About the Anthropology Bachelor’s Program
The anthropology program reflects the broad scope of the discipline, including the three subfields of archaeology, ethnology, and physical 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 ANTH 2100 , ANTH 2300 , ANTH 2301 , and ANTH 2302 . All majors are required to take ANTH 3316 as the theory course. Students are also required to take a foundational course in each subfield: ANTH 3311 (physical anthropology); ANTH 3339 (ethnology); and ANTH 3380 (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.
Communication Literacy Requirement. Students attending Texas Tech University for the first time in the Fall 2017 term or later will complete a Communication Literacy requirement in their program(s) of study.
Texas Tech University’s transition from the Writing Intensive requirement to the Communication Literacy requirement signals the university’s awareness that in addition to the fundamental role that writing plays in enabling students to explore, develop, focus, and organize a message, other types of communication must also be taught as appropriate for a student’s discipline. Throughout each program of study, then, students must be given ample opportunity to develop their skills in forms of communication central to that program.
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 physical anthropology than ethnology. Therefore, ANTH 3311 provides students with training in effective visual communication. The theory course, ANTH 3316 , focuses on written communication. Oral communication is emphasized in ANTH 3380 . There is not a set order in which students must complete these courses. However, they must complete the necessary introductory-level coursework before enrolling in the foundational courses.
