The Department of Anthropology offers the bachelor of arts (BA) degree in anthropology, with two optional specialized tracks. Anthropology students acquire skills that serve them in many different settings and occupations, including how to communicate with people of different cultures, how to recognize the varied perspectives that characterize people from different societies, how to gather and interpret data about human beings and how to obtain funding and work within a budget.
General information about our undergraduate anthropology program is available in the UA Undergraduate Catalog.
Declaring a Major in Anthropology
There are no pre-requisites for admission to major. In general, students are expected to formally declare a major no later than the fourth semester of full-time enrollment (or 61 semester hours for transfer students). See the undergraduate director, Dr. Cameron Lacquement, to declare Anthropology as your major.
Students are expected to meet the director of undergraduate studies as soon as they declare a major in Anthropology. The director will advise them of curriculum requirements, assign an adviser in the department, and answer any questions concerning curriculum.
Download the Advising Checklist of Anthropology Majors.
Required Courses in the Major
| Major Course |
Credit Hours |
| ANT 102 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology* |
3 Hrs. |
| ANT 107 Introduction to Archaeology* |
3 Hrs. |
| ANT 210 Language and Culture* |
3 Hrs. |
| ANT 270 Introduction to Biological Anthropology** |
4 Hrs. |
| ANT 421 Ethnography or ANT 440 Culture*** |
3 Hrs. |
| ANT 300-400 archaeology (see note below) |
3 Hrs. |
| ANT 300-400 biological anthropology (see note below) |
3 Hrs. |
| ANT 100+ |
3 Hrs. |
| ANT 300+ |
6 Hrs. |
| Total |
31 Hrs. |
*SB Core Credit, **N Core Credit, ***Writing Core Credit
Note: Archaeology course must be completed from this list: (ANT) 319, 368, 409, 424, 425, 426, 428, 444, 445, 458, 459, 460, 462, 464, 466, 468, or any 300-400 level archaeology course
Note: Biological anthropology courses must be completed from this list: (ANT) 311,
312, 471, 473, 474, 475, 478, 479, or any 300-400 level biological course
Specialized Tracks in Anthropology
In addition to the anthropology courses described above, specialized tracks are available to students at the major and minor levels for those wishing to concentrate in a specific area.
Health Professions Track
This specialization in health may be attractive to pre-health professionals and/or those planning a future in health science or health care, including but not limited to medicine, nursing, public health, health policy, epidemiology, medical anthropology, and medical sociology. In addition to the Common Courses list below, students will take:
- ANT 275
- ANT 411
- ANT 311, 322, 402, 405, 476, 478
Archaeology of the Americas Track
This archaeology specialization in cultural resource management may be attractive to archaeological technicians and/or those planning a career in cultural resource management, including
but not limited to private consulting firms, National Park Service, National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and State Historic Preservation Offices. In addition to the Common Courses above, students will take:
- ANT 269
- ANT 466
- ANT 319, 368, 409, 424, 425, 426, 428, 444, 445, 458, 459, 460, 462, 464, 468
Residency Requirement
A minimum of 12 hours at the 300-and 400-level in this major must be earned on this campus.
Required Ancillary Courses
The major in Anthropology does not require ancillary courses. However, it is recommended that students, especially those considering graduate school, study a foreign language.
Required Minor
This major requires the completion of a minor (Note: Double majors do not need to complete a minor).