Both the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Science (BS) Degrees are offered in Anthropology. Students pursuing the BA will choose one of two tracks when declaring their major: General Anthropology or Anthropological Perspectives. These tracks are tailored to different interests and career goals (see below). Both BA tracks require 56 credits (14 four-credit courses, including 2 elective courses). The BS combines anthropology with natural science approaches, and requires 80 credits (17 four-credit courses with 2 electives). Students are encouraged to discuss their choice of major with an Anthropology faculty advisor, and all majors and minors must meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies for Anthropology.

Descriptions of each of the majors are listed below. In Appendices B through D, you will find work sheets to help you chart your progress toward degree. Please note that these worksheets are not a substitute for advising, or for the DARS reports issued by the University. Rather, they are to assist you in your course planning.

Please Note: Only courses passed with a grade of C- or better will be counted toward fulfilling major requirements and, only 1 course taken under the pass/fail option will be accepted in fulfillment of major requirements.
 

Declaration of Major/Minor Form

Track 1: General Anthropology

The General Anthropology track is designed to give students broad exposure to the four subfields of anthropology (archaeology; biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology and sociocultural anthropology) at both the upper and lower levels, as well as to provide foundational coursework for those students intending to pursue graduate studies in anthropology. This is accomplished by carefully following the outline in Appendix B. Because the General Anthropology major is a relatively structured major, students must carefully plan their course of study. Be aware that not all courses listed in Appendix B are offered every year. You should work with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Anthropology in planning your course selections each semester.

Track 2: Anthropological Perspectives

This program allows greater flexibility in the sequencing and selection of courses towards the major. You may value this flexibility if, for example, you wish to concentrate in a particular subdiscipline (or two) during the course of your undergraduate studies, or if you are a double major and need the flexibility of tailoring your anthropology major to complement your other major focus. Note that although the flexibility of the Perspectives track is an attractive feature, you will still need to plan carefully to ensure that you chose a complement of courses that will meet your career needs. Thus, selection of courses must be done in close consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies. For students who wish to concentrate in a particular subdiscipline within anthropology, one of the lower level courses should include the foundations course for that subdiscipline (see Appendix C). If you choose to concentrate in one subfield, remember that no more than 7 courses from a single subfield may be used to fulfill the requirements for the BA in Anthropological Perspectives.

Students who wish to introduce greater structure into the Anthropological Perspectives track are encouraged to use the General Anthropology track as a model. You might choose, for example, to sample the breadth of anthropology by taking the foundational courses (100 level) required for the General Anthropology track. Other recommended foundations courses that are recommended are a course in quantitative methods (an important skill whether you plan to go on to graduate school or move directly into a career), and for those of you interested in pursuing graduate work in Anthropology, a course in the History of Anthropological Thought. You can then use your remaining credits to concentrate in a subfield, or to create a distinct program to meet your career needs. Be sure to work with the Director of Undergraduate Studies as you build your course program.

BA Degree Program

Students pursuing a BA in Anthropology select one of two tracks when declaring the Anthropology Major. These tracks-General Anthropology and Anthropological Perspectives-are geared toward different career goals and student interests. Regardless of which track you pursue, your University degree and transcripts will read "BA in Anthropology." You may switch tracks during the course of your studies by filing a revised major declaration form with with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Be aware that not all courses required for the major are offered every year. You should work closely with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in planning your course selections each semester. New courses added to the Department’s offerings may well count towards the BS, so you should treat the list of courses as a guide, subject to change

BS Degree in Anthropology

The BS degree program allows majors to integrate anthropology with scientific training relevant to certain career paths. You might consider the BS Degree if, for example you are interested in biological anthropology or archaeology, or if you want to combine anthropology with other sciences as part of a Pre-Health program. The BS combines foundational work in each of the four subfields of anthropology with training in quantitative methods and laboratory settings. Anthropology courses that apply to this major emphasize natural science methodologies and theories. (BS Course Requirements.)

Be aware that not all courses required for the major are offered every year. You should work closely with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in planning your course selections each semester. New courses added to the Department’s offerings may well count towards the BS, so you should treat the list of courses as a guide, subject to change.

Minors in Anthropology

Four possible minors in anthropology are offered: general anthropology, sociocultural anthropology, archaeology, and biological anthropology. Each is satisfied by the completion of the required coursework. Exceptions to the stated requirements may be made only with the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.