The human paleobiology doctoral program is the graduate education and training effort of GW's Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, which promotes interdisciplinary research on human evolution. Because fossils, artifacts, and genomes are complex and mostly indirect sources of data for testing evolutionary hypotheses, research questions in human evolutionary studies exemplify the importance of an interdisciplinary approach.<br><br>This five-year program features rigorous core training in human paleontology, archaeology, molecular biology, genomics, behavior, ecology, and statistical methods. It emphasizes problem-based learning and training and internships in how science is communicated to the publicfor example, through television, news media, museums, and the internet. The first two years of the program primarily consist of coursework, a professional skills and ethics seminar, a grant-writing course focused on preparing a dissertation proposal, and practical experiences that integrate original research and coursework from the earliest stages of graduate training. During the second and third years, students participate in two topically distinct laboratory rotations to broaden their research skills. Following the second year, students begin directed research on their doctoral dissertations while participating in a capstone seminar. Students are encouraged to submit their dissertation in a ready-to-publish format by the end of the fifth year.<br><br>There are two separate PhD programs affiliated with the Department of Anthropology, in the fields of anthropology and in human paleobiology. These programs have separate admissions procedures, prospective students should be sure to submit their application to the correct program.