B.A. in Cultural Anthropology (Bachelor of Arts)

The B.A. Track in Cultural Anthropology focuses on the issues, modes of inquiry, fieldwork strategies, methods of data collection and analysis, and forms of ethnographic representation that characterize contemporary cultural anthropology. The Cultural Anthropology Track is intended for students interested in current cultural, social, and political issues, especially in understanding the relationship of global processes to new cultural forms and social inequalities. Students learn how cultural theory is integrated with empirical ethnographic research and how to balance knowledge of worldwide interconnections with in-depth knowledge of particular geographic regions (e.g., Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States). Students trained in Cultural Anthropology develop a unique set of skills enabling them to work successfully in many different cultural environments; a major in Cultural Anthropology also provides excellent preparation for students planning graduate training in anthropology or other disciplines, including professional training in law, teaching, and social work.

Requirements for a major in cultural anthropology

The degree code is 070.

Total number of required credits: 36 credits, of which at least 18 are at the 300 or 400 level.

Requirements for Cultural Anthropology track

INTRODUCTORY COURSES:

Both required - 6 credits

  • 01:070:101  Culture and Social Life (3) 
  • 01:070:108  Language, Culture and Society (3)

GEOGRAPHIC AREA COURSES:

Two courses required - 6 credits

  • 01:070:223  Anthropology of Latin America
  • 01:070:238  Anthropology of Europe
  • 01:070:242  Anthropology of the MIddle East
  • 01:070:243  Anthropology of Africa 
  • 01:070:244  Ethnographies of South Asia 
  • 01:070:246  Anthropology of Southeast Asia
  • 01:070:248  Anthropology of China 
  • 01:070:250  Anthropology of the Contemporary United States
  • 01:070:320  Diaspora, Race and Ethnicity in the United States
  • 01:070:338  Culture, Wealth, and Power in Africa
  • 01:070:379  Gender and Power in Africa
  • 01:070:389  Ethnography of Gender in South Asia

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES ON JUSTICE, INEQUALITY, AND DIFFERENCE: 

One course required - 3 credits

  • 01:070:303  Wealth and Culture 
  • 01:070:304  Political Anthropology
  • 01:070:305  Anthropology of Development
  • 01:070:312  Language and Social Diversity
  • 01:070:319  Anthropology and Human Rights
  • 01:070:324  Globalization, Sex and Families
  • 01:070:371  The Politics of Culture
  • 01:070:372  Body Politics       
  • 01:070:374  Localities and Global Systems
  • 01:070:376  Power and Difference
  • 01:070:378  The Anthropology of Gender
  • 01:070:380  Culture, Memory, History
  • 01:070:406  Rights and Wrongs of Indigenous Peoples 
  • 01:070:486  Gender, Development, Environment: Policies, Politics, Perspectives

METHODS AND ANALYSIS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:

One course required - 3 credits

  • 01:070:317 Method and Analysis in Cultural Anthropology

CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY ELECTIVE COURSES:

Six courses required - 18 credits

  • 01:070:111  Extinction 
  • 01:070:161  Anthropology of Robots and Artificial Intelligence - 1.5 credits
  • 01:070:170  Learning an Endangered Language - 1.5 credits 
  • 01:070:203  Climate Change, Disaster, and Reconstruction - 
  • 01:070:216  Anthropology and Contemporary Issues
  • 01:070:217  Psychology and Culture
    01:070:220  Food and Culture - spring
  • 01:070:222  Sexuality and Eroticism in Global Perspective
  • 01:070:223  Anthropology of Latin America 
  • 01:070:225  Gender in Global Perspective 
  • 01:070:230  Anthropology of Native North Americans
  • 01:070:238  Anthropology of Europe 
  • 01:070:242  Anthropology of the Middle East
  • 01:070:243  Anthropology of Africa 
  • 01:070:244  South Asia Ethnography 
  • 01:070:246  Anthropology of Southeast Asia
  • 01:070:248  Anthropology of China 
  • 01:070:250  Anthropology of the Contemporary United States
  • 01:070:293  Topics in Cultural and Linguistic Anthropology
  • 01:070:294  Current Issues in Cultural and Linguistic Anthropology
  • 01:070:295  Current Issues in Cultural and Linguistic Anthropology
  • 01:070:302  Culture and the Environment
  • 01:070:303  Wealth and Culture
  • 01:070:304  Political Anthropology
  • 01:070:305  Anthropology of Development
  • 01:070:306  Space, Place and Practice
  • 01:070:307  Medical Anthropology 
  • 01:070:308  Anthropology of Religion
  • 01:070:309  Visual Anthropology 
  • 01:070:311  History of Anthropology
  • 01:070:312  Language and Social Diversity 
  • 01:070:317  Method and Analysis in Cultural Anthropology 
  • 01:070:318  Reading Ethnographic Writing
  • 01:070:319  Anthropology and Human Rights
  • 01:070:320  Diaspora, Race, and Ethnicity in the United States
  • 01:070:322  Anthropology of Islam
  • 01:070:321  Latino Ethnography -
  • 01:070:323  Women Writing Culture
  • 01:070:331  Xenophobia and the Other in Europe Today
  • 01:070:338  Culture, Wealth, and Power in Africa
  • 01:070:341  Language, Food, and Society
  • 01:070:342  Urban Ecologies 
  • 01:070:360  Law, Justice, Rights 
  • 01:070:367  Anthropology Goes to the Movies
  • 01:070:368  Media and Culture 
  • 01:070:369  The Cultural Politics of Nazism
  • 01:070:370  Life and Death in Anthropological Perspective
  • 01:070:371  Politics of Culture
  • 01:070:372  Body Politics 
  • 01:070:373  Visual Ethnography of Everyday Life      
  • 01:070:374  Localities and Global Systems
  • 01:070:376  Power and Difference
  • 01:070:378  Anthropology of Gender
  • 01:070:379  Gender and Power in Africa
  • 01:070:380  Culture, Memory, History
  • 01:070:389  Ethnography of Gender in South Asia
  • 01:070:401  Theories in Cultural Anthropology
  • 01:070:406  Rights and Wrongs of Indigenous Peoples 
  • 01:070:407  Documenting Latino Lives
  • 01:070:410  Explanation in Anthropology
  • 01:070:417  Writing Ethnography 
  • 01:070:486  Gender, Development, Environment: Policies, Politics, Perspectives
  • 01:070:495  Independent Study (by permission only) 
  • 01:070:495  Independent Study (by permission only)
  • 01:070:497  Honors in Anthropology (first semester - 3 credit)
  • 01:070:498  Honors in Anthropology (second semester - 3 credits) 

Honors in Anthropology credit, and one approved independent study course, may be used toward the elective requirement. No course may fulfill more than one requirement.

All courses applied to this major must be completed with a grade of C or better.