Bachelor of Science in Anthropology

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

• Complete the Admission Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.

Graduation Requirements

• Complete the General University Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
• Complete the General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.

  • For the GER Quantitative Skills requirement, MATH A121 or MATH A151 or MATH A155 or MATH A221 or MATH A252 or MATH A252F are recommended in order to meet the prerequisite for the degree requirement in statistics.

• Complete the following major requirements: 

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.

Sample Plan

The academic plan below is one pathway through the degree/certificate. It includes all requirements, taking into account recommendations from program faculty. Each student’s plan may vary according to their initial course placement, intended course load, additional majors and/or minors, and their placement into required prerequisite courses. Any change in the plan below can have an unforeseen impact on the rest of the plan. Therefore, it is very important to meet with your academic advisor to verify your personal academic plan.

Please review the following terms, definitions, and resources associated with the sample academic plan below.

• Each course in the far left column links to a pop-up bubble with a course description, prerequisite requirements, and associations with university requirements. For example, if a course fulfills a general education requirement, you will see that in the pop-up bubble.
• GER: indicates a General Education Requirement. GERs that also count toward degree/certificate requirements appear as a specific course in the plan. For these courses, "GER" is not indicated explicitly in the table, but if you click on the course, you will see the course's GER status in the pop-up bubble.
• Program Elective: indicates a specific course selection determined by program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
• Elective: indicates an open selection of 100-400 level university courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate.
• Upper Division Program Elective: indicates a specific 300-400 level course selection determined by the program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
• Upper Division Elective: indicates an open selection of 300-400 level courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate. These courses must be upper division in order to meet General University Requirements for the particular degree/certificate type.