Major Requirements
BA in Anthropology
The anthropology major provides students with broad training in socio-cultural anthropology—the study of contemporary cultures and societies. Our curriculum explores classic questions about family and kinship; religion and ritual; ethnicity and race; social and economic inequality; language and culture; and gender and sexuality in societies around the world. We offer electives on topics such as immigration, climate change, law and human rights, the anthropology of science and technology, and medical anthropology. All anthropology majors will receive training in anthropological research methods, social theory, and ethnographic analysis and writing. In addition to preparing students for graduate school in the social sciences, anthropology majors will graduate with a strong foundation for pursuing careers in public policy, human rights, education, medicine, law, and marketing
Ten courses are required for a BA in anthropology, of which at least eight must be at the 200-level or higher. A research project(minimum 4 cr) and an additional theory course are required for students interested in completing an BA with Honors in anthropology.
For students transferring from another institution, the cap is 5 courses (equivalent to 20 credit hours). Please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies for approval.
Questions? Contact your department advisor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Print and complete the Planning Worksheet: anthropology-major-minor-planning-worksheet.pdf
BA Requirements
ANTH 101: Being Human: Cultural Anthropology*
ANTH 200: Anthropological Research and Methods**
ANTH 204: Reading Ethnography
One Theory course: ANTH 201-202, 205-210
Five ANTH electives - four of which must be 200-level or above.
ANTH3xx: Advanced Topics Seminar
*ANTH 101 is normally taken before the spring semester of the sophomore year
**ANTH 200 is normally taken in the sophomore year (ANTH 101 is a prerequisite of this course)
BA in Medical Anthropology
Medical anthropologists examine how cultural, biological, and political contexts shape health and sickness across diverse societies around the world. They examine the social, cultural, and political construction and experiences of body and mind; the local understandings of suffering and healing; the context-specific uses of medical technologies; patterns of inequality and their health ramifications; and how people interact with global health interventions. A major in medical anthropology provides students with critical skills and topical knowledge for graduate school in medicine or health-related fields as well as general humanistic and social science graduate programs more broadly in law, public policy, social work, or administration.
BA Requirements
ANTH 102: Introduction to Medical Anthropology OR Anth 216: Medical Anthropology
ANTH 200: Anthropological Research and Methods (Prerequisite: ANTH 101 or ANTH 102 or ANTH 216)**
ANTH 204: Reading Ethnography
One Theory course: Anth 201-203, 205-210
ANTH 3xx: Advanced Topic Seminar
Electives: Students are required to complete 5 electives, out of which a minimum of 3 electives should be specifically medical anthropology courses from the following list.
Medical anthropology electives:
ANTH 212 Emotion as Social Life
ANTH 214 Aging and Global Health in the Contemporary World
ANTH 215 Public Health Anthropology
ANTH 217 American Kinships
ANTH 220 Personhood
ANTH 225 Religion and Healing
ANTH 227 Anthropology of Mental Illness
ANTH 230 War, Genocide and Justice
ANTH 235 The Black Body
ANTH 246 Anthropological Approaches to Gender and Sexuality
ANTH 263 Chronic (Medical) Conditions
ANTH 268 Science, Culture, and Expertise
**ANTH 200 is normally taken in the sophomore year
A research project(minimum 4 cr) and an additional theory course are required for students interested in completing an BA with Honors in medical anthropology.
For students transferring from another institution, the cap is 5 courses (equivalent to 20 credit hours). Please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies for approval.
Questions? Contact your department advisor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Distinction
Achievement of a grade point average for the courses required for the major, not including courses in the allied field(s), as follows:
- High Distinction: 3.9