About the Anthropology Bachelor’s Program
The anthropology program reflects the broad scope of the discipline, including the three subfields of archaeology, ethnology, and biological anthropology. International and/or regional field schools in all three areas are highlights of the curriculum, and well-equipped laboratory facilities support faculty and student research in all three subfields.
A student majoring in anthropology must complete 34 semester hours in anthropology, including 10 hours of introductory-level coursework, 3 hours of theory, 9 hours of foundational courses, and 12 hours of electives. The introductory courses include , , , and . All majors are required to take as the theory course. Students are also required to take a foundational course in each subfield: (human variation) or (human evolution); (ethnology); and (archaeology). The remaining 12 hours are upper-division elective courses within the program. A maximum of 9 hours of transfer credit may be accepted for the major. With prior departmental approval, 3 advanced hours in a related discipline may be counted toward the major. Anthropology majors must make a grade of C or better in each ANTH course. Up to 6 hours of individual studies and 6 hours of field courses may be credited to the major.
Forensic Anthropology Concentration. The department offers a concentration in forensic anthropology for students seeking the notation “Forensic Anthropology Concentration” on their transcripts. The concentration requires five 3-hour courses (15 hours) with a grade of C or better from the two following groups:
- , , (required core courses)
- One course chosen from ,
- One course chosen from ; , ; , (if not already taken)
The anthropology major with a concentration in forensic anthropology requires a total of at least 34 hours of anthropology courses. Students must receive a grade of C or better in each course that counts toward the forensic anthropology concentration. The minimum prerequisites recommended for all advanced courses are and or consent of instructor. is a prerequisite for .
Communication Literacy Requirement. Communication literacy in anthropology focuses on three forms of communication: written, visual, and oral. The required theory course and two of the foundational courses each deliver instruction and training pertaining to one of these forms of communication. These pairings are based, in part, on differences between the subfields. For example, visual communication in the form of poster presentations is more common in biological anthropology than ethnology. Therefore, or provide students with training in effective visual communication. The theory course, , focuses on written communication. Oral communication is emphasized in . There is not a set order in which students must complete these courses. However, students must complete the necessary introductory-level coursework before enrolling in the foundational courses.
