Anthropology, BA

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Total number of hours for the program: 120. Students must meet all requirements indicated including a second major, minor, or other approved program.

Liberal Studies Hours (42 hours)

Liberal Studies Program Requirements

Major Requirements (36 hours)

The major requires 36 hours as follows: Six hours of Language courses, nine hours of Anthropology Core courses, nine hours of Perspective courses from three categories (sociocultural/linguistic, archaeology, and bioanthropology) and 12 hours of Anthropology Program Electives are required in the major. Students may also finish an approved Engaged Learning Experience. Each student has the option of working with their departmental advisor to enter into an Engaged Learning Requirement Contract. This contract will detail the specific activities to be undertaken and corresponding deliverable to be produced during the experience. Engaged Learning Experiences may be associated with a travel course, independent study, internship, designated Engaged Learning course, or an independent engaged learning experience.

Language Requirement

MFL 231, 232, or 240 credits: (6)

Anthropology Core

Must take:

ANTH 110 - Origins of Civilization Credits: 3
ANTH 120 - Comparative Cultural Systems Credits: 3
ANTH 341 - History of Anthropological Theory Credits: 3

Anthropology Perspectives (9 hours)

Must take at least one course in each category.

Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology:

ANTH 327 - Economy and Society Credits: 3
ANTH 349 - Applied Anthropology Credits: 3
ANTH 350 - Linguistic Anthropology Credits: 3
ANTH 351 - Environmental Anthropology Credits: 3
ANTH 365 - Religion, Magic, Myth Credits: 3
ANTH 379 - Cherokee Arts and Crafts Credits: 3
ANTH 380 - Ethnographic Research Methods Credits: 3
ANTH 414 - Minority Groups Credits: 3
ANTH 417 - Southern Appalachian Culture Credits: 3
ANTH 419 - Comparative Family Credits: 3
ANTH 450 - Endangered Languages and Language Revitalization Credits: 3
ANTH 461 - Indians of North America Credits: 3
ANTH 465 - Cultures of Latin America Credits: 3
ANTH 466 - Folklore Credits: 3
ANTH 473 - Contemporary Cherokee Culture and Society Credits: 3

Archaeology:

ANTH 320 - Experimental Archaeology Credits: 3
ANTH 361 - World Prehistory Credits: 3
ANTH 362 - Southeastern Archaeology Credits: 3
ANTH 405 - Archaeology of Death Credits: 3
ANTH 431 - North American Prehistory Credits: 3
ANTH 440 - Archaeological Field Techniques Credits: 6
ANTH 441 - Archaeological Problems and Analyses Credits: 3

Bioanthropology:

ANTH 251 - Introduction to Forensic Anthropology Credits: 3
ANTH 333 - Medicolegal Death Investigation Credits: 3
ANTH 342 - Death, Decay, and Deconstruction Credits: 3
ANTH 360 - Primates Credits: 3
ANTH 363 - Human Origins Credits: 3
ANTH 367 - Dental Anthropology Credits: 3
ANTH 368 - Bioarchaeology Credits: 3
ANTH 370 - Human Biological Variation Credits: 3
ANTH 373 - Anthropological Research Methods Credits: 3
ANTH 400 - Forensic Anthropology Method and Theory Credits: 3
ANTH 401 - Bone Trauma & Modification Credits: 3
ANTH 402 - Skeletal Analyses Credits: 3
ANTH 403 - Taphonomy Credits: 3
ANTH 406 - Advanced Osteology Credits: 3
ANTH 486 - Field Recovery of Human Remains Credits: 6
ANTH 487 - Forensic Anthropology Practicum Credits: 3

Anthropology Program Electives

Electives (12 hours) selected from sophomore, junior and senior level anthropology courses. Students may use up to six hours of Native American Studies (NAS) courses as program electives.

Additional Program Requirements (42 hours)

To complete the program, 42 hours are required, including a second major, minor, or other approved program. Students must take at least 30 hours at the junior-senior level at WCU to satisfy general degree requirements.

Visit the department’s website at https://www.wcu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/cas/social-sciences/anthsoc/index.aspx to view the eight semester curriculum guide.