Undergraduate Programs
- What Is Anthropology?
- Degree Requirements (Tracks, Certificates, and Study Plans)
- Advising
- FAQs
- Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Senior Capstone Projects
- Internships
- Careers, Fellowships, and Other Post-Graduation Opportunities
- Information about Study Abroad Programs
- Anthropology Department Awards
- How to Request a Letter of Recommendation
Degree Requirements
- Major and Minor Descriptions
- Major with General Anthropology Concentration
- Major with Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology Concentration
- Anthropology Major Prior to 2006
Major and Minor Descriptions
Declare a Major in Anthropology!
The Department of Anthropology offers two major concentrations and a minor. Anthropology, which views human biology, behavior, and society (both past and present) in a cross-cultural perspective, combines scientific and humanistic interests in a modern social sciences framework.
Major in Anthropology
General Anthropology Concentration
The General Anthropology concentration includes the four fields of biological anthropology (biodiversity and evolutionary history of human and nonhuman primates), archaeology (human prehistory and the organization and growth of technology and society, sociocultural anthropology (comparative study of identity and power in social contexts from hunter-gatherer to complex urban settings, with attention to contemporary global movements of peoples and diasporic social formations), and linguistic anthropology (comparative study of languages and communication). Although the student should strive for a topical and geographical balance, an undergraduate may specialize in one of these four branches and may also study some world cultural area intensively through an area studies program.
View General Anthropology requirements
Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology Concentration
The Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology concentration offers students a program of more focused coursework in sociocultural and linguistic anthropology. Sociocultural anthropology is the study of daily lives of people around the world, both at home and abroad. Sociocultural anthropologists conduct field research and get a hands-on feel for people’s lives and passions. They examine everything from beauty pageants to political protest marches, from Disney films to nuclear scientists’ lab practices. Sociocultural anthropology distinguishes itself from other disciplines by its conviction that these local and personal details offer a wonderful window on the largest processes and problems of our time, from globalization to race relations and violence. Linguistic anthropology complements sociocultural anthropology with detailed attention to spoken and signed languages—their structure and use in the daily lives of people around the world, both at home and abroad. Linguistic anthropologists examine such things as the “English Only” movement in the United States, the persuasive language of advertising and politics, racism and hate speech, oral/gestural storytelling traditions around the world, communication in the classroom or at the United Nations, as well as how the way we talk creates our sense of self and reality. Because the field of anthropology presents a wide range of disciplinary perspectives on the human condition, students electing this major concentration are encouraged to select from among relevant course offerings in archaeology or biological anthropology to fulfill General Education requirements.
View Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology requirements
Degree Info
- Major in Sciences and Letters Curriculum
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Degree: Anthropology - Minimum required major and supporting course work equates to 48 hours including 33 hours of Anthropology courses.
- General Education: The LAS General Education requirements are set up so students automatically complete the Campus General Education Requirement.
- Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours
Departmental Distinction
To be eligible for distinction, a student must maintain a 3.6 average in 37 hours of anthropology courses, including at least 2 hours of ANTH 391 and 2 hours of ANTH 495, and submit an honors thesis to be judged by two readers (at least one from the Anthropology Department).
Minor in Anthropology
Declare a Minor in Anthropology!
The minor in anthropology may be tailored to each student’s individual needs, thus accommodating students with majors as diverse as pre-medicine, pre-law, geography, and art history. The 18 hours in anthropology must include at least 2 of the following courses: ANTH 220, 230, 240, and 270. At least 6 hours must be at the advanced level: this may not include more than a single offering of ANTH 499. Six additional hours at any level are also required to complete the 18 hours.