Anthropology

Anthropology is devoted to the study of human beings and human societies as they exist across time and space. It is distinct from other social sciences in that it gives central attention to the full time span of human history, and to the full range of human societies and cultures, including those located in historically marginalized parts of the world. It is therefore especially attuned to questions of social, cultural, and biological diversity, to issues of power, identity, and inequality, and to understanding the dynamic processes of social, historical, ecological, and biological change over time. Education in Anthropology provides excellent preparation for living in a multicultural and globally-interconnected world, and helps to equip students for careers in fields including law, medicine, business, public service, research, ecological sustainability, and resource management. Students may pursue degrees in Anthropology at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels.

Undergraduate training in the department of Anthropology is designed for students who seek the bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree only. Students may declare a major in Anthropology and earn the B.A. degree by following the requirements below. The B.A. degree program usually requires at least five quarters of enrollment. Students interested in majoring in Anthropology are encouraged to declare by the beginning of their junior year and to work closely with an adviser to develop a coherent program of study.

The B.A. degree in Anthropology may be earned by fulfilling the following requirements:

1. A faculty adviser appointed in the Department of Anthropology. Undergraduate Anthropology (ANTHRO) majors should plan to meet with their faculty adviser at least once each quarter.
2. A program of 65 units, passed with an overall minimum grade of 'C':
   1. of the 65 units, 50 units must be in courses with the ANTHRO subject code. 15 may be approved from related areas of study, overseas studies, and/or transfer units and may be unrelated to the chosen emphasis.
      • Note: Any related, overseas studies, or transfer units must be approved by the faculty advisor and by petition to the Undergraduate Committee; see Forms/Documents to download a petition form.
   2. of the 65 units, at least 20 units with a minimum grade of 'C' must be in courses with the ANTHRO subject code numbered 100 or above and taught by Anthropology faculty.
   3. no more than 10 units of directed reading-style course work may be counted towards the 50 units required for the major in the ANTHRO subject code.
   4. no more than 10 units may be taken for a satisfactory/no credit grade: 5 units in ANTHRO courses, and 5 in related or transfer units.
3. A minimum grade of 'B' in an ANTHRO Writing in the Major (WIM) course from the chosen emphasis. This can be fulfilled by completing the ANTHRO Theory course, ANTHRO 90C or ANTHRO 90B, and should be taken within a year of declaring the Major or before the end of junior year.
4. A minimum grade of 'B' in an ANTHRO Theory course from the chosen emphasis. This should be taken within a year of declaring the major or before the end of the junior year
5. A minimum grade of 'B' in ANTHRO 91 Method and Evidence in Anthropology or in an approved methods course from the chosen emphasis. This should be taken within a year of declaring the major or before the end of the junior year.
6. Students must enroll in the Senior Capstone course (ANTHRO 193: Contemporary Debates in Anthropology) during their senior year.
7. An approved course of study which includes an emphasis chosen from the list below. Students must complete a minimum of 20 units in their chosen emphasis of which 10 units must be numbered 100 or above.
   1. Culture and Society
   2. Ecology, Environment and Evolution
   3. Medical Anthropology
   4. Self-Designed Emphasis
8. Competence in a foreign language beyond the first-year level. Such competence is usually demonstrated by completing a 5 unit course at the second-year level with a grade of 'B-' or better. The requirement may be met by special examination administered through the Language Center.
   • Note: Students whose programs require non-English language study as part of a geographical or linguistics focus may ask their faculty adviser to approve up to 5 units from language courses toward the degree if such courses are at the second-year level and above, or are in a second non-English language.
9. At least five quarters of enrollment in the major. Each candidate for the B.A. in Anthropology should declare a major by the first quarter of the third year of study.

Advising is an important component of the Anthropology major. Students are encouraged to work closely with their major adviser throughout their pursuit of the degree.

Advising milestones for the major include the following:

1. In the quarter in which the major is declared, students meet with their assigned faculty adviser, create a rigorous course of study based on topical breadth, and obtain adviser approval of an Anthropology emphasis as a course of study by obtaining the major adviser's signature on the Major Checklist.
2. Undergraduate Anthropology majors should plan to meet with their major faculty adviser at least once each quarter before the Final Study List deadline. Any revisions to the initial checklist must be approved by the faculty adviser.
3. Undergraduate Anthropology majors must submit an updated major checklist and planning form to the Undergraduate Student Services Specialist in the quarter before graduating.

Required Courses

1. Writing in the Major courses--
   1. Undergraduate majors can fulfill the Writing in the Major course requirement for the B.A. in Anthropology by taking the ANTHRO Theory course corresponding to their chosen emphasis.
2. Theory courses--
   Enroll in one of the following according to the student's chosen emphasis:
   1. Culture and Society/Medical Anthropology: ANTHRO 90B. Theory in Cultural and Social Anthropology
   2. Ecology, Environment, and Evolution: ANTHRO 90C. Theory of Ecological and Environmental Anthropology
3. Methods courses--
   The following course fulfills the ANTHRO undergraduate major methods course requirement.
   1. Students choosing the Ecology, Environment and Evolution emphasis may substitute ANTHRO 91C. Methods and Analysis in Ecological Anthropology, if given.
4. Department courses--
   Choose from the following according to the student's chosen emphasis. Students should complete a minimum of 20 units in their chosen emphasis of which 10 units must be numbered 100 or above. Department courses may fulfill the requirements for more than one emphasis; see the undergraduate student services specialist for details.
   1. For the Culture and Society emphasis, most essential courses are numbered ANTHRO 120 through ANTHRO 150.
   2. For the Ecology, Environment, and Evolution emphasis, most essential courses are numbered ANTHRO 160 through ANTHRO 178.
   3. For the Medical Anthropology emphasis, most essential courses are numbered ANTHRO 179 through ANTHRO 185.
5. Senior Capstone course--
   • ANTHRO 193: Contemporary Debates in Anthropology

Research Courses

Courses listed are recommended for students writing an honors research paper or senior paper in the major:

• ANTHRO 92A/B. Undergraduate Research Proposal Writing Workshop
• ANTHRO 93. Prefield Research Seminar
• ANTHRO 94. Postfield Research Seminar
• ANTHRO 95A. Research in Anthropology
• ANTHRO 199.  Senior and Masters Paper Writing Workshop
• Senior courses--ANTHRO 95B. Directed Study in Honors and Senior Papers

Requirements

• Coalition Application or Common Application
• $90 nonrefundable application fee or fee waiver request 
• (counselor verification required)
• Official testing (SAT with Essay or ACT with Writing) sent from the College Board or ACT
• School report including counselor letter of recommendation
• Official transcript(s)
• Letters of recommendation from two teachers
• Midyear transcript
• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), although not required, is strongly recommended for non-native speakers of English.