision of a faculty member and may be assigned duties such as teaching classes, supervising laboratories or studios, advising and counseling undergraduate students, grading course work, obtaining and analyzing data, etc. Other graduate students find employment in a surprisingly large array of university programs and offices (not always related to their academic programs or goals) or in the community. Still other graduate students may not be employed or have responsibilities aside from those required by their department and degree program.
As members of The University of Iowa community, The University of Iowa Code of Student Life, published each year as an insert to The Daily Iowan, governs personal behavior of students (including graduate students). The Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College contains general rules and procedures governing graduate education. Each graduate program has more detailed Departmental or Program Guidelines which specify how that degree program operates within general Graduate College policies, and what graduate students can expect during their graduate career. There may also be College Academic Policies/Handbooks with information concerning the role of graduate students, particularly the instructional roles they may play.
The University has a collegial system of governance. This implies a shared interest among faculty, staff, and students (the University community) which is manifested in common interests and ways of debating issues and of internally resolving differences. The Collegial system attempts to resolve issues at the lowest possible level and in a manner most consistent with the shared interests of all members of the community. Open and free communication is a hallmark of this system, which is meant to prevent issues from evolving into conflict or dispute. However, conflicts and disputes may develop, and students are encouraged to seek advice as soon as they occur. The collegial system of resolving difficulties and conflicts includes a set of informal steps: discourse between the involved individuals, followed, if necessary, by consideration by the department(s), the college(s), and finally an appropriate administrative officer. At any time, a complainant may elect to proceed by one of several formal procedures, generally by filing a written grievance alleging a specific violation, misinterpretation, or improper application of specific rules, regulations, or procedures.
Although most students proceed without difficulty through their graduate degree program, others may experience difficulties with another student, faculty, staff member, supervisor; or with departmental rules or procedures. Because graduate students may serve in several possible roles, several different University rules and regulations, each with its own set of procedures for resolving complaints or grievances, may at times apply. The University of Iowa Operations Manual contains University rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, along with references to some of the procedures established by the Board of Regents which govern all the Regents’ institutions. Procedures for handling violations of the Operations Manual rules are codified under Section 20.270. Some of these rules are directly applicable to graduate students: For example, Section 20.300 contains the Student Employee Grievance Procedure governing non-academic employment of students (including graduate students); Section 20.290 governs Professional Ethics and Academic Responsibility of Faculty (this section applies to graduate students both as students and as teachers. Conflicts between graduate students and faculty under this section are administered by the Office of the Provost); and section 20.230 includes the Graduate Assistant Dismissal Procedure. In addition, the Office of Affirmative Action maintains procedures for handling complaints and grievances related to sexual harassment or discrimination. The Graduate College maintains the Graduate Academic Grievance Procedure (AGP) for resolving complaints and grievances relating to general academic issues.
For a graduate student, the particular grievance procedure to employ for a complaint will depend upon the area involved (student life, academic difficulties, employment, etc.) Generally, graduate students first explore how to pursue a grievance with their advisor or with an appropriate departmental administrator (department head or graduate coordinator). However, if students are uncomfortable or dissatisfied using this route, the Associate Dean of the Graduate College will counsel them on the options available. In addition, the Counseling Service, the Office of the Ombudsperson, and the Office of Affirmative Action will counsel graduate students on a confidential basis and will assist them in selecting an appropriate grievance procedure.
The Graduate College administers the Academic Grievance Procedure (AGP) for pursuing resolution of complaints and grievances for most academic aspects of a graduate student’s program. This includes issues related to the program of study and research, scholarship, or artistic production which comprise the core of graduate degree programs. The objective of the AGP is to achieve a fair and equitable resolution of complaints or grievances at the earliest possible time and at the lowest possible level.
A graduate student who elects to pursue a complaint or grievance through the Graduate College AGP is first advised by the Associate Dean of the different possible ways to proceed. The student then elects whether first to pursue a complaint using an informal process or whether to file a grievance and to proceed by a more formal process.
Informal Academic Complaint Procedure of the Graduate College
Academic complaints generally involve students experiencing difficulty in their academic program, or a dispute concerning students’ status or progress in their academic program. Generally, graduate students should bring complaints to the Graduate College only after attempts have been made to resolve them in a collegial manner at the department level. However, if for any reason a graduate student feels uncomfortable pursuing a complaint through his/her department, the complaint may be brought directly to the Graduate College.
In the case of students who elect to begin with an informal process, the Associate Dean serves as mediator and attempts to help the parties reach an agreement which resolves the complaint. This process may take an indeterminate time. Generally, the Associate Dean provides to the parties information on progress at intervals of about ten working days.
If the informal process is unsuccessful, or if the student decides at any time to file a grievance, a formal procedure is used to obtain information and to reach a decision.
Formal Academic Grievance Procedure (AGP) of the Graduate College
A grievance is a written allegation that there has been a violation, misinterpretation, or improper application of University, Graduate College, or Department/Program rules, regulations, or policies governing a graduate academic program.
Step 1: The AGP is initiated by a statement of allegations submitted to the appropriate department/program, with a copy to the Associate Dean of the Graduate College. This statement should clearly and completely state the allegation(s), including times, places, and individuals concerned, and must be signed and dated by the complainant. The information provided should form the basis for a thorough investigation of the allegation(s). The statement may also contain a preferred remedy. The Department will be asked to respond to the allegations within ten working days (excluding break periods between academic sessions). If the complainant is dissatisfied with the response of the Department, he/she can appeal the decision to the Graduate College. The appeal should be a written statement to the Associate Dean indicating the basis on which the student believes the Departmental response is unsatisfactory.
Step 2: The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, or an appropriate designee, will undertake an investigation to determine whether there is a sufficient basis to support the allegation(s). Discussions with the student, the statement of allegations, the response of the department, and information from other sources which may be obtained, will be considered in reaching a decision. The Associate Dean will make progress reports to the parties at intervals of about ten working days, and submit a final report to the Dean and to the parties as soon as possible, generally within twenty-five working days (excluding break periods between academic sessions).
If the investigation reveals a sufficient basis to support the allegation(s), the Associate Dean will render a decision or recommend that the Dean consider the grievance (Step 3). If the investigation indicates an insufficient basis to support the allegation(s), the Associate Dean will conclude the grievance process, although either party may be required to take certain actions to prevent future problems. Either party may appeal the decision of the Associate Dean by submitting within twenty working days a statement disputing the conclusions of the Investigation and the basis for an appeal.
Step 3: The Dean will review the results of the investigation and, within 10 days, either render a decision or initiate an inquiry (Step 4). If the Dean renders a decision, the student may appeal within twenty days and request an inquiry (Step 4).
Step 4: The Dean appoints an inquiry Committee composed of at least two faculty members and at least one graduate student (often members of the Graduate Council). The Inquiry Committee will review the report of the investigation, request any additional documents the Committee believes germane to the inquiry and conduct a hearing to receive any additional testimony the student may wish to present or the Committee may wish to solicit. The student may have the assistance of another person while presenting to the Committee. If the student is assisted by counsel, the Office of the General Counsel will assist the Committee in the conduct of the hearing.
The Committee may rule on the relevance of information or testimony and otherwise conduct the hearing. The Committee may close part or all of the hearing, so as to (1) ascertain the truth, (2) conserve time, and (3) protect confidentiality and privacy of members of the University community. The Committee will make a record of the hearing. The Inquiry Committee will report to the Dean on progress at intervals of about ten working days, and will ordinarily make a recommendation to the Dean within twenty-five working days (excluding break periods between academic sessions).
The Dean may accept or reject the recommendation, or may request the Inquiry Committee to explore other issues surrounding the grievance.
The decision of the Dean is final unless appealed to the Provost within twenty working days.
Revised October 2003