We welcome applications from students interested in graduate study in biological anthropology at UCLA. Applicants need not have an undergraduate degree in anthropology—in the last several years we have accepted students with degrees in biology, engineering, English, and musical composition in addition to those with anthropology degrees. However, our program is very selective accepting only highly qualified, motivated students who seek a career in academic research. The department admits 10-15% of applicants. Over the last several years, admitted students have had a mean GRE score of about 2050 and a median GPA around 3.75. Because we are selective, we are able to provide multi-year funding for most students that we admit.

Graduate students in biological anthropology at UCLA join an active intellectual community that extends well beyond the department. The Behavior, Evolution, and Culture group meets every week and draws faculty and students from the departments of Anthropology, Psychology, Communications Studies, Organismic Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Political Science and Economics. There is an active Animal Behavior Program which links students to faculty with interests in behavioral ecology, and the Center for the Study of Evolution and the Origin of Life which conducts weekly seminars on topics of interest to evolutionists.

Our graduates have been successful in a very competitive job market. Over the last 10 years, virtually all of our graduates have secured good academic positions. During this period, two of our graduates joined the faculty at Harvard, and one each at Cambridge, University of California, Davis, Emory University, the University of Pennsylvania, Pomona College, and University of Western Ontario. (Details here):

For more on how to apply to our deparment consult the UCLA Anthropology Department webpage. Also see the UCLA Graduate Division webpage for more details and access to a web-based admission process. Course descriptions and program details can be found in the UCLA Catalog.