Anthropology
The study of human cultures, societies, and evolution.
Anthropology studies humans across cultures and across time, covering cultural practices, human evolution, archaeology, and language. Most programs are divided into subfields, cultural, biological, archaeological, and linguistic anthropology, and let students focus on one or sample broadly.
Fieldwork and ethnographic methods (observing and participating in a community to understand it from the inside) are central to cultural anthropology, while biological and archaeological tracks involve more lab and excavation-based work.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
- ✓Biological Anthropology
- ✓Archaeology
- ✓Linguistic Anthropology
- ✓Ethnographic Methods
- ✓Anthropological Theory
- ✓Regional or Topical Seminar
- ✓Senior Research Project or Fieldwork
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
- +General education requirement
- ✓Biological Anthropology
- +General education requirement
- ✓Archaeology
- +General education requirement
- ✓Linguistic Anthropology
- +Free elective
- ✓Ethnographic Methods
- +Free elective
- ✓Anthropological Theory
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Regional or Topical Seminar
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Senior Research Project or Fieldwork
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Curious about other cultures and ways of life
- ★Enjoys observation, listening, and qualitative research
- ★Interested in human history, evolution, or archaeology
- ★Comfortable with ambiguity and interpretive analysis
Common minors & double-major pairings
Foreign Language · History · Sociology
Frequently asked questions
What is a Anthropology major?
The study of human cultures, societies, and evolution.
What courses do Anthropology majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Archaeology, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Anthropology program?
Anthropology coursework typically builds skills like Ethnographic research and observation, Cross-cultural analysis and perspective-taking, Understanding human evolution and biological diversity, Qualitative research methods.
Is Anthropology a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Curious about other cultures and ways of life" or "Enjoys observation, listening, and qualitative research" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What other majors pair well with Anthropology?
Common minor or double-major pairings include Foreign Language, History, Sociology.
How is Anthropology different from Sociology?
They're related but distinct. Anthropology: The study of human cultures, societies, and evolution. Sociology: How societies, groups, and institutions shape human life. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Anthropology degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
Printed from majoratlas.com/majors/anthropology