Anthropology, PhD

Program Overview

The Anthropology PhD program advances students’ research and teaching skills, as they gain expertise in the methods and theory of anthropology. 

With courses ranging from feminist anthropology, to zooarchaeology and paleopathology, you’ll find a range of options to tailor your academic coursework to your interests, all while developing expert research skills in ethnography, quantitative methods, and archaeological fieldwork. Whether you want to pursue a career in academia or contribute to archeological findings around the world, our program prepares you with experiential learning opportunities through fieldwork, laboratory courses, and independent research projects.  

Plus, with our three available concentrations, you can pursue your academic research interests confidently, sparking meaningful conversations through scholarship.   

Why Study Anthropology?

At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, a doctorate in anthropology means you’ll find no shortage of opportunities to pursue your research and tackle urgent challenges.  

With a plethora of experiential learning opportunities, you’ll attend a Visiting Lecture Series that brings highly respected scholars from various anthropological disciplines, all while having the opportunity to work and research in some our state-of-the-art facilities and field schools—like the Coan Hall field school in Virginia.   

Our program also boasts the Forensic Anthropology Center—a center where students have the space to conduct research through body donations and the Donated Skeletal Collection—as well as numerous other facilities: the Molecular Anthropology Laboratories, the Historical Archeology Laboratory, the U.S. Southeast Archaeology Laboratory, and more.   

In our remarkably collegial atmosphere, you’ll work alongside renowned faculty and experts, all while discovering new dimensions to your research that you never thought possible.  

Forensic Anthropology Center

Established in 1987, UT’s Forensic Anthropology Center (FAC) opened its state-of-the-art Laboratory on April 17, 2026, now the first accredited lab of its kind at a higher education institution by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). FAC has long provided unparalleled teaching and research opportunities for UT students.

Learn more about FAC

What Can You Do with an PhD in Anthropology After Graduation?

The Anthropology program at UT is a diverse program where students thrive in the study of the human experience through collaboration and research. Students learn through scientific and humanistic lenses, with multiple concentrations to choose from, depending on your interests. These specializations provide students with public outreach opportunities, interactive learning, access to research labs and centers, and more, all while being backed by supportive and active faculty. Graduates go on to work in many different disciplines in impacting our knowledge of the human experience, such as education, museum work, field research, government, and more.  

At museums and archives, many graduates work as curators, records managers, archivists, or preservation specialists. In the field and more research-centered careers, other graduates become cultural resource managers, field technicians, site managers, or urban planners, working for historic preservation organizations, environmental firms, or archaeological consulting firms. In government, alumni go on to become program managers, policy analysts, or cultural affairs specialists, or epidemiology researchers. You could also work in business, in sales, customer service, or human resources, or in communications and media, as a journalist, publisher, or content creator for documentaries.   

Education is another pathway, where you could work at colleges, universities, museums, or nature centers as an anthropology professor, researcher, information specialist, or program coordinator. 

Complementary Majors, Minors, and Certificates

Looking to enhance your degree? Consider these programs as a complement to your primary major.

Looking For More Options?

The College of Arts and Sciences offers students the broadest range of academic programs and opportunities for research and creative activities at the University of Tennessee, powered by faculty expertise across every discipline. 

View more programs