Cultural Anthropology, BA

Department of Anthropology, Sociology, and Social Work
Jodi O’Brien, PhD, Chair

Objectives

Anthropology is an integrated and interdisciplinary field. The discipline offers a holistic engagement with the question: What does it mean to be human? Anthropology is ideally suited to a critical understanding of the broad past, present, and the future of human experience, cultural interaction, and the person in society. Anthropology is embedded in an empirically based working theory of cultural diversity. Anthropological perspectives are especially suited to complement studies in fields in which humans are central: pre-medicine, psychology, political science, urban planning, journalism, education, and business.

The major is designed to develop students’ abilities and skills in knowledge of the field that will serve as a foundation for further study and/or career goals. A broad understanding of human culture around the world and across time is achieved through four types of classes. The first set of classes provide a foundational knowledge in the theories and methods of anthropology. The second set familiarizes students with a basic unit of study in anthropology, the family and kinship systems. The third set of courses provides detailed coverage of the cultural aspects of ethnicity. The fourth area provides in-depth coverage of cultural systems of knowledge and belief. In addition, students will take electives that enable them to achieve a breadth of information in areas such as medical anthropology, gender and sexuality, language, business and politics.

Requirements

In order to earn a bachelor of arts degree with a major in anthropology, students must complete a minimum of 180 quarter credits with a cumulative and a program/major grade point average of 2.00 that includes the following:

I. Core Curriculum Requirements

ENGL 110 - College Writing: Inquiry and Argument
PHIL 110 - Introduction to Philosophy and Critical Thinking
HIST 120 - Origins of Western Civilization
ENGL 120 - Introduction to Literature
MATH 107 or MATH 110 or above
Lab Science
Fine Arts (one approved 5 credit course)
PHIL 220 - Philosophy of the Human Person
Social Science I (not Anthropology)
Social Science II (not Anthropology and a different discipline from Social Science I)*
Theology and Religious Studies Phase II (200-299 )
Ethics (upper division)
Theology and Religious Studies Phase III (300-399 )
Interdisciplinary Course
Senior Synthesis (ANTH 490 required in major)

*ECON 271 is the recommended Social Science II course for Anthropology majors.

II. College of Arts and Sciences Requirements

Modern Language 115, 125, 135, or equivalent (15)

NOTE:

All students with a major in the College of Arts and Sciences must demonstrate competency in the level of 135 in a language other than English. This competency is ordinarily achieved by successful completion of the three-course sequence: 115, 125, and 135. Because these courses are a college requirement, no course in the sequence may be taken on a pass/fail, correspondence, or audit basis. Placement into other than the beginning course of the sequence is achieved by acceptable performance on the Modern Language Competency Examination. See the Modern Languages Department for details on the examinations. Courses used to satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences modern language requirement may not be used to fulfill major requirements.

Choose one of the following two courses:

III. Major Requirements

55 credits in the following areas, including:

Area I: Foundations of Anthropology (all courses in this area are required)

Area II: Major Electives (20)

20 credits from the following anthropology courses, 5 credits each

Area III: Additional Electives (10)

10 credits in other disciplines with a focus on Society and Culture

NOTE:

**These courses require language comprehension.

Several courses in the cultural anthropology major have been identified as satisfying the senior synthesis and the core interdisciplinary requirements. Those courses may be used to fill major requirements or major electives while also fulfilling university core requirements. The credit for each course completed is included in totals only once.

Departmental Honors

Cultural Anthropology Major with Departmental Honors