Anthropology Major and Minor

FOR DECLARED MAJORS

A major in anthropology (reference number 608) requires a minimum of 30 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. At least half of the total semester hours must be in upper-division (300- or 400- level) courses. Requirements of the major include five core courses, three courses in a concentration, and two electives. Students must complete a second major or a minor.

Core Courses: All students complete the five-course (15-hour) core curriculum consisting of ANTH 120, 125, 130, 135, and 399. Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all core courses of the anthropology major.

Concentrations: Each student completes at least one of four three-course (nine-hour) concentrations in Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, and/or Cultural Resource Management, each concentration having its own required courses (see below).

Electives: Students choosing to complete only one concentration must complete six hours of elective courses, to be selected from anthropology offerings in consultation with the anthropology advisor.

FOR NEW MAJORS DECLARING/STARTING IN FALL 2020

A major in anthropology (reference number 608) requires a minimum of 31 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. At least half of the total semester hours must be in upper-division (300- or 400- level) courses. Requirements of the major include six core courses, three courses in a concentration, and two electives. Students must complete a second major or a minor or certificate.

Core Courses: All students complete the six-course (16-hour) core curriculum consisting of ANTH 120, 125, 130, 135, 399, and 499. Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all core courses of the anthropology major.

Concentrations: Each student completes at least one of four three-course (nine-hour) concentrations in Applied Anthropology, Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, and/or Cultural Anthropology, each concentration having its own required courses (see below).

Electives: Students choosing to complete only one concentration must complete six hours of elective courses, to be selected from anthropology offerings in consultation with the anthropology advisor. A maximum of three credit hours in ANTH 395, 493, and 495 electives may be counted in the first 31 hours of the major.

A minor in anthropology requires a minimum of 21 semester hours. At least 12 hours must be in upper-division (300- or 400- level) courses. Requirements include three of the four 100-level introductory courses, ANTH 399, and three electives to total 21 hours. Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all core courses of the anthropology minor.

Core Courses: Each student must complete ANTH 399 and three courses selected from ANTH 120, 125, 130 and 135. Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all four core courses of the anthropology minor.

Electives: Each student must complete nine hours of upper-division elective courses, to be selected from anthropology offerings in consultation with the anthropology advisor.

Each anthropology major must complete at least one three-course (9-hour) concentration, each concentration having its own required courses. Students who complete more than one concentration are not required to complete elective courses in the major, and they may count a maximum of one course in multiple concentrations. 

Applied Anthropology

Applied anthropology is the use of anthropological knowledge and methods to address contemporary human problems such as poverty, racial injustice, social inequity, genocide, and the human dimensions of global environmental change.

Applied Anthropology Concentration Requirements: ANTH 360 and two courses selected from ANTH 300, 382, 434, 436, 442, and 449.

Archaeology

Archaeology is the study of past human cultures anywhere in the world based on their material remains such as tools, monuments, and ritual objects. Historic archaeologists are interested in past cultures with written documents, while prehistorians study past cultures lacking written documents. Other specializations include Classical archaeology, Biblical archaeology, underwater archaeology, geoarchaeology, zooarchaeology, and industrial archaeology.

Archaeology Concentration Requirements for Current Majors: One course selected from ANTH 335 or 336; at least three hours in ANTH 432; and ANTH 438. ANTH 316, 333, and 366 Special Topics: The Archaeologist Looks at Death may substitute for ANTH 335 or 336 with advisor approval.

Archaeology Concentration Requirements for New Majors: One course selected from ANTH 316, 318, 333, 335, or 336; at least three hours in ANTH 432; and ANTH 438.

Biological Anthropology

Biological anthropology is the study of humans as biological organisms on the molecular, individual, population, and species levels. Biological anthropologists study a variety of topics, including non-human primates, human origins and evolution, modern human biological variation, demography, health and disease, growth and development, diet and nutrition, and forensic anthropology.

Biological Anthropology Concentration Requirements for Current Majors: ANTH 300, 305, and 450. ANTH 366 Special Topics: Bioarchaeology may substitute for one of these courses with advisor approval.

Biological Anthropology Concentration Requirements for New Majors: ANTH 300, 305, and 452.

Cultural Anthropology

Cultural anthropology is the study of the beliefs, practices, and institutions of contemporary human societies anywhere in the world. Cultural anthropologists use participant observation, interviewing, photography, videography, questionnaires, archival research, and other methods to document, describe, and explain human culture, including technology, subsistence, settlement, exchange, ethnicity, kinship, social organization, cosmology, religion, art, health care, and culture contact.

Cultural Anthropology Concentration Requirements for Current Majors: One area course selected from: ANTH 340, 342, 345, 350 and 378; one topics course selected from ANTH 343, 382, 400, 410, 442, 446, 448 and 449; one additional area or topics course. ANTH 388 may be counted as a topics course with advisor approval.

Cultural Anthropology Concentration Requirements for New Majors: One area course selected from: ANTH 340, 342, 345, 350 and 378; one topics course selected from ANTH 343, 382, 388, 400, 410, 442, 446, 448 and 449; one additional area or topics course.

Cultural Resource Management

Cultural resource management (CRM) involves the identification, assessment, documentation, management, preservation, and interpretation of cultural resources important to our human heritage. Cultural resources include archaeological sites, shipwrecks, cemeteries and burial grounds, standing structures, historic districts, historic landscapes, traditional crafts, traditional cultural practices, and museum collections. Cultural resource managers work for government agencies, private preservation firms, public historic organizations, private foundations, museums, and interpretive sites.

CRM Concentration Requirements for Current Majors: ANTH 436; two courses selected from ANTH 434, 470, and 493, FLK 434, 445, 446, and 464.

The CRM concentration is available only to students who declared the anthropology major and this concentration prior to Fall 2020. We anticipate that the CRM concentration will be replaced with a certificate program in 2020-2021.

Four-Year Degree Paths assist anthropology majors determine a timeline for completion of the degree program during a four-year time frame. Each path outlines the anticipated order in which a degree would typically be completed by showing appropriate timing and spacing of general education requirements, major courses, second major or minor courses, and electives. Because the Degree Path is simply a guide and might not apply to each student's individual situation, students should consult frequently with their anthropology advisors to ensure that all degree requirements are met.

2019-2020 Degree Paths for Current Majors

Archaeology Concentration

Biological Anthropology Concentration

Cultural Anthropology Concentration

Cultural Resource Management Concentration

2020-2021 Degree Paths for New Majors

Applied Anthropology Concentration

Archaeology Concentration

Biological Anthropology Concentration

Cultural Anthropology Concentration

The process for declaring a Major or Minor in Anthropology is the same process as all other majors or minors at WKU. A change of major or minor can be completed online from TopNet. To locate this form on TopNet, go to Student Services, Student Records and then select the Change form.