Undergraduate Programs
The major in Anthropology provides a broad foundation across the sub-disciplines of our field. It includes coursework in cultural, biological, and archeological anthropology, and training in methods, ethics, and anthropological writing. Students are required to take "gateway" courses in cultural anthropology and biological or archeological anthropology, a course with a "critical geographies" focus (which includes the most up-to-date regionally-focused work in anthropology), anthropological theory, and methods. Students may pursue additional courses on diverse topics. Our classes are mostly small and discussion-oriented, and all majors must take two small upper-level seminars. Students can present their research at the Spring Student Anthropology Symposium and have the option of pursuing independent research through one-semester courses and the senior honors thesis. This combination of hands-on research, disciplinary breadth, global and local understanding, and intellectual community makes Anthropology an exciting major and excellent preparation for a wide range of careers.
A minor in Anthropology complements a wide range of majors and disciplines, providing highly transferable skills and a grounding in a holistic and theoretically-informed way of thinking about humans in the world. We offer four distinct minors that allow you to gain a foundation in a thematically focused area of anthropology and training in specific methods, including ethnographic and publicly-engaged research.
If you would like to declare a major in Anthropology, you should select a faculty advisor from Professors Amahl Bishara, Alex Blanchette, Sarah Luna, Tatiana Chudakova, Craig Cipolla, Zarin Machanda, Sarah Pinto, Nick Seaver, Cathy Stanton, or Lauren Sullivan. You can get an idea of our areas of interest and expertise. It is a good idea to speak to several of us first to discuss your interests, goals, and expectations. You may also want to speak to some of our advisees in order to make sure that your prospective advisor's advising style is a good "fit" for you.
Students can declare a minor by first meeting with the designated minor advisor, and then submitting the appropriate form.
- Biological Anthropology: Assistant Professor Zarin Machanda
- Cultural Anthropology: Senior Lecturer Cathy Stanton
- Medical Anthropology: Associate Professor Sarah Pinto
- Social Justice Anthropology: Associate Professor Amahl Bishara
The Anthropology transfer credit advisor is Craig Cipolla. To transfer Anthropology credit from another institution, please go to SIS and follow the instructions.
Programs
BA in Anthropology
The BA in Anthropology lets you explore an extraordinarily wide range of topics and questions. The Department of Anthropology offers several areas of focus to fit your own particular interests and goals.
Minor in Biological Anthropology
The Minor in Biological Anthropology provides students with a basic understanding of how evolutionary principles can be applied to answer the question of why humans are the way we are.
Minor in Cultural Anthropology
The Minor in Cultural Anthropology provides a basic understanding of social and cultural dynamics of human societies, cultural anthropological theory, and ethnographic research methods.
Minor in Medical Anthropology
The Minor in Medical Anthropology provides students with a basic understanding of the social and cultural components of health, illness, disease, healing, and medicine, emphasizing relationships between systems of knowledge, therapeutics, social structures, and human experience.
Minor in Social Justice Anthropology
The Minor in Social Justice Anthropology allows students to focus their study of anthropology on writing, cultural production, activism, and other practices that promote social justice, for example in a feminist, democratic, anti-racist, anti-colonial, environmental, or anti-poverty vein.
Admissions
Please visit our admissions website for comprehensive information on our admissions processes and requirements, deadlines, financial aid options, forms and instructions.