Guidelines : Courseload
1. Courseload:
The student is required by the Graduate School to complete six semesters of
course work. The average course load is three courses per semester. However,
if warranted by the student's plan of study, he/she will be allowed to take
additional courses (e.g. language courses).
2. Incompletes:
Students should aim to do the best work possible for each semester within
the confines of that semester. Graduate School guidelines state that an Incomplete
must be completed within one year or it becomes a permanent part of the student's
record. The department discourages Incompletes and will not consider continuation
of funding for students with more than one Incomplete per semester. Students
will not be allowed to take Prelims if they have an Incomplete on their transcript.
3. Required Courses
a. Departmental Courses:
By the end of the first year, students will be required to complete the two-semester course CA 330S and 331S, Theories in Cultural Anthropology. Students are also required to take CA 333S, “Research Seminar in Cultural Anthropology,” in the fall of their third year. This course focuses on the preparation of dissertation research proposals.
b. Language:
All doctoral candidates must demonstrate spoken and/or written competence in at least one language other than their native tongue that is applicable to their planned research program. This requirement may be satisfied by taking a departmentally designed language test or, alternatively, by submitting acceptable evidence of sufficient coursework or other background in the language. To the end of gaining the necessary competence, students are strongly encouraged to seek out and attend intensive summer language courses as early in their graduate careers as possible. The department, whenever possible, will endeavor to contribute funds toward the expenses of such intensive courses.
c. Course Distribution:
All students must take two courses in a field outside of their major department; students may however take more than two courses outside of Cultural Anthropology. In addition, the student must take at least ten courses listed or cross-listed as a graduate course in Cultural Anthropology, excluding individual reading and research courses. Up to two graduate-level anthropology courses at UNC-Chapel Hill can also count towards this ten course requirement. The one-course credit second- and third-year students receive for TAing may be counted as one of the ten courses from primary faculty.
d. Individual Reading and Research Courses:
A student may take no more than five Individual Research/Individual Reading courses, including no more than two in their first two years. Students are encouraged to take Individual Reading or Research courses to prepare for their Qualifying Examinations and to write their dissertation proposals in their third year. Under exceptional circumstances, the Director of Graduate Studies may allow a student to take more than five Individual Reading/Individual Research courses.
e. Graded Coursework:
A student must take at least 18 graded courses, of which no more than 5 may be reading courses. Language courses may be included in this minimum, at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies.
f. Departmental Colloquia:
All students are required, as a matter of course, to attend scheduled department colloquia, at which faculty, advanced graduate students, and other invited speakers present their research and ideas.
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