BA in Anthropology
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology learn about human origins and anatomy; approaches to gender, social class and race; and examine material culture and linguistic variation. They complete core classes and electives from across the departmental focus areas, in addition to fieldwork and lab research options.
Compared with the BS in Biological Anthropology, the BA degree requires a greater number of 2000-3000 level anthropology courses as well as four semesters of foreign language studies. All students in the anthropology major complete a senior capstone project in the form of a theoretical seminar course, a graduate-level course or independent research in an anthropology faculty member’s lab.
Note: Students cannot double-major in anthropology and biological anthropology.
Course Requirements
The following requirements must be fulfilled:
The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.
The following curriculum requirements:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite courses: | ||
| ANTH 1001 | Biological Anthropology | |
| ANTH 1002 | Sociocultural Anthropology | |
| ANTH 1003 | Archaeology | |
| ANTH 1004 | Language in Culture and Society | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses in other areas: | ||
| Two-year proficiency in a single foreign language, as demonstrated by completion of four semesters of college-level language study or the equivalent | ||
| 6–12 credits of coursework in related departments approved by the advisor. Recommended for sociocultural emphasis are courses in economics, history, political science, psychology, religion, and sociology; for archaeological emphasis, courses in American studies, art history, geography, geological sciences, and history; for emphasis in biological anthropology, courses in anatomy, biological sciences, chemistry, and physical geography; for emphasis in linguistic anthropology, courses in linguistics and in speech and hearing science. Courses in statistics are strongly recommended for all anthropology majors | ||
| Requirements for the major: | ||
| In addition to the four prerequisite courses, 24–36 credits in anthropology courses, including: | ||
| ANTH 2008 | Foundations of Anthropological Thought | |
| At least one course from three of the following four categories: | ||
| Sociocultural anthropology (ANTH 2500s, 2700s, 3500s, and 3700s) | ||
| Linguistics (ANTH/LING 3600s) | ||
| Biological anthropology (ANTH 2400s and 3400s) | ||
| Archaeology (ANTH 2800s and 3800s) | ||
| An approved methods course in any category, including but not limited to the courses listed below. (Methods courses can be double-counted as courses in their subject categories.) | ||
| ANTH 3406 | Advanced Human Osteology | |
| ANTH 3531 | Methods in Sociocultural Anthropology | |
| ANTH 3602 | Ethnographic Analysis of Speech | |
| ANTH 3832 | Paleoanthropological Field Program | |
| ANTH 3833 | Field Research: New World | |
| ANTH 3834 | Field Research: Old World | |
| ANTH 3835 | Historical Archaeology Field Program | |
| ANTH 3839 | Lab Research Methods in Archaeology | |
| ANTH 6806 | Technology | |
| In addition, a senior capstone experience is required; it may be met by taking ANTH 4008, ANTH 3995 (for 3 credits), or an approved 6000-level course. Qualified seniors may enroll in graduate-level courses with the permission of the instructor. | ||