Major Requirements

Anthropology Major Requirements

• Declaring the Anthropology Major
• Human Biology Concentration
• Medical Anthropology and Global Health Concentration
• Quicklook: Requirements for Anthropology Major & Concentrations

Declaring the Anthropology Major

In order to declare Anthropology your major, you should first telephone the Undergraduate Coordinator at 215.746.0418 to make an appointment to meet with the Undergraduate Chair.

The Anthropology major consists of 14 credits, each taken for a grade. You may NOT take a class PASS/FAIL and count it toward your major. The Anthropology major covers the fields of Archaeology, Biological/Physical, and Cultural/Linguistic Anthropology. Though the Department encourages a broadly based education within Anthropology (and discourages specialization), you may nevertheless indicate one of these sub-fields as your concentration. The major also offers a specialized Human Biology concentration that will be described below.

All majors must take the required courses—ANTH 001, 002 (or 004), 003, plus two 100+ level courses in Cultural/Linguistic Anthropology and one 100+ level course in each of Biological/Physical Anthropology and Archaeology. The other seven units may be taken from one or any combination of these sub-fields, though you are encouraged to take as many as possible in all three fields. An Anthropology Freshman Seminar may be included here. You also should consider taking Statistics as well as a course in research methods appropriate to your field of concentration. A maximum of three non-anthropology courses (and those not already cross-listed with anthropology) can be applied to the major with the approval of the Undergraduate Chair, but these courses should be linked to a more general topic or theme in your concentration. The major also encourages Study Abroad. Minimum Requirement 14 c.u.

Human Biology Concentration

Anthropology students who wish to concentrate in Human Biology are expected to complete courses for a grade from four blocks. This concentration is designed for students who wish to study medicine, public health and biocultural aspects of health. The first consists of the three introductory courses—ANTH 001, 002 (or 004), and 003. The second block consists of ANTH 143—Human Biology, plus two additional courses selected from a menu of courses in Biological/Physical fundamentals. The third block requires ANTH 238—Medical Anthropology, plus three additional courses selected from a menu emphasizing applied anthropological perspectives on health, nutrition, and medicine. The fourth block consists of four general electives. Any two additional Anthropology courses may be included here, and/or courses from other departments that have a biological/physical emphasis (but no more than two from any one department). A list of courses from other departments is suggestive, but since course offerings change frequently it is wise to consult with the Undergraduate Chair for advance approval of these courses. Students are encouraged to plan for a research project in their senior year under the mentorship of one of the affiliate faculty members.

Medical Anthropology and Global Health Concentration

Anthropology students wishing to become Medical Anthropology and Global Health concentrators are expected to complete courses for a grade from four blocks. The first consists of the three introductory courses-ANTH 001, 002 (or 004), and 003. The second block consists of ANTH 238-Introduction to Medical Anthropology, plus two additional courses selected from a menu of courses in Cultural Anthropology and Medical Anthropology Fundamentals and Methods. The third block requires ANTH 273-Globalization and Health, plus three additional courses selected from a menu emphasizing Anthropological Perspectives on Global Health and Disease. The fourth block consists of four general electives. Any two additional Anthropology courses may be included here, and/or courses from other departments that have a medical anthropological/global health emphasis (but no more than two from any one department). A list of courses from other departments is suggestive, but since course offerings change frequently it is wise to consult with the Undergraduate Chair for advance approval of these courses. Students are encouraged to plan for a research project in their senior year under the mentorship of one of the affiliate faculty members.

Quicklook: Requirement Diagrams

This information is a part of the downloadable Undergraduate Handbook.