Program Overview

Major in Anthropology, Biological Anthropology Concentration

The Major in Anthropology, Biological Anthropology Concentration, is a comprehensive program that delves into the study of humanity from a biological and evolutionary perspective. This concentration is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of human evolution, biology, and anatomy, as well as the skills necessary to analyze and interpret data in the field of biological anthropology.

Program Description

The program focuses on two broad themes: evolutionary theory and morphological transformations, and adaptations that result from the interaction between human biology and culture. Faculty research and teaching address these themes through various foci, including the examination of extinct human interactions with their environment, the impact of biology and stress on health outcomes in living populations, and the use of skeletal anatomy to reconstruct past and living populations and individuals.

Program Requirements

To complete the Major in Anthropology, Biological Anthropology Concentration, students must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete a minimum of 120 credits
• Take a range of courses in anthropology, including introductory cultural anthropology, human origins and variation, and archaeological investigation
• Complete a minimum of 3 credits in archaeology, 3 credits in cultural anthropology, and 6 credits in biological anthropology
• Take a statistics course and a course in advanced writing
• Complete a capstone seminar and a biological anthropology course in the senior year

Course Options

The program offers a range of course options, including:

• ANTH 100: Introductory Cultural Anthropology
• ANTH 120: Human Origins and Variation
• ANTH 140: Introduction to Archaeology
• ANTH 274: Human Diversity
• ANTH 365: Quantifying Anthropology
• ANTH 370: Primates
• ANTH 373: Human Evolution
• ANTH 400/GR 400: History of Theory-Anthropology and Geography
• ANTH 493: Capstone Seminar

Research Areas

Faculty in the program have research expertise in a range of areas, including:

• Evolutionary theory
• Biocultural anthropology
• Dental anthropology
• Early hominin feeding ecology
• Forensic anthropology
• Human skeletal biology and analysis
• Neanderthal paleobiology and paleobiogeography
• Plio-Pleistocene Africa
• Pleistocene Asia
• Primate origins, biology, and locomotion
• Reproductive health and biology
• Taphonomy

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program have a range of career opportunities, including:

• Museum curators, technicians, and collection managers
• Primatologists
• Cultural resource managers
• Archivists
• Forensic scientists and technicians
• Coroners and medical examiners
• Technical writers
• Human resources specialists
• Applied anthropometrists
• Zoo collection managers and captive breeding program coordinators
• National Park Rangers
• Public health specialists and community health workers

Program Structure

The program is structured to provide students with a comprehensive education in biological anthropology, with a range of courses and research opportunities available. The program is designed to be completed in eight semesters, with a range of critical and recommended courses taken each semester.

Semester 1-8

The program is structured as follows:

• Semester 1: Introductory cultural anthropology, practicing anthropology, college composition, and electives
• Semester 2: Human origins and variation, human origins and variation laboratory, introduction to archaeology, and electives
• Semester 3: Human diversity, introduction to geography, arts and humanities, and electives
• Semester 4: Statistics course, 1C course, and electives
• Semester 5: Archaeology course, biological anthropology course, advanced writing, and electives
• Semester 6: History of theory-anthropology and geography, cultural anthropology course, geography course, and electives
• Semester 7: Capstone seminar, biological anthropology course, and electives
• Semester 8: Remaining courses in the program of study, including electives and the completion of the capstone seminar

Conclusion

The Major in Anthropology, Biological Anthropology Concentration, is a comprehensive program that provides students with a deep understanding of human evolution, biology, and anatomy. With a range of course options, research opportunities, and career paths available, this program is ideal for students interested in pursuing a career in biological anthropology.