Advising for the Anthropology Major
The anthropology major is organized to help students progress from building an understanding of the field of anthropology to developing the skills and knowledge necessary to undertake independent anthropological research. The foundation of the major is a three-course introductory sequence: ANTH 110: Cultural Anthropology or ANTH 130: Linguistic Anthropology; ANTH 120: World Prehistory; and ANTH 140: Biological Anthropology. Majors should take all three as early as possible, and preferably in their freshman year.
There are four tracks through the anthropology major, each with its own set of methods and topical courses, as shown in the table below. Majors should try to complete the 200-level methods course group in their track by the end of their sophomore year and must complete them prior to their Senior Experience. NOTE: The Linguistic Anth track is suspended pending changes to the major.
| Cultural Anthropology & General Track | Linguistic Anthropology Track* |
Archaeology Track |
Biological Anthropology Track | ||
| Methods |
Theory Statistics Knowledge and Skills |
Anth 200 Anth 207 Anth 210
|
Anth 200 Anth 207 Anth 210 |
Anth 200 Anth 207 Anth 220** Anth 222 Anth 422 |
Anth 200 Anth 207 or Biol 170 Biol 130 Biol 150
|
| Topics |
Gateway (300-400 level)*** |
3 upper-division Anthropology electives |
Anth 330 or 331 Anth 430 1 additional upper-division Anthropology elective
|
2 upper- division Anthropology electives |
2 upper-division Anthropology electives 2 Biology electives and 1 additional natural science elective (including at least one lab course) |
| Advanced | One 500-level seminar | Anth 530 or 531 | Anth 520 or 500-level seminar with approval | Anth 540 |
*Students specializing in linguistic anthropology should take ANTH 210 in their sophomore year, ANTH 330 Language and Culture or ANTH 331 Introduction to Sociolinguistics also in their sophomore year, followed by ANTH 430 Methods in Linguistic Anthropology, and ANTH 530 Topics in Linguistic Anthropology or ANTH 531 Semiotics for their 500-level seminar requirement.
**Or an approved field archaeology experience
***Ethnomusicology courses taught by Prof. Sonja Downing (listed under Musicology) also count as 300-level electives for anthropology majors.
The Senior Experience for anthropology majors consists of ANTH 401 Research Preparation in Anthropology, taken in the spring of the junior year; one Senior Experience foundation course consisting of ANTH 430 or any 6-unit 500- or 600-level course in anthropology taken in the senior year; and ANTH 699: Senior Experience in Anthropology (2 units) taken concurrently with the Senior Experience foundation course.
In addition to the formal course requirements we highly encourage students to study abroad for at least one term. Off-campus study programs with fieldwork experiences for anthropology majors include: The London Centre, and programs in India, CET Shanghai, Tanzania, Botswana, Senegal, Jordan, Costa Rica, and Australia.
For more information, contact the department chair: Mark Jenike, Associate Professor of Anthropology.
For specific questions regarding the Archaeology track, contact Peter Peregrine, Professor of Anthropology.
For specific questions regarding the Biological Anthropology track, contact Mark Jenike, Associate Professor of Anthropology.
NOTE: The Linguistic Anth track is suspended pending changes to the major.