Program Overview

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Anthropology Degree

The Anthropology degree at the University of Waterloo is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of human cultures, behaviors, and biological characteristics. The program offers a broad range of courses that cover the three main subfields of anthropology: sociocultural, archaeological, and biological anthropology.

Overview

The Anthropology program is available as a co-op or regular program, and students can choose to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree. The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in theoretical and practical anthropology, as well as hands-on experience through fieldwork and research opportunities.

First-Year Courses

In the first year, students will take a combination of introductory courses in anthropology, including:

• ANTH 100 – Introduction to Anthropology
• ANTH 201 – Introduction to Archeology
• ANTH 204 – Biological Anthropology
• ARTS 160 – Inquiry and Knowledge Creation
• Prospective major #2
• Two electives

Honours Arts

The Honours Arts program in Anthropology is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of human cultures and behaviors. The program includes a range of courses that cover the three main subfields of anthropology, as well as electives and a thesis or research project.

September to December

• One of:
  • ANTH 100 – Introduction to Anthropology
  • ANTH 201 – Introduction to Archeology
  • ANTH 204 – Biological Anthropology
• ARTS 160 – Inquiry and Knowledge Creation
• Prospective major #2
• Two electives

January to April

• One of:
  • ANTH 201 – Introduction to Archeology
  • ANTH 202 – Social and Cultural Anthropology
  • ANTH 204 – Biological Anthropology
• Prospective major #2
• Three electives

Honours Arts and Business

The Honours Arts and Business program in Anthropology is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of human cultures and behaviors, as well as business principles and practices. The program includes a range of courses that cover the three main subfields of anthropology, as well as business courses and electives.

September to December

• ECON 101 – Introduction to Microeconomics
• One of:
  • ANTH 100 – Introduction to Anthropology
  • ANTH 201 – Introduction to Archeology
  • ANTH 204 – Biological Anthropology
• Prospective major #2
• Elective

January to April

• ARBUS 102 – Accounting Information for Managers
• ARBUS 202 – Professional and Business Ethics
• ARTS 160 – Inquiry and Knowledge Creation
• ANTH 201, ANTH 202, or ANTH 204
• Prospective major #2

After First Year

After the first year, students will take a range of courses that cover the three main subfields of anthropology, as well as electives and a thesis or research project. Some sample upper-year courses include:

• ANTH 292 – Skeletons: Sex, Disease, and Death
• ANTH 303 – Anthropology of Digital Media
• ANTH 355 – Human Osteology
• ANTH 455 – Skeletal Biology and Forensics

Customize Your Degree

Students can customize their degree in Anthropology by choosing from a range of courses and electives. The program also offers a range of minors, including French, History, and Sexualities, Relationships, and Families.

Co-op Program

The co-op program in Anthropology is designed to provide students with hands-on experience in the field. Students will alternate between school terms and paid co-op work terms, gaining practical experience and building their professional network.

Sample Co-op Job Titles

Some sample co-op job titles include:

• Archaeological field technician
• Student historical teacher/interpreter
• Marketing intern
• Human resources co-op
• Lab assistant

Admissions

Admission to the Anthropology program requires a minimum of six Grade 12 U and/or M courses, including any Grade 12 U English with a minimum final grade of at least 70%. The admission average is typically in the low 80s.

Related Programs

Related programs include Psychology, Sociology, and History.

Faculty and Degree

The Anthropology program is offered through the Faculty of Arts, and students can pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Available as a Co-op Program

The Anthropology program is available as a co-op program, which provides students with hands-on experience in the field.

Available as a Regular Program

The Anthropology program is also available as a regular program, which provides students with a comprehensive understanding of human cultures and behaviors.

Available as a Minor

The Anthropology program is available as a minor, which provides students with a range of courses that cover the three main subfields of anthropology. Students can choose from over 40 Anthropology courses, including seminars, field courses, and independent research courses.