Visiting Campus
We encourage prospective graduate students to visit Chicago, the UIC Campus, and our department.
Visiting Campus Heading link
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What to do before your visit
Before you visit you should become familiar with our faculty, their research, and the research groups within the department. You should send emails to the individuals with whom you would like to visit as early as possible with your plans so that meeting times can be confirmed.
Most professors will not have seen your application or have any information about you, so make sure you introduce yourself when you send your email. Introductions should include your academic background, your research interests, and a current CV if possible. Remember that not all professors are on campus every day, and that it may take several emails with different professors to arrange your visit.
Meetings with professors generally last between 15-40 minutes. In order to give a good impression, you should also know a little about the professor’s research before your campus visit.
You should also arrange to talk with the Program Coordinator in the Anthropology Department, as he/she will be able to give you details on the application process and answer other administrative questions.
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Visiting the Department of Anthropology at the Field Museum
Our joint degree program with the Field Museum is one of the great strengths of our department. You may want to arrange to visit the museum and meet the curators who you are interested in working with.
The Field Museum is located about 40 minutes from UIC, so you need to allow time to travel between the two institutions. Many visitors to our campus try to arrange all of their UIC meetings in the morning and their Field Museum meetings in the afternoon (or the other way around).
It is easy to travel between the airport, the Field Museum, and UIC via public transportation (the Chicago Transit Authority).
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Visiting with Affiliated Faculty
Students who are interested in our program should also review the list of affiliated professors who are in other colleges and departments at UIC. While on campus, it is recommended that you meet with all professors with whom you would like to work. As you send your introductions let professors know with whom you are meeting and your research interests in order to make the best match for your graduate career.