Majors

Majoring in Anthropology, Anthropological Sciences, Medical Anthropology, or Forensic Anthropology

The Department of Anthropology offers five baccalaureate degrees – a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, a Bachelor of Science in Anthropological Sciences, a Bachelor of Arts in Medical Anthropology, a Bachelor of Science in Medical Anthropological, and a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Anthropology. Since its introduction, the number of Anthropological Sciences majors increased from 23% in Autumn 2006 to 43% in 2014. This growth reflects an increase in STEM-related programs since 2006, both in the Department of Anthropology and in the college and university generally. 30 credit hours are required for the BA in Anthropology; 36 are required for the BS. Both majors require that undergraduates complete courses in physical anthropology, cultural anthropology, and archaeology. More information about the course requirements for all five Anthropology majors, including the new Forensic Anthropology major, is provided in the links to the right.

The goal of the majors is to prepare students for employment that combines critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills with an understanding of human diversity in both time and space. This entails that students will be able to do the following:

  1. develop the ability to critically read and interpret the anthropological literature
  2. present anthropological information in a clear and logical manner, both orally and in writing
  3. apply knowledge of anthropological data, methods and theory to understand human diversity
  4. develop the capacity to analyze differences in culture (including material culture)
  5. develop an understanding of where the human species (Homo sapiens) is positioned in the natural world
  6. apply knowledge of modern applications from archaeology, ethnography, forensic science, and morphometrics to find solutions to a variety of anthropological problems
  7. students in the Anthropological Science major are expected to develop an understanding of mathematical and statistical methods and evolutionary theory.

Minoring in Anthropology

A minimum of 15 credit hours (5 courses) are required to minor in anthropology. The student may complete a minor by choosing the archaeology, cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, or forensic science track.