Anthropology Major (BA)
College: College of Social Sciences & Professional Studies
Students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside are eligible to be admitted into the program.
Anthropology focuses on cultural and biological adaptations of all humankind. It is the comparative study of human life and culture in the past and present. It combines cross-cultural perspectives and analytical skills. Anthropology is concerned with both human biological and cultural adaptations to physical and social environments in all parts of the world. The basic themes of anthropology include adaptation, evolution, change, and continuity. Anthropology is marked by specific methods from archaeological digs to ethnographic observation, focusing on systematic observations of how people live with each other, their belief systems, and how they make a living.
Anthropology graduates work in a wide range of settings, including cultural resource management and contract archaeology; museum work; forensic anthropology; and ethnographic analysis such as user design for public or private institutions, both in the U.S. and internationally. Opportunities exist to apply anthropological knowledge to many problems of modern society, including the social impact of development, economic and political change, and cultural and natural resource management.
Opportunities to assist in faculty research projects permit students to learn research tools used in anthropology, and to apply concepts learned in the classroom. These prepare them for their future careers. For example, students might learn how to use GIS for mapping, analysis, and decision making; they might collect oral histories to learn about how people think about their communities; or participate in an archaeological dig. In addition, students can gain service experiences through community- based learning projects.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of cultures and societies in their own terms (cultural relativism) (Knowledge/Conceptual: focusing on critical thinking, global perspective, and individual experience).
- Recognize ethnocentrism and its consequences for their ability to understand people of different cultures (Knowledge/Conceptual: focusing on critical thinking, global perspective, and individual experience).
- Evaluate the impact of social and physical environment on individual experience (Knowledge/Conceptual: focusing on critical thinking, global perspective, and individual experience).
- Apply anthropological concepts and interpretations to improve their ability to interact and work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures (Knowledge/Conceptual: focusing on critical thinking, global perspective, and individual experience).
- Record, interpret, and communicate qualitative and quantitative evidence (Methodological/Analytical and Technical Skills: focusing on analytical skills; information technology competence).
- Find, organize, and critically evaluate information using a variety of tools such as maps, statistics, and a variety of archaeological and ethnographic methods; as well as analysis of culture and social relationships (Methodological/Analytical and Technical Skills: focusing on analytical skills; information technology competence).
- Analyze and use appropriate technologies where available (Methodological/Analytical and Technical Skills: focusing on analytical skills; information technology competence).
- Use anthropological knowledge to address important issues locally and globally (Synthesize and Communicate:focusing on literacy and oral communication).
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills to conduct research and solve problems (Synthesize and Communicate: focusing on literacy and oral communication).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ANTH 100 | Introduction to Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 200 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 201 | Introduction to Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTH 202 | Human Evolution | 3 |
| ANTH 300 | Topics in Data Collection and Analysis: 1, 2 | 3 |
| ANTH 302 | Anthropological Theory | 3 |
| ANTH 312 | Anthropology of Language | 3 |
| ANTH 491 | Anthropology Fieldwork | 3 |
| GEOG 350 | Cartography and GIS | 3 |
| GEOG 495 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| SOCA 250 | Statistics for the Social Sciences | 4 |
| Required Course Total | 34 | |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select 9 credits with 6 credits at the 300-level or above | 9 | |
| North American Indians | ||
| Peoples of Southeast Asia | ||
| Forensic Anthropology | ||
| Heritage and Tourism | ||
| Archaeology of North America | ||
| Livelihoods, Exchange, and Globalization | ||
| Migration and Immigration | ||
| Environmental Anthropology | ||
| Special Topics in Anthropology | ||
| Advanced Human Evolution | ||
| International Development and Change | ||
| Special Topics in Anthropology | ||
| Internship in Anthropology | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Conservation of Cultural and Natural Resources | ||
| Climate Change | ||
| Urban Geography | ||
| GIS and Communities | ||
| Total Credits | 43 | |
- 1
Students can take a different statistics course at 200-level or above if it is more appropriate for their career goals.
- 2
Students may take this multiple times if the topic is different; but it is not required.
General University Degree Requirements (Bachelor's Degree)
In addition to individual program requirements, students must also fulfill the following requirements:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Skills | 7-8 |
| General Education | 36 |
| Foreign Language** | 6-8 |
| Ethnic Diversity | 3 |
| Total | 52-55 |
** Transfer students in sustainable management, and health information management and technology collaborative, online degree-completion programs, the business management online degree-completion program, and the flexible option degree-completion program will be exempt from the university’s foreign language requirement. See appropriate academic section for further information.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | ||
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Reading | 3 |
| Computational Skills | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| College Mathematics with Applications | ||
| College Algebra I | ||
| Total Credits | 7-8 | |
Degree Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Minimum Total Credits | 120 |
| Upper Level Credits (300 level or above) | 36 |
| Residency | 30 |
Cumulative Degree GPA: 2.0 minimum