Anthropology Major

Effective Winter 2016-Summer 2016

May be elected as a departmental major

The Undergraduate Anthropology Program emphasizes the commitment of this department to four-field anthropology, providing exposure to Anthropological Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Sociocultural Anthropology. This holistic approach serves Anthropology's intellectual goal to achieve a comprehensive and comparative understanding of humanity. An undergraduate major in Anthropology contributes to a liberal arts education, offering a disciplined awareness of human behavior and social institutions in different times and places.

Prerequisites to the Major

None, but ANTHRCUL 101 is recommended.

Requirements for the Major

 At least 34 credits at the 200-level or above are required:

Choose at least one course in each of the following subfields

1. Anthropological Archaeology:
   • ANTHRARC 282 Introduction to Prehistoric Archaeology (4)
   • ANTHRARC 386 Early Civilizations
2. Biological Anthropology:
   • ANTHRBIO 201 Introduction to Biological Anthropology (4) 
3. Linguistic Anthropology:
   • ANTHRCUL 272, Language in Society (4)
   • ANTHRCUL 374 Language and Culture (4)
4. Sociocultural Anthropology:
   • ANTHRCUL 222 The Comparative Studies of Culture (4)
   • ANTHRCUL 226 Introduction to Historical Anthropology (4)
   • ANTHRCUL 230 Fundamentals of Social Theory (4)
   • ANTHRCUL 330 Culture, Thought, and Meaning (4)

The remaining credits are taken from any subfield or combination of subfields with a  minimum of five courses at the 300-level or above, at least one of which must be at the 400-level. 

At least 20 credits must be completed in residence at the University of Michigan.

A maximum of 6 credits of independent research can be counted toward the major.

Honors Plan

Students interested in scholarly research are encouraged to consider the Honors plan. Previous participation in the College Honors program is not a prerequisite. Seniors admitted to the Honors plan normally elect a seminar in their special field of interest: biological anthropology (ANTHRBIO 398), archaeology (ANTHRARC 398) or sociocultural or linguistic anthropology (ANTHRCUL 398). The seminars give students an opportunity for intensive training and research experience; the Honors plan requires a senior thesis. Interested students should consult an Anthropology advisor for more information.

Teaching Certificate

Students interested in obtaining a secondary teaching certificate with a teaching minor in Anthropology should consult the "Teacher Certification Program" on the LSA website and the School of Education Office of Academic Services.

Effective Fall 2014-Fall 2015

May be elected as a departmental major

The Undergraduate Anthropology Program emphasizes the commitment of this department to four-field anthropology, providing exposure to Anthropological Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Sociocultural Anthropology. This holistic approach serves Anthropology's intellectual goal to achieve a comprehensive and comparative understanding of humanity. An undergraduate major in Anthropology contributes to a liberal arts education, offering a disciplined awareness of human behavior and social institutions in different times and places.

Prerequisites to the Major

None, but ANTHRCUL 101 is recommended.

Requirements for the Major

 At least 34 credits at the 200-level or above are required:

Choose at least one course in each of the following subfields

1. Anthropological Archaeology:
   • ANTHRARC 282 Introduction to Prehistoric Archaeology (4)
   • ANTHRARC 284 Aztec, Maya, and Inca Civilizations (4)
   • ANTHRARC 285 Frauds and Fantastic Claims in Archaeology (4)
2. Biological Anthropology:
   • ANTHRBIO 201 Introduction to Biological Anthropology (4) 
3. Linguistic Anthropology:
   • ANTHRCUL 272, Language in Society (4)
   • ANTHRCUL 374 Language and Culture (4)
4. Sociocultural Anthropology:
   • ANTHRCUL 222 The Comparative Studies of Culture (4)
   • ANTHRCUL 226 Introduction to Historical Anthropology (4)
   • ANTHRCUL 230 Fundamentals of Social Theory (4)
   • ANTHRCUL 330 Culture, Thought, and Meaning (4)

The remaining credits are taken in the subfield of your choice with a  minimum of five courses at the 300-level or above, at least one of which must be at the 400-level. 

At least 20 credits must be completed in residence at the University of Michigan.

A maximum of 6 credits of independent research can be counted toward the major.

Honors Plan

Students interested in scholarly research are encouraged to consider the Honors plan. Previous participation in the College Honors program is not a prerequisite. Seniors admitted to the Honors plan normally elect a seminar in their special field of interest: biological anthropology (ANTHRBIO 398), archaeology (ANTHRARC 398) or sociocultural or linguistic anthropology (ANTHRCUL 398). The seminars give students an opportunity for intensive training and research experience; the Honors plan requires a senior thesis. Interested students should consult an Anthropology advisor for more information.

Teaching Certificate

Students interested in obtaining a secondary teaching certificate with a teaching minor in Anthropology should consult the "Teacher Certification Program" on the LSA website and the School of Education Office of Academic Services.

Effective Fall 2011-Summer 2014

May be elected as a departmental major

The Undergraduate Anthropology Program emphasizes the commitment of this department to four-field anthropology, providing exposure to Anthropological Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology and Sociocultural Anthropology. This holistic approach serves Anthropology's intellectual goal to achieve a comprehensive and comparative understanding of humanity. An undergraduate major in Anthropology contributes to a liberal arts education, offering a disciplined awareness of human behavior and social institutions in different times and places.

Prerequisites to the Major

None, but ANTHRCUL 101 and ANTHRBIO 161 are recommended.

The Major

Majors are expected to include at least one course in each of four subdivisions: biological anthropology, anthropological archaeology, sociocultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. At least 30 credits at the 200-level or above are required, 15 of which must be completed in residence at the University of Michigan unless approved by the department advisor. 15 of the required 30 credits must be completed in the department unless approved by an department advisor.

Please note that the following courses do not count toward the 30 credit requirement: ANTHRCUL 101, ANTHRBIO 161.

A detailed description of the major is available at the department office.

For students primarily interested in sociocultural anthropology, we recommend at least one course from each of the following categories: (1) regional courses; (2) topical courses; and (3) theory/method courses.

For students primarily interested in anthropological archaeology, we strongly recommend taking the following sequence of courses: ANTHRARC 282, 385, and 386. The goal of these three courses is to give students a general introduction to anthropological archaeology and an overview of world prehistory. In addition to these three courses, students are encouraged to take at least two area courses: one that examines the archaeological record in the New World and on focused on the Old World.

Honors Plan

Students interested in scholarly research are encouraged to consider the Honors major. Previous participation in the College Honors program is not a prerequisite. Seniors admitted to the Honors major normally elect a seminar in their special field of interest: biological anthropology (ANTHRBIO 398), archaeology (ANTHRARC 398) or sociocultural anthropology (ANTHRCUL 398). The seminars give students an opportunity for intensive training and research experience; the Honors major normally requires a senior thesis. Interested students should consult an Anthropology department advisor.

Teaching Certificate

Students interested in obtaining a secondary teaching certificate with a teaching minor in Anthropology should consult the "Teacher Certification Program"  and the School of Education Office of Academic Services.