BS in Biological Anthropology/MS in Human Paleobiology
The dual Bachelor of Science in Biological Anthropology and Master of Science in Human Paleobiology program allows students to complete the graduate degree on an accelerated timeline by completing nine graduate credits as part of the undergraduate program.
Application Requirements
Students in the BS in Biological Anthropology degree program may apply to the MS in Human Paleobiology once they have accumulated 60 credits at GW and have consulted with biological anthropology advisors. Applicants must be declared anthropology, archaeology or biological anthropology majors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the major. Students must also fill out a Combined Degree Credit Form (PDF) specifying the double-counted courses they plan to take and submit it to the director of graduate studies. GRE scores are not required.
Eligible students will apply for formal admission into the BS/MS program, through the CCAS Combined Degree Application process. Students will be recommended for admission to the MS program on the same basis as other applicants for the MS degree, with the final decision being made by the CCAS graduate dean.
Degree Timeline
BS/MS students receive their BS in Biological Anthropology after four years, and are admitted to the MS in Human Paleobiology program with the understanding that nine credits of graduate coursework taken during their senior year will double-count towards the BS degree. This schedule leaves another 27 credits following the end of the student’s senior year to complete the MS degree. The remaining 27 credits for the MS degree normally will be taken during the summer after the senior year (six credits of coursework or field or laboratory research), plus two additional semesters with the normal full-time MS student load of nine credits per semester. Students will therefore be able to complete the BS/MS dual degree with one year of full-time study beyond the BS degree.
Sample Schedule
- ANTH 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004 (13 hours)
- BISC 1111-1112 (8 hours)
- University Writing (4 hours)
- General Education Curriculum (GPAC) courses (ca. 18 hours) and Writing in the Disciplines courses (6 hours) can be fulfilled as part of the major, part of the general education requirement or can be substituted for electives in junior year
Fall (15 hours)
- Two upper-level biological anthropology and palaeolithic archaeology electives (ANTH 3400-3499)
- Upper-level elective in anthropology (not biological or paleoarchaeology)
- ANTH 2000 or above, but not including courses in the 3400-3499 or the 3802 or 3832 range
- Upper-level BISC elective organismal, evolutionary or ecological biology
- 1 elective/GPAC course
- Apply for admission to BS/MS before Feb 15 of academic year
Spring (15 hours)
- Upper-level elective in biological anthropology/paleoarchaeology (ANTH 3400-3499 and 3800-3899)
- Upper-level elective in biological sciences, cell and molecular biology (BISC 22## and 32### course numbers)
- Upper-level anthropology class (ANTH 2000 and above, excluding 3400-3499)
- Additional science or math or statistics class
- 1 elective/GPAC course/or research credits
Summer
Fall (15 hours, including 3 for undergraduate/graduate credit)
- 4 upper-level electives in biological anthropology and/or in biological sciences, including one graduate course for combined graduate/undergraduate credit
- 3 hours research or thesis credits
Spring (15 hours, including 6 for undergraduate/graduate credit)
- 3 electives in biological anthropology and/or biological sciences, or another science -- should include one graduate course for combined graduate/undergraduate credit
- Elective or research/thesis credits
- First graduate core class in hominin paleobiology, paleolithic archaeology, genetics or primatology
Summer After Senior Year (nine hours)
- Anth 6995, graduate research
In limited circumstances, students may be able to take upper-level undergraduate courses (3000-level courses) for graduate credit, but this must first be approved by the Director of Graduate Study and the Course Instructor prior to registration.
Fall (nine hours)
- Second core class in biological anthropology
- Two electives (could include three hours thesis research /internship)
Spring (9 hours)
- Third core class in biological anthropology
- Two electives (could include 3 hours thesis research/internship)
- Submit approved thesis in May or August
Course Requirements
Students take nine graduate credits as part of their undergraduate program. All requirements for both the BS in Biological Anthropology and the MS in Human Paleobiology must be fulfilled.
BS Requirements
The following requirements must be fulfilled:
The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.
Program-specific curriculum:
The following requirements must be fulfilled: 51 credits, including 21 credits in introductory courses and 40 additional credits in required courses for the major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required introductory courses | ||
| 21 credits in introductory courses | ||
| ANTH 1001 | Biological Anthropology | |
| ANTH 1002 | Sociocultural Anthropology | |
| or ANTH 1002W | Sociocultural Anthropology | |
| ANTH 1003 | Archaeology | |
| ANTH 1004 | Language in Culture and Society | |
| BISC 1111 | Introductory Biology: Cells and Molecules | |
| BISC 1112 | Introductory Biology: The Biology of Organisms | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Additional required courses for the major | ||
| 12 credits in courses selected from the following: | ||
| ANTH 2406 | Human Evolutionary Genetics | |
| ANTH 3401 | Human Functional Anatomy | |
| ANTH 3402 | Human Evolutionary Anatomy | |
| ANTH 3403 | Forensic Anthropology Laboratory | |
| ANTH 3404 | Human Variation | |
| ANTH 3406 | Advanced Human Osteology | |
| ANTH 3407 | Conservation in a Changing World: Human and Animal Behavior | |
| ANTH 3408 | The Evolution of Human Families | |
| ANTH 3409 | Evolution of Primate Life Histories | |
| ANTH 3411 | Primatology | |
| ANTH 3412 | Hominin Evolution | |
| or ANTH 3412W | Hominin Evolution | |
| ANTH 3413 | Evolution of the Human Brain | |
| ANTH 3491 | Topics in Biological Anthropology | |
| ANTH 3802 | Human Cultural Beginnings | |
| or ANTH 3802W | Human Cultural Beginnings | |
| ANTH 3832 | Paleoanthropological Field Program | |
| 9 credits in biology (BISC) courses numbered 2000 or above, including at least one course from each of the following three categories: | ||
| Cell/molecular biology | ||
| BISC 2202 | Cell Biology | |
| BISC 2207 | Genetics | |
| BISC 2208 | Genetics Laboratory | |
| BISC 2213 | Biology of Cancer | |
| BISC 2214 | Developmental Biology | |
| BISC 2220 | Developmental Neurobiology | |
| BISC 3209 | Molecular Biology | |
| BISC 3210 | Nanobiotechnology | |
| BISC 3211 | Nanobiotechnology Laboratory | |
| BISC 3212 | Immunology | |
| BISC 3261 | Introductory Medical Biochemistry | |
| BISC 3262 | Biochemistry Laboratory | |
| BISC 3263 | Special Topics in Biochemistry | |
| Organismal/sub-organismal biology | ||
| BISC 2320 | Neural Circuits and Behavior | |
| BISC 2332 | Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | |
| BISC 2333 | Evolution and Extinction of Dinosaurs | |
| BISC 2334W | Integrative Biology of Fishes | |
| BISC 2337 | Introductory Microbiology Laboratory | |
| or BISC 2337W | Introductory Microbiology | |
| BISC 2339 | Parasitology | |
| BISC 3122 | Human Physiology | |
| BISC 3320 | Human Neurobiology | |
| Ecology/evolution | ||
| BISC 2581 | Human Gross Anatomy | |
| BISC 2450 | Organic Evolution | |
| BISC 2451 | History of Life | |
| BISC 2452 | Animal Behavior | |
| BISC 2454 | General Ecology | |
| BISC 3458 | Plant Comparative Structure and Function | |
| BISC 3460 | Conservation Biology | |
| BISC 3461 | Plant-Animal Interactions | |
| BISC 3462 | Plant-Animal Interactions Laboratory | |
| BISC 3463 | Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics | |
| BISC 3464 | Ecology and Evolution of Societies | |
| One course selected from the following: | ||
| CHEM 1111 | General Chemistry I | |
| CHEM 1112 | General Chemistry II | |
| CHEM 2085 | Environmental Chemistry | |
| CHEM 3140 | Geochemistry | |
| or GEOL 3140 | ||
| CHEM 3165 | Biochemistry I | |
| CHEM 3166 | Biochemistry II | |
| PSYC 2014 | Cognitive Psychology | |
| PSYC 2015 | Biological Psychology | |
| PSYC 3112 | Psychology of Adolescence | |
| PSYC 3118 | Neuropsychology | |
| BISC 1005 | The Biology of Nutrition and Health | |
| or BISC 1007 | Food, Nutrition, and Service | |
| BISC 1006 | The Ecology and Evolution of Organisms | |
| or BISC 1008 | Understanding Organisms through Service Learning | |
| GEOL 1001 | Physical Geology | |
| GEOL 1002 | Historical Geology | |
| GEOL 1005 | Environmental Geology | |
| STAT 1127 | Statistics for the Biological Sciences | |
| 6 credits in anthropology (ANTH) courses numbered 2000 and above, excluding courses in the 3400 range, ANTH 3802, and ANTH 3832. | ||
Note: The major in biological anthropology cannot be pursued in conjunction with the major in anthropology.
MS Requirements
The following requirements must be fulfilled:
The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.
36 credits in a program developed in consultation with the advisor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Core courses | ||
| HOMP 6202 | Lab Techniques: Paleoanthropology * | |
| HOMP 6203 | Ethics and Professional Practice I | |
| ANTH 6413 | Analytical Methods in Human Evolutionary Studies | |
| At least one paleobiology core course selected from the following: | ||
| HOMP 6201 | Hominid Paleobiology | |
| ANTH 6801 | Paleolithic Archaeology | |
| or HOMP 6201 | Hominid Paleobiology | |
| At least one modern biology core course selected from the following: | ||
| ANTH 6403 | Primate Behavior | |
| ANTH 6404 | The Evolution of Primate Life Histories | |
| ANTH 6407 | Anthropological Genetics | |
| ANTH 6423 | Evolution of the Human Brain | |
| Electives | ||
| 17 to 19 credits in elective courses. Courses should be selected in consultation with the faculty advisor, and may include a combination of the following: independent laboratory or field-based research; a field course; relevant courses in Anatomy, Anthropology, Biological Sciences, Geography, Geology, Human Paleobiology, Psychology, and Speech, Language, and Hearing Science available at GW; and/or relevant courses from the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. | ||
| Thesis | ||
| HOMP 6999 | Thesis Research (taken for 6 credits) | |
*In order to maintain a 9-credit per semester courseload, students register for 1 to 3 credits in HOMP 6202, depending on the number of credits taken in the other courses for which they are concurrently enrolled.