T E M P L E   U N I V E R S I T Y

Department of Anthropology

 

 

PROJECT SHOEHORN

8th Edition-2004

 

A Survival Guide for New Graduate Students

by

The Graduate Students of the Department of Anthropology

 

Dear New Graduate Student,

 

Welcome to Philadelphia and congratulations on being accepted into the M.A./Ph.D. program in anthropology at Temple University! Now that you have matriculated, there is a lot of information that you will need. We, the graduate cohort of 2003, realize that deciding to attend graduate school, moving to a different environment, and beginning a new phase in your professional and personal life are exciting and disorienting experiences. You will soon learn that your original expectations and perceptions of graduate school are slightly different than how it actually is. We have designed this ‘survival guide’ to assist you in becoming acquainted with the Department, Temple University, graduate school, and with Philadelphia. If there are specific questions that are not included in the guide, please contact us and we will reply to you as soon as possible.

 

Again, we welcome you to the Department of Anthropology and hope that you have a wonderful and successful first year.

 

Sincerely,

 

The Cohort of 2003

 

 

 

GETTING STARTED

 

The “Table of Contents” is your directory to this guide. There are hyperlinks to various sources throughout the guide. Simply double click on these and you will be directed to a website. Phone numbers and postal addresses are included with some of the organizations or businesses that we list. Please note that in Philadelphia you must dial the area code, which may include 215, 267, and 610, as well as the normal seven digit number. In the section “Eat, Drink, Dance, and Watch,” you will see “$” symbols beside particular restaurants and bars. $ represents cheap to inexpensive meals, $$ mean moderately priced, and $$$ signify highly priced meals or cocktails.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

I. TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

           

Getting to Temple University Main Campus

 

                        Public Transportation Info: SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority)

                        Via Subway, Buses, and Regional Rails

                       

                        Via Automobile

 

Getting Around Temple University Main Campus

 

II. THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY

           

            Orientation

 

                        Faculty and Staff

                        Faculty/Student Relations

                        Choosing an Advisor

                        The Four-Field Approach to the Study of Anthropology

 

            Department News

 

            Departmental Labs

             

                       Media Lab

                       Linguistics Lab

                       Biological Lab

                       Archaeology Lab

                        Urban Lab

           

            You and Your Cohort

           

            Department Organizations for Graduate Students

                       

                        Information for Students in the Department of Anthropology

           

            Professional Organizations

 

                        The Four-Field Approach to the Study of Anthropology at Temple University

                       

                        The Approaches Courses

           

III. RITUALS OF SUCCESS IN THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM

 

IV. FINANCIAL SUPPORT

 

            To Work or Not to Work

                       

                        Time Management

           

            Summer Jobs/Internships/Teaching

           

V. TEMPLE UNIVERSITY OFFICES AND SERVICES

 

            Registration

 

            Student Financial Services

                       

                        Additional Financial Aid Sources

           

            Office of Academic Records

           

            Student ID Card

 

            Pennsylvania Residency and In-State Tuition Eligibility

 

            The Graduate School

 

            Copy Center

 

            Student Activities Center

                       

                        Student Housing

                        Student Parking Services

                        Temple Main Bookstore

                        U.S. Post Office

 

            Banks

           

            Office of International Services

 

            Career Resource Services

           

            Recreation

           

            Student Health Services

           

            Computer Information Services

           

            Libraries

 

VI. PHILADELPHIA

 

            Getting Around Philadelphia

                       

                        Traveling In and Out of the City

 

            When to Visit and Where to Stay

 

            Apartment Hunting

 

                        On-campus Housing

                        Off-campus Housing 

                        Neighborhoods

                        A Note on Buying a House

 

            Utilities and Other Essential Moving Information

 

            Eat, Drink, Dance, and Watch

 

           

I. T E M P L E  U N I V E R S I T Y

 

            GETTING TO TEMPLE UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS

 

Temple University’s main campus is located in North Philadelphia and is approximately two miles north of City Hall and Center City. Cecil B. Moore Avenue and Broad Street are the two main intersecting streets that are near campus.

 

            Public Transportation: SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority)            http://www.septa.org/

            Travel Information: (215) 580-7800            Phone Hours: 8:00AM-5:00PM

 

SEPTA provides transportation to commuters throughout the entire city and to outlying and surrounding areas, such as Conshohocken, Ambler, King of Prussia and others. SEPTA provides ground transportation via a subway system, buses, and regional rails. There are two subway train lines: the Market-Frankford Line (Blue Line) and the Broad Street Line (Orange Line). The Blue Line runs east and west to points throughout the city, while the Broad Street Line (BSL) runs north and south. In addition, there are subway-surface lines (Green Lines) or trolleys (10, 11, 13, 34, and 36) that travel mainly to West Philadelphia and stop at City Hall. All lines intersect for a free transfer at City Hall, which is the main station, while the Blue Line and the Green Lines intersect for free transfer at 30th Street and 13th Street stations.

 

Via Subway, Buses, and Regional Rails

 

The subway line that you will need to take to reach Temple University’s main campus is the Orange Line (BSL). Cecil B. Moore Avenue is the stop that you will get off at. You can also take buses marked C and 23. Both of these buses run north and south. The C runs north and south on Broad St. Depending on whether you are traveling to northwest or to south Philly, you can pick up the 23 on either 11th or 12th streets. The regional rails R1, R2, R3, R5, R6, R7, and R8 all stop at the Temple University Station, on Berks St. between 9th and 10th Sts.

 

            Fare Information

 

The cost for a one-way fare on subway lines and buses is $2.00. Tokens, which can be used on subway lines and buses, are $1.30 each, but you must purchase 2 minimum. You can also purchase tokens in 5, 10, or 15 packs. Tokens cost less when you buy them in these denominations. If you are unfamiliar with SEPTA and are visiting the city for the first time, we suggest that you purchase a Weekly Transpass, which is $18.75, or the Monthly Transpass, which costs $73.00. Weekly and Monthly Transpasses allow you to travel throughout the city (with the exception of zones considered outside of Philadelphia) on the subway lines and buses. You can also use your Transpasses on regional rails to certain zones at no extra cost, and ride regional rails everywhere for FREE on the weekends. You can purchase a Transpass at Suburban Station, Market East Station, 30th Street Station, and at particular grocery stores. Consult the SEPTA web-site or contact SEPTA travel to receive more information on regional rail fare, station locations, and traveling to Temple from various points in the city.

 

Temple University Shuttles: OwLoop

 

Temple University provides transportation to students via shuttles that travel to different points, such as the Art Museum area and to residential halls. For more information on Temple University shuttles, visit the OwLoop web-site or go to the Information Desk in the Student Center Atrium for an OwLoop map and a complete list of shuttle bus stops and Night Owl boundaries.

 

            Via Automobile

 

 If you are driving to campus, be aware that finding an on-street parking spot is often problematic. There are two-hour parking meters on Broad Street, and parking along sections of Montgomery, 11th and 12th streets. However, parking on these streets are not available during certain hours. Please note the hours when parking your car. The Temple police do ticket,  and if you are in a “No Parking” zone  your car may be towed. There are two visitor lots that charge $7.00 per day. The Apollo lot is located on 15th St. and Cecil B. Moore Ave., and lot 3 is located on Broad and Cecil B. Moore Ave. Both lots are far from the Department. However, there is an undesignated, unpaved lot where you may park. This lot is located behind Gladfelter and Anderson Halls (off of 11th and Berks Sts.). For more information on parking, visit Temple's Office of Parking Services.

 

GETTING AROUND TEMPLE UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS

 

Getting around Temple University’s main campus is relatively simple. There are maps located in front of halls and on major street corners of the campus. You can also find maps in the “Schedule of Classes” for each semester or session. As a graduate student in the Department of Anthropology, you will more than likely spend the majority of your time in Gladfelter Hall, Paley Library, Tuttleman, SAC, Anderson and/or Annenberg Hall (if you are taking film classes). Mitten, Conwell, and Carnell Halls are other buildings that you may want to familiarize yourself with. Student Health Services is on the ground floor of Mitten, while the Office of Academic Records, The Graduate School and Student Financial Aid are in Conwell and Carnell Halls, which are adjoined buildings. 

 

II. THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY

 

The Department of Anthropology is located on the second floor of Gladfelter Hall. Gladfelter Hall is the Social Sciences building located on the northern side of the Berks Mall at 11th St. and directly across from Anderson Hall. The Berks Mall is located one block north of Montgomery Avenue and one block south of Norris St. The Department’s address is:

 

            1115 West Berks Street

            Gladfelter Hall, Floor 2

            Philadelphia, PA 19122

           

            The main telephone numbers for the Department are:

 

            (215) 204-7577, Eunice Connor, Administrative Secretary

            (215) 204-7775, Anita Henry, Graduate Secretary

            (215) 204-6734, Office Assistant

 

If you are on campus and need to call the Department, you can use any campus phone to call by dialing 1 and the four digit extension (1-xxxx).

 

ORIENTATION

           

Even though orientation does not take place until late August, you may still (and are encouraged) to visit Temple and the Department. If you visit the city earlier in the year or have moved to the city before the semester begins, take an opportunity to walk around and meet faculty, staff, and other graduate students. We are a relatively informal and friendly department. If you see any students or faculty roaming the halls, simply introduce yourself to them and they will be more than willing to answer particular questions.

 

At the orientation for incoming graduates, you will become acquainted with the faculty in the department and briefed on pertinent information. Some of the programs, which are Anthropology of Visual Communication, Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Biological Anthropology, may have an additional orientation and informational session for you to attend. After your orientation and tour of the department, a reception will be held for you in the main conference room. The reception is a relaxed affair that offers you an opportunity to freely mingle and familiarize yourself with all of us.

 

            Faculty and Staff

 

            Here are the names, telephone extensions, and E-mail addresses of the faculty and staff of the Department. You can find additional information, such as profiles, interests, and selected publications on the Department’s main home page: www.temple.edu/anthro/.

 

F. Niyi Akinnaso, (215) 204-4533, niyi@temple.edu

Paul Garrett, (215) 204-7621, pgarrett@temple.edu

Judith Goode, (215) 204-7773, jgoode@temple.edu

Leonard Greenfield, (215) 204-1489, green@temple.edu

Patricia Hansell, (215) 204-1417, phansell@temple.edu

Susan Hyatt, (215) 204-7553, sbhyatt@temple.edu

Jayasinhji “Bapa” Jhala, (215) 204-7727, jjhala@temple.edu

Muriel Kirkpatrick, (215) 204-1418, mkirkpat@temple.edu

Denise O’Brien, (215) 204-1204, obriend@temple.edu

Anthony Ranere, (215) 204-1424, ranere@temple.edu

L. Christie Rockwell, lrockwel@temple.edu

Raquel Romberg, rromberg@temple.edu

Michael Stewart, (215) 204-6188, stewartm@temple.edu

Charles Weitz, (215) 204-3361, weitz@temple.edu

Sydney White, (215) 204-7774, sydneyw@temple.edu

 

If you have any questions in regard to departmental and University deadlines and other information for graduate students, please contact either:

 

Eunice Connor, Administrative Secretary, (215) 204-7577

or

Anita Henry, Graduate Secretary, (215) 204-7775

 

            Faculty/Student Relations

 

Professors are generally approachable, encouraging, and interested in our research topics and academic endeavors. For the most part, they openly consider us as peers and prefer to be called by their first name. Calling a professor by their first name may seem awkward to some at first, but it is acceptable and encouraged. Realize that you are not merely a graduate student. You are an anthropologist who has been accepted into an academic community to learn from others who have extensive knowledge, insight, and experience on the topics that you are interested in. With this said, there are some expectations that faculty have for graduate students. These expectations are:

 

  • To devote time and effort to studies.
  • To develop and demonstrate proper writing skills. Proper writing skills are knowing how to organize a paper, using relevant and short citations, using clear and precise language, and demonstrating your critical analysis of a subject.
  • To critically analyze concepts, theories, and methods while exploring new areas and ideas.

In short, the faculty expect you to apply yourself fully to your studies and to your research area. While they do expect you to have a research topic upon entering the program, they will not scold you for changing or exploring other topics. After all, intellectual growth and change are inevitable and expected processes for a graduate student to undergo.

 

            The Four-Field Approach to the Study of Anthropology

 

There are four Approaches courses that all graduate students must take during their first year or later on in their graduate career. In these courses you will critically analyze the theories and methods of one of the four fields. These courses include: Cultural Anthropology (403), Physical Anthropology (405), Linguistic Anthropology (404), and Archaeology (406). 403 and 405 are offered in the fall, while 404 and 406 are offered in the spring. Graduate students in the Anthropology of Visual Communication have two additional courses to take: Approaches to Visual Communication (408) and Topics in the Anthropology of Visual Communication (409). 408 is offered in the fall and 409 is offered in the spring. Graduate students in Cultural Anthropology must take History of Anthropological Theory (501).

    

Current students have different opinions regarding whether or not one should take all of the Approaches courses the first year and a half or take a few throughout the course of one's graduate career. While some students relish being free from the Approaches courses their second year, others state that they would not have made it to the second year if they hadn't taken a class that sparked their interest. In short, choose the classes that you want to take wisely and discuss your decisions with your advisor. 

 

            Choosing an Advisor

 

All incoming graduate students have been assigned to a faculty member who will serve as their advisor for the Fall 2004-Spring 2005 academic year. Advisors are assigned to students based on the incoming student's research interests and sub-disciplinary focus (i.e., archaeology, cultural, linguistic, etc.). During your first semester, you will more than likely take an Approaches course that focuses on a sub-discipline. This is a good opportunity to interact with your current advisor or to meet a potential advisor. Another option is to simply introduce yourself to faculty members. E-mail them questions about their research or a question that you have, and make an appointment with them to discuss your interests. Simply, choose an advisor that you can communicate with easily, one that is knowledgeable about your particular interests, and one that can direct you to resources and to other anthropologists in their field. Your decision on who will be your advisor is not etched in stone. If you feel that another faculty member would be more appropriate as your advisor, talk to them and ask them if they are willing. You won't hurt anyone's feelings or jeopardize your standing in the Department, if you change to another advisor. Ultimately, your goal in choosing an advisor is to choose someone who can successfully guide you through the Doctoral program.

       

DEPARTMENT NEWS

 

  

E-mail is by far the preferred and best method for receiving relevant and time-sensitive interdepartmental information. There are a number of listservs that you can subscribe to. These listservs are: ANGRAD, ANTHGSA, VISCOM, VISSTUD. ANGRAD is the Department's primary listserv where faculty, staff, and graduate students can broadcast announcements and news. ANTHGSA (which stands for the Anthropology Graduate Student Association) is a listserv for anthropology graduate students only. Contact VISCOM is a listserv open to all scholars, inside and outside of the Department, who are interested in the anthropology of visual communication. VISCOM is a listserv that allows participants to exchange and read postings about ethnographic film/video, photography, culture and visual communication, and other related topics. VISSTUD is a listserv for Temple graduate students who are either in the Anthropology of Visual Communication Program or those who have an interest in the field. To subscribe to these listservs, you must be a Temple student (with the exception of VISCOM) and you MUST HAVE a TEMPLE E-MAIL ACCOUNT. You can obtain a Temple E-mail account online. Visit Temple University Computer Services at www.temple.edu/cs/ or go directly to E-mail Account Activation. To subscribe to any of these lists, send a one line E-mail message to LISTSERV@listserv.temple.edu. For example, your message should state: Subscribe ANGRAD Your First Name Your Last Name. Once you send the message, you will receive an automatic message from the listserv administrator stating that you are now a subscriber.

  

LABS

 

There are four labs within the Department that students and faculty use. These labs are the Media Lab, Linguistics Lab, Biological Lab, and the Archaeology Lab.

 

            Media Lab

 

            The Media Lab is located in Gladfelter Hall (GH) 248. The lab provides students with the opportunity to incorporate visual media into their projects. Students can check out and borrow digital cameras (MiniDV), Hi8 and S-VHS cameras, and use a non-linear and linear editing Apple Macintosh system to edit film. Microphones, lights, tripods, and other equipment may also be checked out for projects. There are four Apple Macintosh G3 and G4 computers. Adobe Photoshop, iMovie, and Final Cut Pro are programs that are available on these computers. In GH 230 there is a TV/VCR on a cart on which you can screen videos. A black & white darkroom, which is an annex in GH 230, is also available for anthropology graduate students. Contact the Media Lab Coordinator for more information on lab procedures, hours, and to gain access to the lab.

          Linguistic Anthropology Teaching Laboratory

The Linguistic Anthropology Teaching Laboratory, located in Gladfelter Hall (GH), near the Media Lab. It supports linguistic anthropology courses and student projects that make use of audio and/or audio-video data. It is also a resource for hands-on training of linguistic anthropology students and others with similar interests (e.g. cultural anthropology students who intend to record oral histories or performances). The LingAnth Lab is well equipped with state-of-the-art technology for collecting and working with digitally recorded audio and audio-video data. It offers digital video (MiniDV) camcorders, digital audio (MiniDisc) recorders, microphones and other accessories, playback equipment, and a Macintosh computer station. The LingAnth Lab also serves as a meeting place for linguistic anthropology seminars, many of which are composed of a mix of graduate and advanced undergraduate students. For additional information contact Linguistics Lab Coordinator.

 

            Biological Lab

 

Visit http://www.temple.edu/bioanthro/LabFacilties.htm#LaboratoryFacilities to receive more information about biological laboratory facilities. The Biological Lab is located in Gladfelter (GH) 214.

 

            Archaeology Lab

    

Contact the Archaeology Lab Coordinator for more information about the Archaeology Lab, which is located on the first floor of Gladfelter Hall.

 

            Urban Anthropology Lab

 

The Urban Anthropology Lab contains archival material of research conducted by anthropologists in the Department, and research on organizations and institutions in urban Philadelphia. Contact Dr. Judith Goode (judithgoode@cs.com) for more information.

 

YOU AND YOUR COHORT

 

The relationship you develop with the members of your cohort is vital to your success and happiness as a graduate student.  You will soon learn that having others to talk to about your experience with grad school and with the department is important to your overall well-being. So, establish solidarity and develop ties with one another. Experience life outside of the department together. After all, you will interact with one another for the next 5-7 years, if not later in your professional careers. 

 

Having a good rapport with one another also allows you to discuss issues that you and others face in the department. All departments experience political turmoil. Talk to one another about these issues and communicate your thoughts to the faculty. Miscommunication and lack of communication with one another and with faculty is detrimental to your progress and to your overall experience as a graduate student.

 

DEPARTMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

            

AGSA and GAVA are two graduate student organizations in the Department of Anthropology that provide students with various resources. 

            

            Anthropology Graduate Student Association (AGSA)

 

AGSA is an organization run by graduate anthropology students. AGSA provides travel stipends for various anthropological conferences to graduate students in the Department.  Membership is open to any student in the department. Contact Shea Anderson (imonik@temple.edu) for more information.

 

            Graduate Association of Visual Anthropology (GAVA)           

 

 GAVA is designed to meet the needs of graduate students who have an interest in the anthropology of visual communication. Throughout the year, GAVA invites speakers from other universities or organizations to deliver lectures on topics related to visual communication. In the spring, GAVA hosts IPADE (pronounced ee-PAH-day), which is an event that allows faculty and students in the department to present and screen short films, photography, web-sites, art, poster presentations, and any other visual work. GAVA also sponsors FUTURES, which is a conference that showcases the visual work of graduate students from an array of universities.  FUTURES usually coincides with the American Anthropological Association (AAA) conference, which will be held in Chicago this year. Contact the FUTURES Chair for more information on the conference. Membership to GAVA is open to all graduate students in the department. To obtain more information, contact a GAVA representative

 

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES

 

Meeting other graduate students and professional anthropologists with similar academic interests and spending lots of time together builds strong bonds. Becoming a member of professional organizations is a great way to exchange ideas and information and to widen your social and professional network. In addition to belonging to professional organizations, there are several conferences that faculty and students attend annually to present their work. 

    

Contact your advisor and other faculty members in the Department to obtain a list of professional organizations in your field

 

    American Anthropological Association: check out their 'Sections and Interests Groups'

        

 

III.  FINANCIAL SUPPORT

 

There is no grants available to students from the Department at this time. Temple University offers fellowships to incoming graduate students who have exceptional GRE scores and academic records. The financial support that the Department offers to students includes part-time teaching, which entails teaching one of four introductory anthropology courses to undergraduates for a flat rate salary. In order to be considered for part-time teaching, you have to formally apply in the spring of each year.

 

The number of students enrolled in the Department far outstrips the number of part-time teaching positions that the Department can offer students. Be prepared to pay for the majority of all your years of coursework. Many students take out loans, receive external grant funding, and work while going to school full-time, while others work full-time and take part-time classes. 

TO WORK OR NOT TO WORK

 

Moving here will demand some adjustments on your part. It may be useful for you to allow yourself time to do just that. Starting graduate school is another adjustment in itself. To be successful here, you need to do this efficiently.

An important point is that being a graduate student is a full-time job. Although you will only be in class for about nine hours a week (if you take a full load), your remaining one hundred and fifty nine will be divided in many different ways. Doing well in the approaches courses are seminal to a good experience here. It may pave the way to funding and research opportunities beyond your first year.

If you must work, consider the following: it may be beneficial to wait until the second semester, when you've got adjusted to departmental and
Philadelphia life. Look for permanent employment with the university; these jobs may offer tuition remission. Work-Study and off-campus part-time employment is advertised through Career Services in Mitten Hall. 


Make sure that you make your academic work a priority and that you take it as seriously as you can. It's the reason you're here.

 

        Time Management

 

        Temple University Counseling Services  (215) 204-7276

What can one say about this? Some graduate students say that this is impossible while others say that it is possible if you are disciplined. We can provide you with tons of suggestions, from creating a daily schedule of activities to creating a build-up of caffeine in your bloodstream. In the end, you have to analyze what your strengths and weaknesses are and be honest with yourself. Know when your downtimes are and know how to get work done in spite of yourself. Some professors suggest new students leave one night free for fun and life, while others advise that you learn to love working all the time. Either extreme makes you a very burnt out grad student.

In short, we can't tell you what to plan for because we do not know you nor your work habits. What we can do is advise that you plan time to get your work done in a timely manner. When we say 'timely' we don't mean in time to turn in; we mean 'timely' as to finish early, revise, and evaluate your own work. You probably won't be able to do this, but you should try. Also plan time to do the things you need to do, like clean, grocery shop, eat, sleep, do laundry, exercise, meditate, etc. After you've created your schedule, it's good to develop routines and habits. This will allow you to complete domestic routines on automatic pilot when things get crazy. Trust us, they will.

 

        Summer Jobs/Internships/Teaching

 

If you are planning to work outside of Temple, the sooner you look the better your chances are of finding work. Check with professors for summer research opportunities. Internet job sites, such as http://www.hotjobs.com/, http://www.careerbuilder.com/, http://www.philaculture.org/, and Temple University Career Services  are good resources for summer work. Work-Study is also available for qualified students. Opportunities are available to teach an undergraduate class in the summer. As with most things in the department, you need to keep your ear to the pavement. It's important to check the department bulletin boards, as well as the listserv for graduate students and faculty. 

 

IV. RITUALS OF SUCCESS IN THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM  

Here are some helpful articles about the doctoral process culled from issues of our department newsletter from the last few years:

Rituals of Success in the Doctoral Program in Anthropology by F. Niyi Akinnaso


This essay is not about how to succeed in our doctoral program, although, in a sense, it is open to that interpretation. Rather, it is about what you have to do before you can attain a Ph.D. in anthropology here at
Temple. In other words, this is an essay about structure, rather than process. But, perhaps it is not even an essay at all, but a list of major rituals that must be performed successfully before a Ph.D. can be awarded:

1.Courses. You must successfully complete a minimum of 48 credit hours, made up of at least 16 3-credit courses, four of which must be ANTH 403, 404, 405, and 406. For majors in the anthropology of visual communication, there are additional requirements, including ANTH 408.

You may take up to three undergraduate courses (numbered 100 to 399) for graduate credit, if your advisor so approves. Three grades below B- or two F grades constitute unsatisfactory progress and may lead to dismissal from the program.

2.Technical skills examinations. You must pass two technical skills examinations. One must demonstrate a reading knowledge of a foreign scholarly language (Spanish, French, German, etc.) and the other must demonstrate competence in some technical skill, such as quantitative methods, archaeological field methods, or production of visual images (photography, film, etc.). A field language (i.e., the language spoken in the community in which you plan to do fieldwork) may be substituted for either technical skill.

3. Qualifying examinations. You must pass a set of qualifying examinations, one written and one oral. The written examinations must cover three separate topics or areas approved by your examination committee (explained below). Each examination will be based on a bibliography of readings compiled by you in consultation with members of your examination committee. This committee (otherwise known as the Doctoral Preliminary Examination Committee) must consist of at least three
Temple graduate faculty, two of whom must be from the anthropology department. The same committee will administer the oral examinations two to four weeks after the written examinations, upon which the oral is normally based. If you fail this examination (or part of it) twice, then you will automatically be dropped from the graduate program. Moreover, if you fail to receive your doctoral degree within five years of passing the qualifying examinations, you must retake and pass the examinations to remain in good standing.

4. Advancement to candidacy. You may be elevated to candidacy after completing the above requirements. However, advancement to candidacy is not automatic. You have to apply for it. There are three major components of a successful application. First, you must have a Doctoral Advisory Committee (otherwise known as the Dissertation Committee) set up. This committee may have the same membership as the Doctoral Preliminary Examination Committee (above). If you like, you may expand the committee to include graduate faculty from other universities. Second, you must write a viable, fundable, dissertation (or research) proposal and submit it to the Doctoral Advisory Committee. Once the proposal is approved, you can proceed to the third component of the application: You must complete a set of forms to be signed by committee members, the department chair, and the Dean and forwarded to the
Graduate School. The acceptance by the Graduate School of your application for advancement to candidacy will earn you the (honorary) title of ABD (All But Dissertation)!

5. Dissertation. There are several important components of the dissertation ritual. The first is the dissertation proposal. This may, in fact, be preceded by a pre-proposal which may be used to sample the reactions of funding agencies as well as members of your Doctoral Advisory Committee. This, however, is not a requirement at all. The second component is transforming your pre-approved dissertation proposal into a grant proposal. Although this component is not officially required, it is practically expedient to think of it as an important requirement. Even if you can draw on private funds for your fieldwork, it still is important to apply for research grants as a successful application will surely find a good place in your curriculum vitae. The third component is the dissertation research itself. This is where you stop recycling old knowledge and begin to gather the ingredients of new knowledge which will lay the foundation of your expertise. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate originality of thought when you move on to the fourth component: writing the dissertation, that is, analyzing your research data and findings against the background of accumulated knowledge. All your activities up to this point will be supervised by your Doctoral Advisory (or Dissertation) Committee.

Once this committee is satisfied that your dissertation is of sufficient quality, you can proceed to the next component of the ritual, filing for "Final Examination". This examination consists of the oral defense of your dissertation which must be announced in writing at least ten days in advance of the defense. However, before the announcement, you need yet another committee! This final committee is known as the Dissertation Examining Committee. It consists of your Doctoral Advisory Committee plus at least one additional graduate faculty member, from
Temple or another university, but not from Temple anthropology department. However, the Chair of the Dissertation Examining Committee may not be the Chair of the Dissertation Advisory Committee. The main functions of the Dissertation Examining Committee is to evaluate your dissertation as well as your oral defense of it. If your oral defense is successful, even if subject to minor revisions, you must submit the dissertation in final form to the Graduate School within four weeks of the defense. If you fail to comply with this deadline, then the oral defense is nullified. In that case, another oral defense must be convened, subject to the same stipulations as the previous one.

There are several official publications which contain information about these procedures, notably, Temple University Graduate Bulletin 2003-2004 and Graduate Studies in Anthropology Temple University 2003-2004. The Dissertation Handbook, which is  published by the
Graduate School, provides detailed guides on preparing and submitting your doctoral dissertation.

 


 

THE GRANT-WRITING-PROCESS. By Kerim Friedman (1998)

Although I have yet to receive a single grant, I have gone through the hell known as "the grant-writing-process" over the last four months and I thought I'd share the hard-learned lessons of my adventures with everyone.

First off, I was in a bad position because I didn't know much about my proposed subject area -
Taiwan. I hadn't done any smart things like (a) preliminary field research, or (b) taken area studies courses on Taiwan while in Graduate School. If you can, apply for grants for preliminary fieldwork. Social Science Research Council (SSRC) will fund such work, as will some of the other major foundations. It is also good to start working with someone who specializes in your area. Otherwise you will not be able to compete with people who really know the region. (** Editor's Note: For anyone interested in research in Europe, the Council for European Studies (CES) offers grants specifically for pre-dissertation field research).

Secondly, give yourself lots of time. While it is good to get over to places like the Foundation Center, and do legwork to find out about obscure grants, you really aren't going to have time for more than the major funding agencies your first time around. Also, you can easily find out about area-specific grants from other scholars who've done work in that area (try asking about such grants on an area-specific listserv <http://www.liszt.com/>). In my case, I had a deadline every two weeks from the beginning of September to the end of January! Of course, once your "story" is down, then it is just a matter of filling out those forms and adding or subtracting a few things - but this is still a very time consuming process.

Finally, the actual proposal is a very different kind of writing from anything you've done before. Look at lots of proposals and copy the structure. It would be nice if the department had a database of all the successful proposals that was available to look at. Although the fate of mine is undecided, the structure is basically that of successful grants which I copied from - you can find it on my web page, under "documents." Some of the funding agencies also have advice about how to write a proposal.


Survival Tips from a Village Elder by Sheila DeCuyper

I recently completed my doctoral exams (as did four others in the department this term) and a number of people have asked me about the process and about how to prepare. It occurred to me that I should write up something about the exams for others. In honesty, I couldn't answer questions about how to write a bibliography or how to prepare; I learned these things as I went along with a great deal of help from my committee and students who had been there already.


The first step is to pick three general areas of study and to compile bibliographies of about 50 of the most important readings in each field. My first bibliographies were a disaster. Susan Hyatt and Judy Goode helped me to realize that one of my areas of interest is social movements and then helped me identify the important literature. The point here is that areas of study may not be evident to you, but talking to faculty about what your interests are helps them to help you figure out what you need to read. Somewhere in the process, it will become clear (hopefully) that certain faculty members share your interests and know what you need to know. These faculty members will become your examiners. You have to select one examiner for each exam. Some advisors will suggest that you have two people per exam. Personally, I liked this format because I found that my areas of interest overlapped among faculty and so I was able to have faculty who complemented each other on the same exam. There was significant overlap, so I ended up with 4 people on my committee.

Once you have identified your areas of interest and your examiners you write a letter stating, in one paragraph, the subject of your dissertation research. (Don't worry. This is not writ in stone; it's just to show Tom that your exam subjects fit your research interests). You then list each area of interest and the names of your examiners. Then you list your two technical / language requirements. You make sure everyone on the list has agreed to be part of your examining committee and then you submit the letter to the graduate committee chair for approval.

That accomplished, you compile your bibliographies. These will be revised numerous times, but once you and your committee are satisfied with them, you submit copies of all three to your advisor for final approval and set a date for the exams.

There are two options for writing exams:

1. You can receive all three exam questions at the same time, take them home and write your answers (each about 10 - 12     pages typed, double spaced) in a week; 2. You can write your exams in three consecutive days, in the department, with four hours for each exam. These are also computerized and you can bring a disc / notes.

I chose the latter option because I did not care to spend a week in my apartment turning into a stark raving lunatic and writing my answers in three days after spending the previous four becoming catatonic. That's just me. Each to their own poison.

Everyone has their own way of studying and preparing notes. I am writing this because there is one tip I would like to pass on. I have labeled this the 'Kerim Friedman Approach' to exam preparation because Kerim passed this advice on to me. I followed his advice and it made the actual writing process much less stressful than it would otherwise have been.

First, by the time you have read everything on your bibliographies, you know what you know and what about the material is relevant to your interests. Tell your committee explicitly what you want to be asked. Matt Durington did this by writing out questions. I did it orally. Your committee is not out to get you. They want to examine your understanding of a field. You need to understand the field to be able to do your research, so you will know what is relevant to you. (The last three sentences make a good mantra for moments of panic). If you provide your exam committee with specific questions, you will have an excellent idea of what they are going to ask you.

Second, about three weeks before your exam date start writing answers to what you think the questions will be. Keep your answers fairly general, include the references, and make them a bit longer than they need to be. Organize your answers into sections which each deal with specific aspects of the field. This may all sound a bit anal, but I found it to be a great deal of help.
Basically, what you are doing is organizing your notes into written paragraphs. This is not nearly as intimidating as thinking about writing an answer to THE EXAM. When the day of my exams arrived, I had already written most of my answers. My time was spent editing, reorganizing information to fit the question and deleting sections that did not apply. I felt prepared and thus, calmer, at least as calm as I could be under the circumstances. As it turned out, the actual writing was perhaps the least stressful part of the whole anxiety ridden process.

It had not occurred to me before, as I am sure it wouldn't occur to most people, to do the above things. I somehow had it in my head that I could not start writing until I had the questions, and that the questions had to be a mystery. The exam writing process was a terrifying prospect. It doesn't have to be. As one of the survivors this probably sounds a bit blasé. As everyone already knows, I WAS a wreck for months, but Kerim's advice was really helpful and so I wished to pass it on. Best luck to the next batch.


V.  TEMPLE UNIVERSITY OFFICES AND SERVICES

 

All of these offices have web-sites via Temple's homepage. Consult their individual pages for updates on hours, phone numbers and personnel.

 

 REGISTRATION

You will receive a letter from the department asking you to make an appointment with your advisor to discuss the courses you need to take.  However, before you register you will need to obtain an Owlnet PIN-number, which you receive in the mail. Owlnet is a web-site that allows you to view your academic records, change your address, register for courses, view your grades, and view your bill. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with this site. Once you receive your PIN, you can register for classes and check the status of your financial aid on Owlnet. You will need the six digit course number of each of your courses to register.  You can find these numbers in the Schedule of Classes. After you register for classes, MAKE SURE THAT YOU "CONFIRM." If you don't confirm your classes you are not registered. There is a link that directs you to instructions on how to confirm your classes. You can also use DiamondLine to perform these tasks over the phone: (215) 204-2525.

TUITION PAYMENTS

The Office of Academic Records has information on tuition and other financial matters

Carnell Hall, Floor 1

1803 N. Broad and Montgomery Sts.

Philadelphia, PA 19122

(215) 204-7269

Tuition can be paid with cash, by (personal / foreign) check, money order, travelers' cheques, or foreign draft on Owlnet or at the Cashier's Office (payment plans, billing inquiries, tuition remission, 3rd part billing) on the ground floor, 204-7269, Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Inquire about the Temple Easy Payment Plan. You can pay the whole amount, installments, or present a letter from your lender. In order to receive a confirmation with your Student ID, you need to be confirmed by Student Financial Services. You can obtain confirmation on Owlnet. Your confirmation card will be mailed to you. Consult http://www.temple.edu/registrar/tuitrate.html for more information.

        STUDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES

 

Conwell/Carnell Hall, Ground Floor, (215) 204-2244

www.temple.edu/edu/sfs

 

Student Financial Services has information about your financial aid status and Work-Study positions.

 

            Additional Financial Aid Sources:

 

            students.webinfo.temple.edu/sfs

            www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/express.html
            www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/students

            http://www.fafsa.gov/

            http://www.pheaa.org/

 

Student Financial Services will only notify you of your financial aid package ONLINE, via Owlnet (see above). They DO NOT SEND AWARD LETTERS by mail.

        Additional Offices, Services, and Information

OFFICE OF ACADEMIC RECORDS, Conwell Hall, Floor 2, (215) 204-1131, www.temple.edu/registrar 

You can obtain a student ID at this office. You will not be able to get your ID unless you confirm your classes for the coming semester. If you are a non-matriculating student, contact the Continuing Education Office, 113 Curtis Hall, 13th and Montgomery Sts.

 

        Pennsylvania Residency and In-State Tuition Eligibility

 

Contact the Office of Academic Records for detailed information.


A student in any college, school, or division of the University will be classified as a
Pennsylvania resident only if she or he has established a PA domicile. The following criteria must be met:

-
US citizenship
- Residence for at least 12 continuous months prior to initial enrollment
- Age: 22
- Proof that the student's presence is not primarily or solely for the purpose of pursuing an education. (Examples include lease/purchase of a permanent, independent residence in PA; payment of state and local taxes; transfer of bank accounts, stock, automobile and other registered property to PA; PA driver's license; registration to vote in PA; acceptance of an offer of permanent full-time employment in PA upon graduation; continuous presence in PA during significant periods when not enrolled as a student; membership in PA social, athletic, civic, political, religious organizations; affidavit of intention to reside permanently in PA after completing coursework).

 

The Graduate School, 5th Floor, Carnell Hall, (215) 204-1380

They will help you with general questions that are relevant to you as a graduate student. If you are Future Faculty Fellow or University Fellow they will also assist you.

        Duplication Services (215) 204-4700

This site provides information on where copiers are throughout the campus. Most copies are 6 cents a sheet for plain, letter size. They will also copy resumes, do binding, etc. With all the copying of articles you will do, we would recommend coming here. There are various locations across campus, including on in the lobby of Anderson Hall; however, the location in Conwell is the only "full-service" location which will accept everything from cash to your Visa or MasterCard. 

        Student Activities Center, SAC, 12th and Montgomery Sts.

This building holds a wealth of resources. There are two mini Food Courts, including Burger King and Taco Bell, on the first floor, if you don't find a food truck outside that you like. There are vendors on the first floor and outside that sell jewelry, sweaters or posters and other items. You can also obtain SEPTA tokens and Transpasses, and travel information at the SEPTA Information desk. 

Some other offices and services that are available in SAC:

Student Activities Office, 3rd Floor SAC, 12th and Montgomery / 204-7131
You can use your confirmation card to view sports events, receive discounts to campus activities, to obtain tickets to see a       movie at the university theatre. 

Student Housing Office, 4th Floor SAC, 12th and Montgomery / 204- 7184 and 204-7224
There is additional information about On-Campus Housing opportunities elsewhere.

Student Parking Services, Lower Level SAC, 12th and Montgomery / 204-7275, www.temple.edu/parking

You can get a parking sticker for token spaces. In general, it is easiest to find street parking, and avoid
Temple Lots, as they have odd hours of operation. The best place to park in between 11th and 10th, and between Cecil B. Moore and Diamond Ave. There are generally open spaces, plus the big dirt lot. It is near the train station, so it is fairly well-lit, but there are no guarantees.

Be smart and sensible about walking to and from your car. There is always a security guard located at 11th and Berks Street, outside of Gladfelter. Use this person or Campus Police if you feel you need an escort to your car. Call 204-6553 (1-TRIP from a campus phone) for a van escort to anywhere on campus, though it may take awhile to get where you need to go. Park as close to Gladfelter and campus as possible, be smart and safe.

Temple Main Bookstore, Lower Level SAC, 12th and Montgomery Sts., (215) 204-7385, www.temple.edu/bookstore

 

You can purchase textbooks as well as other books here. Snacks, candy, greeting cards, and Temple logo clothing, SEPTA Transpasses, are also available. There are also bookstores in Center City, including Borders (Broad and Chestnut Sts.), Barnes and Noble (19th and Walnut Sts), Robin's Bookstore (15th and Sansom Sts.), Zavelle's (900 N. Broad St.), and Book Trade (5th and South Sts.)