Anthropology Major (B.A.)

Anthropology Major (B.A.)
Anthropology student and professor

At this time of increasing globalization, anthropology provides students with a broad overview of diverse peoples and cultures. The anthropology degree both prepares students for graduate-level studies and serves as a foundation for a wide range of careers. With backgrounds in anthropology, our students become teachers, social workers, public policy experts, forensic investigators, health practitioners, primatologists, international business executives, and community and economic development specialists, as well as pursuing various other careers.


What is anthropology?

What does it mean to be human? That’s the question you’ll try to answer while pursuing a degree in anthropology. You’ll study human beings and past and present societies throughout the world. You’ll gain a broad overview of diverse peoples and cultures and acquire critical thinking skills, preparing you for today’s increasingly globalized world and job market.

Why study anthropology at UNH?

You can take hands-on courses in archaeology and socio-cultural, applied, medical, biological and forensic anthropology, and work with faculty on academic and applied research projects in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Central and Southeast Asia. Internships in anthropology provide supervised practical experience, and a study-away program in Belize offers hands-on archaeological experience.

Potential careers

  • Archaeologist
  • Business anthropologist
  • Community and economic development specialist
  • Forensic investigator
  • Museum curator
  • Public health expert
  • Teacher
Contact
Contact

Academic/Student Services Assistant
Phone: (603) 862-1864
Office: Anthropology Dept, Morrill Hall Rom B11, Durham, NH 03824
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Curriculum & Requirements

Anthropology asks the question: What does it mean to be human? We answer this fundamental query with a global perspective on the human condition as students explore both the similarity and diversity of human experience. Through courses that cover a wide range of societies throughout the world, we investigate the human condition, past and present. Introductory courses provide an overview of the fields of anthropology: social and cultural anthropology, archeology, physical anthropology and linguistics. More advanced courses provide the opportunity for students to pursue intensive study of particular topics in cross-cultural perspective. The department emphasizes critical thinking and writing skills and encourages close faculty/student contact in seminar courses and at the upper level. Students, in consultation with their academic adviser, have the opportunity to take courses in other departments that complement specific foci in anthropology.

At this time of increasing globalization, anthropology provides students with a broad overview of diverse peoples and cultures. Majors are therefore well prepared to live in a rapidly changing world. The major both prepares students for graduate-level studies and serves as a foundation for a wide range of careers. With backgrounds in anthropology, our students become teachers, social workers, public policy experts, forensic investigators, health practitioners, primatologists, international business executives, and community and economic development specialists, as well as pursuing various other careers.

To declare a major in anthropology, students must have completed at least one introductory level anthropology course at the 400 or 500 level with a grade of C or better.

Below is a general degree plan that we recommend anthropology majors follow as they plan their course schedules for their major course requirements over their four years at UNH. This general plan provides a recommended pace and appropriate order for the core courses offered in the major.

Plan of Study Grid
First YearCredits
ANTH 411 Global Perspectives on the Human Condition: An Introduction to Anthropology 4
ANTH 412
or ANTH 415
Broken Pots and Buried Cities: Introduction to World Archaeology
or The Human Story: Evolution, Fossils and DNA
4
ANTH 500
or ANTH 501
Peoples and Cultures of the World
or World Archaeological Cultures
4
 Credits12
Second Year
ANTH 513
or ANTH 514
Ethnographic Methods
or Method and Theory in Archaeology
4
One ANTH 500-level or above course 4
One ANTH 600-level course 4
 Credits12
Third Year
ANTH 611 History of Anthropological Theory 4
One ANTH 600-level or above course 4
One ANTH 600-level or above course 4
 Credits12
Fourth Year
ANTH 699 Senior Thesis (optional) 4-8
ANTH #750
or ANTH 785
or ANTH 797
Islam and Gender: Gendered Lives of Muslims
or The Anthropology of Dreams and Dreaming
or Advanced Topics
4
 Credits8-12
 Total Credits44-48

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: Yes

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

Majors must complete a minimum of 40 credits in anthropology with grades of C or better and in accordance with the below requirements. The required minimum overall GPA in major coursework is 2.0.

Required Courses
ANTH 411Global Perspectives on the Human Condition: An Introduction to Anthropology4
ANTH 412Broken Pots and Buried Cities: Introduction to World Archaeology4
or ANTH 415 The Human Story: Evolution, Fossils and DNA
ANTH 500Peoples and Cultures of the World4
or ANTH 501 World Archaeological Cultures
ANTH 513Ethnographic Methods4
or ANTH 514 Method and Theory in Archaeology
ANTH 611History of Anthropological Theory4
Electives
One additional course numbered 500 or above4
Three additional courses numbered 600 or above12
Capstone Requirement
ANTH #750Islam and Gender: Gendered Lives of Muslims4
or ANTH 785 The Anthropology of Dreams and Dreaming
or ANTH 797 Advanced Topics
Total Credits40

(Note: While 8 credits, ANTH 699 and ANTH 699H Honors Senior Thesis count only as one ANTH 600-level course requirement.)

The Discovery Program capstone requirement may be fulfilled by completing one 700-level course (seminar format).

Other courses, internships, or experiences may be substituted with the permission of the student's adviser and anthropology department chair.

Anthropology majors may use one major-required course to satisfy one Discovery category requirement. Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. Bachelor of arts candidates must also satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement. American Sign Language may not be applied toward the foreign language requirement.

Honors-in-major and senior thesis options are available.

Students declaring the major in anthropology are expected to make steady progress toward fulfillment of major requirements. Typically, this means taking at least one anthropology course per semester until all of the requirements have been met. A student who has fulfilled most of the major requirements may request an exception to this policy from their advisor.

  • Demonstrate ability to conduct anthropological research: to collect primary and secondary source data in the observation, documentation, or excavation of human actions, languages, remains, and or material artifacts.
  • Master the ability to write with an anthropological lens: to critically analyze data with respect to historical and current anthropological theories and perspectives, and to construct persuasive arguments.
  • Exhibit skills in presentation of anthropological research: in writing (ethnography, technical reports, and other genres), inter-personal and public speaking, and or data visualization (graphic illustration, exhibition, mapping, or modeling, for example).
  • Demonstrate the knowledge or ability to collaborate with research partners and communities as part of a commitment to public, applied, engaged, or activist anthropology and archaeology.
  • Demonstrate the ability to think comparatively about diversity and inequality across the global as well as within a specific social context, and to apply anthropological methods, perspectives, and theories to the world around them.

Explore Program Details

Senior Thesis Option

The Department of Anthropology offers students the option of completing a senior thesis. The senior thesis is not a task to be undertaken lightly. Generally, the thesis option is for those students who in the course of their undergraduate careers have developed a deep and sustained interest in a particular topic of anthropological interest. A thesis topic may be developed independently by the student or it may be linked to the on-going research project of a faculty member. It is assumed that a student undertaking a thesis already possesses a level of competence and independence well beyond that required for the completion of established courses. Of special importance is a student's ability to independently conduct library research in order to establish what has previously been written regarding their topic. It is also assumed that the student has given careful thought to choosing a thesis advisor based on knowledge of the areas of expertise and interest possessed by members of the faculty in the Department of Anthropology. Senior Thesis Planning should begin in the Junior Year. 

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