Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology
Fresno, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* students outside the U.S; August 1 - students in the U.S.
Key Summary
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Introduction
Anthropology is concerned with everything that is human, in all parts of the world, both present, and past. It is unique among the social sciences in its scope. Most disciplines focus only on modern civilization or concentrate on single aspects of life, such as government or the economy. Anthropology is interested in all human societies and views life as a complexly integrated whole that is more than the sum of its parts. It is the human experience as a whole that anthropology seeks to understand.
The breadth of anthropology is reflected in its four subfields. Biophysical anthropology concerns the biological aspects of humanity, including human evolution, genetics, forensic anthropology, and primatology. Cultural anthropology explores the diversity of human culture to understand both differences and similarities among human groups. Archaeology explores the human past far beyond the range of written records, using specialized techniques to probe human prehistory. Linguistic anthropology investigates the nature of language and the critical role it has played in the development of human behavior. The central concept in anthropology is "culture," and it is this vital idea that binds the subfields into an integrated discipline.
Both the anthropology major and minor offer a varied but well-structured exposure to all four subfields of the discipline. The major consists of two parts. The core curriculum introduces both data and theory in a logical sequence of courses from basic to advanced and includes an introduction to anthropological fieldwork. The elective curriculum enables students to focus on a specific subfield and to prepare for advanced study or employment in a wide variety of fields.
Special Resources and Facilities
The Anthropology Department provides student training in both archaeological and ethnographic fieldwork. All students pursue specialized training in our archaeological and ethnographic field schools, and advanced students have the opportunity to work in our archaeology and forensic anthropology laboratories. We encourage internships as an important aspect of student development and help place advanced students as interns with a large variety of organizations.
Program Outcome
Our program has three goals:
- to provide students with a clear conception of human variability across time and space, enabling them to understand and interact effectively in a wide variety of contexts;
- to provide students with the broad intellectual skills that are essential to the widest range of professional careers; and
- to prepare students to use anthropological concepts in both applied and research careers.
What You Can Learn
- How culture has made possible the range of different societies
- Basic methods and strategies for archeological excavation
- How to think critically and use reasoning when considering topics of race/intelligence, region/values, and social policy.
Curriculum
1. Major requirements (45 units)
Core Curriculum (24 units) (required of all majors)
ANTH 2 (3 units)
ANTH 3 (3 units)
ANTH 102 (3 units)
ANTH 115 (3 units)
ANTH 140 (3 units)
ANTH 167 (3 units)
ANTH 193 (3 units)
ANTH 195 (1 unit)
ANTH 196 (2 units)
Methodological Training - select one area of emphasis (6 units)
- Cultural Anthropology Emphasis: ANTH 111, ANTH 111B
- Archaeology Emphasis: ANTH 101, ANTH 103
- Biophysical Anthropology Emphasis: ANTH 164, ANTH 166, or ANTH 168
In addition to the core curriculum, each student, in consultation with an advisor, will select the following:
Elective curriculum (15 units minimum)
- Three upper-division classes within the student's area of concentration (e.g., cultural anthropology, archaeology, or biophysical anthropology) (9 units)
- Two l upper-division classes, one in each remaining subdiscipline (e.g., an archaeology student would take one cultural and one biophysical course) (6 units)
Certificates
Students may benefit from a certificate program. If a student completes an approved certificate, then they will be exempt from one elective in their area of emphasis; please consult an advisor.
2. General Education requirements (48 units)
3. Other requirements (9 units)
American Government and Institutions (PLSI 2), Multicultural and International (MI), and Upper-division writing.
4. Sufficient elective units to meet required total units (varies)
5. Total (120 units)*
* G.E. and MI courses can be double-counted with major requirements. This total indicates that ANTH 2 or ANTH 3 in G. E. Breadth D2 may be applied to the anthropology major. Consult the department chair or faculty advisor for additional details.