Anthropology Major and Minor

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 upper-level courses in a concentration, and two electives. Anthropology majors complete a second major or a minor or certificate, and anthropology advisors can assist students with selecting those additional programs.

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 upper-level courses (see below).

Electives: Students choosing to complete the single required concentration 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. Majors who complete additional concentration(s) do not need anthropology electives.

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.

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

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

Anthropology majors 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, human rights abuses, food insecurity, cultural heritage loss, and human dimensions of global environmental change. Applied anthropologists also work in user experience (UX), business, health care, international development, and education, among other fields. The majority of professional anthropologists work in applied anthropology.

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 material remains such as tools, monuments, and ritual objects. There are a number of specializations in archaeology, such as historical archaeology, forensic archaeology, Classical archaeology, Biblical archaeology, underwater archaeology, geoarchaeology, zooarchaeology, paleoethnobotany, industrial archaeology, and public archaeology.

Archaeology Concentration Requirements: 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 biophysical evolution, modern human biological variation, demography, health and disease, growth and development, diet and nutrition, and forensic anthropology.

Biological Anthropology Concentration Requirements: 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: 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.

Finish in Four Plans assist anthropology majors determine a timeline for completion of the degree program during a four-year time frame. Each plan 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 Finish in Four Plan 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.

Finish in Four Plans for Anthropology Majors are available online at https://catalog.wku.edu/undergraduate/arts-letters/folk-studies-anthropology/anthropology-ba/#finishinfourtext-otp1. There is one for each of the four anthropology major concentrations.

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.