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Twin Cities Campus
Anthropology B.A.Anthropology
College of Liberal Arts
Anthropology is the study of human beings and cultures throughout the world during the present and past. Said another way, it is the study of "who we are, and how we came to be that way." Anthropology is partly a natural science, partly a social science, and partly a humanistic study. Anthropology majors compare and contrast the biological, social, and cultural similarities and differences of humans and their societies across the globe and develop a sophisticated understanding of the biological unity of our species.
Students who major in the field are expected to take courses in the four sub-fields of anthropology. Students planning a professional career in anthropology generally specialize in one of the sub-fields: biological anthropology (the evolutionary history of human and nonhuman primates), archaeology (the study of prehistoric and historic societies through their material culture), sociocultural anthropology (the study of the behavior of recent peoples in settings that range from unindustrialized societies to modern urban centers), and linguistic anthropology (the comparative study of languages and communication). The Anthropology Department website (http://anthropology.umn.edu/undergrad/requirements.html) offers several examples of course sequences designed to provide training in particular sub-fields.
There are a variety of opportunities for graduates with degrees in anthropology. While some go on to graduate school in order to obtain a position in a university, most graduates find non-academic jobs in the private and public sectors. Private industry consulting, environmental firms, product development and marketing firms, as well as the nonprofit sector all employ anthropologists because of the unique observational and critical thinking skills they possess. Governmental agencies at the federal and state levels seek anthropologists for various positions. Biological anthropologists find employment as forensic scientists working for law enforcement. Archaeologists find jobs in cultural resource management (CRM) firms whose services are contracted by construction companies to ensure compliance with legislation pertaining to archaeological and historical preservation. An anthropology major is also excellent preparation for professional schools in medicine, public health, nursing, and law.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' data (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos315.htm) indicate that anthropologist and archaeologist jobs are growing at a faster rate (26 percent by 2018) than other social sciences. Based on the Wall Street Journal's interactive graphic (http://graphicsweb.wsj.com/documents/NILF1111/#term=), the unemployment percentage for graduates with an anthropology major is also lower than many more popular majors, including psychology, architecture, sociology, and journalism. More important, an anthropology major offers a holistic education that, regardless of the job attained after graduation, provides a perspective on humanity that inspires a lifetime of engagement with the issues of importance to our globalized society.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the
liberal education requirements.
Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
Students are required to complete 4 semester(s) of
any second language.
with a grade of C-, or better, or S, or demonstrate proficiency in the language(s) as defined by the department
or college.
At least one upper-division course in the major (ANTH 3xxx-5xxx) must be writing intensive. Students may earn a B.A. or a minor in anthropology, but not both.
Beginning fall 2012, all incoming CLA freshmen must complete the appropriate First Year Experience course sequence. Specific information about this collegiate requirement can be found at: http://class.umn.edu/degree_requirements/index.html
Preparatory Courses
ANTH 1001 - Human Evolution
[BIOL]
(4.0 cr)
ANTH 1003W - Understanding Cultures
[SOCS, GP, WI]
(4.0 cr)
or
ANTH 1005W {Inactive}
[SOCS, GP, WI]
(4.0 cr)
Subfield Foundation Courses
Take at least one course from at least three of the four subfields: archeology; biological anthropology; sociocultural anthropology; linguistic anthropology.
Take 3 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ANTH 3001 - Introduction to Archaeology
[SOCS]
(4.0 cr)
·
ANTH 3002 - Sex, Evolution, and Behavior: Examining Human Evolutionary Biology
(4.0 cr)
or
ANTH 3401 - The Human Fossil Record
(3.0 cr)
or
ANTH 5401 - The Human Fossil Record
(3.0 cr)
·
ANTH 3003 - Cultural Anthropology
(3.0 cr)
·
ANTH 3005W - Language, Culture, and Power
[SOCS, DSJ, WI]
(4.0 cr)
or
ANTH 3015W - Biology, Evolution, and Cultural Development of Language & Music
[SOCS, WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
ANTH 5015W - Biology, Evolution, and Cultural Development of Language & Music
[SOCS, WI]
(3.0 cr)
Upper-Division Training in Anthropology
Students must take five upper-division courses in anthropology, of which at least three must be 4xxx or 5xxx courses. Directed studies, reading, and research courses can be used to satisfy part of the upper-division training requirement (normally limited to a total of 6 credits). Special topics courses can be used to satisfy part of the upper-division training requirement.
Take 2 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ANTH 3xxx
·
ANTH 4xxx
·
ANTH 5xxx
Take 3 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ANTH 4xxx
·
ANTH 5xxx
Senior Project
Choose one of the following two options to complete the senior project: Take ANTH 3913 and ANTH 4013. Enroll in ANTH 3913 at least one term before registering for ANTH 4013. Honors students should enroll in ANTH 4013H. Or, take 3 or more credits of ANTH 4xxx or ANTH 5xxx.
ANTH 3993 - Directed Study for Capstone Project Preparation
(1.0 cr)
ANTH 4013W - Capstone Project Writing Seminar
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
ANTH 4013H - Capstone Project Writing Seminar
(3.0 cr)
or
Take 3 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
ANTH 4xxx
·
ANTH 5xxx
|
|
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Anth 1003W/Anth 1003V |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Anth 3002/EEB 3002 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Anth 3401/Anth 5401 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Anth 3401/Anth 5401 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Anth 3003/GloS 3003 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Anth 3015W/Anth 5015W |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Anth 3015W/Anth 5015W |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |