Both the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Science (BS) Degrees are offered in Anthropology. Students pursuing the BA may 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 (13 3-credit courses). The BS combines anthropology with natural science approaches, and requires 68 credits (17 3-credit courses). Students are encouraged to meet with the undergraduate advisor in the Anthropology Department to discuss their choice of major.

Descriptions of each of the majors are listed below. In Appendices B through D, you will find status sheets that will help you chart your progress to degree. Please note that these sheets 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. Moreover, only 1 course taken under the pass/fail option will be accepted in fulfillment of major requirements.
 

Track 1: General Anthropology

The General Anthropology track was designed to give students broad exposure to the four subdisciplines of anthropology (archaeology; biological anthropology, linguistics and sociocultural anthropology) at both the upper and lower division, and 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 is a relatively structured major, students need to be careful in planning their course of study. Be aware that not all courses listed in Appendix B are offered every year. You should work with an anthropology advisor in planning your course selections each semester.

Track 2: Anthropological Perspectives

This program allows greater flexibility in the sequencing and selection of courses toward the major. You may value this flexibility if you wish to concentrate on a particular subdiscipline 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 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 an anthropology advisor. For students who wish to concentrate on a particular subdiscipline within anthropology, one of the lower level courses should include the foundational course for that subdiscipline (see Appendix C). If you choose to concentrate on one subfield, remember that no more than 7 courses from a single subfield can be used to fulfill the requirements for the BA in Anthropology.

Students who wish to introduce greater structure into the Perspectives track can use the General Anthropology track as a model. You might chose, for example, to sample the breadth of anthropology by taking the foundational courses (100 level) required for the General Anthropology track. Other foundational 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 attending graduate school, a course in the History of Anthropological Thought. You can then use your remaining credits to concentrate in a subfield, or create a distinct program to meet your career needs. Be sure to stay in touch with an anthroplogy advisor 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 or 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 major declaration form with Academic Advising.

BS Degree in Anthropology

The BS program allows majors to integrate anthropology with scientific training relevant to certain career paths. You might consider the BS Degree if 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. It combines background in each of the four subdisciplines 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 listed are offered every year. You should work with an anthropology advisor in planning your course selections each semester. New courses added to Department offerings may count toward 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, socio-cultural anthropology, archaeology and biological anthropology. Each is satisfied by the completion of the coursework. Exceptions to these requirements may be made only with the approval of the anthropology undergraduate committee, after consultation with the student's anthropology advisor.