Anthropology is the holistic, comparative study of human diversity. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Anthropology provides students with a solid foundation in the contemporary theory, practice and application of the discipline and an understanding of global human diversity with a special emphasis on the cultures, lifeways and contemporary social issues of Alaska and the Circumpolar North. The program prepares students in intercultural fluency, critical thinking and research skills through coursework, applied research experiences and fieldwork. Graduates find opportunities in laboratory sciences, international development agencies, governmental agencies, museums, non-profit organizations, publishing and many other fields. Many graduates also pursue graduate degrees in anthropology, medicine, public health, behavioral sciences, forensics and other fields.
Admission Requirements
Graduation Requirements
- Complete the General University Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
- Complete the General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
- Complete the following major requirements:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| ANTH A202 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH A205 & A205L | Biological Anthropology and Biological Anthropology Laboratory | 4 |
| ANTH A210 | Linguistic Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH A211 & A211L | Archaeology and Archaeology Laboratory | 4 |
| ANTH A410 | Anthropological Theory | 3 |
| ANTH A458 | Applied Ethics in Anthropology 1 | 3 |
| Ethnographic Courses | ||
| ANTH A200 | Alaska Native Cultures | 3 |
| ANTH A390A | Arctic and Subarctic Cultures 1 | 3 |
| ANTH A390B | World Cultures 1 | 3 |
| or ANTH A390C | Comparative Culture Studies | |
| Methodology Courses | ||
| Complete six credits from at least two the following: 2 | 6 | |
| Applied Anthropology | ||
| Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Field Methods in Archaeology and Bioanthropology 3 | ||
| Cultural Resource Management | ||
| Analytical Techniques in Archaeology and Bioanthropology 1 | ||
| Field Methods in Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Environmental Policy and Regulation in Alaska | ||
or GEOG A475 | Geospatial and Cartographic Techniques for the Sciences | |
| Topical/Theoretical Courses | ||
| Complete six credits from at least two of the following: 2 | 6 | |
| Archaeological Theory | ||
| Culture and Human Biodiversity | ||
| Culture and Ecology | ||
| Culture and Health | ||
| Culture and Globalization | ||
| Health, Ritual and Science 1 | ||
| Historical Engagements 1 | ||
| Belief and Identity 1 | ||
| Topics in the Contemporary North 1 | ||
| Culture, Environment, Place 1 | ||
| Program Electives | ||
| Complete any additional 3 credits in ANTH or GEOG. | 3 | |
| Statistics Course | ||
| STAT A253 | Applied Statistics for the Sciences | 4 |
| or STAT A307 | Probability and Statistics | |
| Upper-Division Natural Sciences Electives | ||
| Complete six upper-division credits in BIOL, CHEM, GEOL, or PHYS. | 6 | |
| Total | 54 | |
- 1
Specific topical emphases for these courses vary by offering. See catalog course descriptions for details.
- 2
Other upper-division selected topics (ANTH A490), practicum (ANTH A495), independent study (ANTH A497), or individual research (ANTH A498), or thesis (ANTH A499) courses may be applied to satisfy methodological or topical/theoretical course requirements with department approval, depending on course content.
- 3
ANTH A431 is infrequently offered, typically as a summer field school. Please check with the Department of Anthropology for schedule.
A minimum of 120 credits is required for the degree, of which 39 credits must be upper-division.
Honors in Anthropology
The Bachelor of Science in Anthropology recognizes distinguished achievement by undergraduate majors in the study of anthropology by conferring programmatic honors in anthropology. In order to receive honors in anthropology, a student must meet the following requirements:
- Be a declared anthropology major;
- Satisfy all of the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Anthropology;
- Meet the requirements for Graduation with Honors as outlined in the catalog;
- Earn a minimum GPA of 3.50 in courses specific to the anthropology major;
- Complete a senior thesis project (taken as ANTH A499), based on library, laboratory or field research resulting in a substantial, thesis-quality paper defended before the anthropology faculty. The course may be taken on a one-semester (3-credit) or two-semester (6-credit) basis.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Anthropology, the holistic, comparative study of human diversity, consists of four subfields: archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. The BA/BS degrees develop student knowledge of these four subfields, their theories, methods, applications, and relevance to understanding global human diversity with an emphasis on the cultures, people, and social issues of Alaska and the Circumpolar North.
Students graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology will be able to:
- Demonstrate a familiarity with the development of anthropological thought and the contemporary concepts, theories, and application of the four subfields.
- Use anthropological perspectives to describe the past and present cultural diversity of Alaska and analyze contemporary social topics in the Circumpolar North.
- Identify ethical principles that guide anthropological practice and ethical issues encountered in anthropological research.
- Exhibit proficiency in documenting, evaluating, and communicating anthropological information.
- Explain how to apply anthropological methods and techniques to research questions and practical social problems.