Anthropology, Archaeology Concentration, B.A.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

General Education 41 Credit Hours ¹
Foreign Language classes (intermediate level required) 0-14 Credit Hours 2
Philosophy course (in addition to General Education courses) 3 Credit Hours
University electives (beyond major) 25-39 Credit Hours
Major requirements (listed below) 40-41 Credit Hours

Footnotes

¹ The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
² The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student’s chosen language (typically 232) or by placing out of that language through the Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures’ placement test.

Total: 120 Credit Hours

Major Requirements

To earn a B.A. or B.S. degree in anthropology, students complete 40-41 credit hours in the major. Given the diverse opportunities the discipline provides, the major is designed to allow students the opportunity to work closely with their advisers to develop a curriculum appropriate to their personal and professional interests. Those students wishing to do so may elect to pursue a concentration in one of the three sub-disciplines of cultural, biological or archaeological anthropology.

The concentrations guide students in choosing courses to enhance opportunities for graduate school or allow them to pursue an area of personal interest within the larger discipline of anthropology. Up to two elective courses from a discipline outside of anthropology may be applied to the major. Elective courses from outside of the program must be approved by the student’s adviser and must be at the 300- or 400-level. Students must receive at least a “C-” in a class to have it count toward the major.

General Program

The general program provides students with a holistic introduction to the breadth of anthropology highlighting experience in the subdisciplines of cultural, archaeological and biological anthropology, as well as introductory experiences in linguistics. The program is designed to provide students with a well-rounded understanding of the discipline in preparation for advanced graduate training or as an adjunct to their personal and professional aspirations.

Required Courses

ANTH 195. Cultural Anthropology [C4GE] 3.00
ANTH 196. Biological Anthropology [C3T1G3] 3.00
ANTH 197. Archaeology 3.00
ANTH 201. The Discipline of Anthropology 1.00
ANTH 375. History of Theory in Sociocultural Anthropology 3.00 ¹
One elective from each of the following: cultural anthropology, biological anthropology and archaeology 9 Credit Hours
Other electives 15 Credit Hours ^{2, 3}

One course from the following: 3-4 Credit Hours

ANTH 315. Human Evolution 3.00
ANTH 316. Human Evolutionary Psychology 3.00
ANTH 435. Ethnographic Genres and Methods 4.00
ANTH 455. Archaeology Methods 4.00

Footnotes

¹ Students should take two of ANTH 195 , ANTH 196 or ANTH 197 and at least one anthropology elective before taking ANTH 375 .
² Students may take up to two adviser approved electives at the 300 or 400 level from courses outside of the program.
³ Students should consider including ANTH 305. Language and Culture , as one of their electives.

Total: 40-41 Credit Hours

Archaeology Concentration Requirements

Archaeology is the study of the development and change of human societies from the prehistoric past to the present through the identification, gathering and interpretation of material remains. While a major contributor to biological anthropology and forensics, archaeology is most closely tied to cultural anthropology and has been described as cultural anthropology in the past tense. As demonstrated by the emergence of discipline of historical archaeology, the field has strong ties to the practice of history.

Students planning a career in archaeology might enroll in an archaeological field school. Those interested in historical archaeology should consider the cross disciplinary historical archaeology minor. Archaeology students are also encouraged to take ANTH 435. Ethnographic Genres and Methods . This sub-discipline shares strong methodological and thematic ties with history, geology, geography, biology and art history and upper-level course electives from these areas are encouraged. Students may consider co-majoring or minoring in these fields as a complement to their education.

Required Courses

ANTH 195. Cultural Anthropology [C4GE] 3.00
ANTH 196. Biological Anthropology [C3T1G3] 3.00
ANTH 197. Archaeology 3.00
ANTH 201. The Discipline of Anthropology 1.00
ANTH 375. History of Theory in Sociocultural Anthropology 3.00
ANTH 410. Spatial Analysis for Anthropologists 4.00
or
ANTH 490. Special Studies 1.00 - 3.00
ANTH 455. Archaeology Methods 4.00
One upper division course in cultural and biological anthropology 6 Credit Hours
Electives 10-11 Credit Hours ^{3, 4}

One Regional Archaeology Course

Footnotes

¹ Students should take two of ANTH 195 , ANTH 196 or ANTH 197 and at least one anthropology elective before taking ANTH 375 .
² Instead of ANTH 410 students may take ANTH 490. Special Studies , and complete a project that requires the analysis and interpretation of archaeological data.
³ Students may take up to two adviser approved electives at the 300 or 400 level from courses outside of the program.
⁴ An archaeological field school is strongly encouraged for any students wishing to pursue professional or graduate opportunities. ANTH 435. Ethnographic Genres and Methods , is also recommended.