BS in Biological Anthropology
The Bachelor of Science in Biological Anthropology incorporates human evolution, human anatomy, primatology and scientific analysis. Compared with the BA in Anthropology, the BS degree requires more science courses and a greater curricular focus on the biological aspects of anthropology. Students may also gain lab experience through the department's Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology.
The program’s strong foundation in science and anatomy prepares students for advanced degrees in biological anthropology or pursuit of a medical career. The curriculum's strong emphasis on human behavior also lends itself to non-science professions in corporate management or the justice system.
Note: Students can double-major in biological anthropology and archaeology, but second-group (2000–3000 level) courses cannot count toward both majors.
"My favorite academic experience was my Primatology class. Our final paper was on the behavior of any greater ape; I chose to observe the orangutans because of their human-like behaviors. We visited the National Zoo for class."
Lizzie Poniarski
BS '12
Course 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.