Department of Anthropology

Professors Emeriti Jon W. Anderson; Phyllis P. Chock; Anita G. Cook
Assistant Professor Laura Masur
Clinical Associate Professor Joshua Samuels, Chair
Lecturers David T. Clark; Tadeusz Mich

Anthropology is the study of human diversity from the Paleolithic to the present through comparisons of how humans form and think about communities, make a living, shape and are shaped by the environment, communicate, and express themselves in art, religion, language, and in practical activities. Anthropologists integrate different kinds of data about past and contemporary ways of life in the natural situations where people live or have lived, such as an archaeological site, a village, or an urban metropolis, but also virtual worlds and even global networks. The aim of anthropological study is to develop composite, empirically based accounts of human life and cultures. Students in anthropology acquire a broad perspective on social and cultural dimensions of diverse ways of life, including their own, and tools for integrating specialized knowledge into perspectives on global processes that shape our world.

Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology

The requirements for the major can be found at Anthropology - Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Courses for anthropology majors leading to a B.A. include three courses in the foundational disciplines of cultural anthropology (ANTH 101), archaeology (ANTH 108), and biological anthropology (ANTH 105); a pair of core courses on anthropological or archaeological theory (ANTH 200 or ANTH 208) and ethnographic or archaeological methods (ANTH 201, ANTH 351, ANTH 352); six topical electives; and a senior capstone project (ANTH 452) based on an internship/practicum or independent research directed by a faculty member.

Courses in the HSSS sequence count as free electives for majors, and HSSS 101 can serve as an equivalent to ANTH 101. An overall GPA of 2.0 is required for acceptance into the major, and a GPA of 3.0 in the major courses is required for continuing in the major.

 

Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology (**This program is closed to new students**)

The requirements for the major can be found at Archaeology - Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Courses for archaeology majors leading to a B.A. include three courses in the foundational courses in archaeology (ANTH 108), archaeological methods (ANTH 206), and archaeological theory (ANTH 208); a pair of core courses on cultural heritage (ANTH 240) and cultural resource management law (ANTH 290); six topical electives; and a senior capstone project (ANTH 452) based on an internship/practicum or independent research directed by a faculty member.

Courses in the HSSS sequence count as free electives for majors, and HSSS 101 can serve as an equivalent to ANTH 101. An overall GPA of 2.0 is required for acceptance into the major, and a GPA of 3.0 in the major courses is required for continuing in the major.

Distribution Requirements for Non-Majors

For non-majors, ANTH 105, ANTH 108, ANTH 204, ANTH 206, ANTH 352, and ANTH 354 fulfill the Foundations in Natural Science requirement, ANTH 101, ANTH 110, ANTH 201, ANTH 203, ANTH 240, and ANTH 260 fulfill the Foundations in Social Science requirement, and ANTH 215 fulfills the Foundations in History or Politics requirement.

Minor in Anthropology

The requirements for the minor can be found at Anthropology - Minor