Anthropology, BA

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
Twelve hours of Anthropology Core courses
Nine hours of Perspective courses from three categories (sociocultural/linguistic; archeology, and bio-anthropology), and
Nine hours of Anthropology Program Electives or nine hours of an Anthropology Concentration

Students may also finish an optional approved Engaged Learning Experience by working with their departmental advisor to complete 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 (6 hours)

Take six hours of World Languages 231, 232, or 240.

Anthropology Core (12 hours)

ANTH 110 - Introduction to Archaeology Credits: 3
ANTH 115 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology Credits: 3
ANTH 120 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Credits: 3
ANTH 341 - History of Anthropological Theory Credits: 3

Anthropology Perspectives (9 hours)

Take at least one course in each of the following categories:

Anthropology Program Electives or Concentration (9 hours)

Take 9 hours of electives selected from anthropology courses at the 200-level or above. Students may use up to six hours of Native American Studies (NAS) courses as program electives.

Choose an Anthropology Concentration from the options below.

Archaeological Practice
Archaeological Studies
Cultural Anthropology
Forensic Anthropology

Archaeological Practice Concentration

Take nine hours consisting of

ANTH 440 - Archaeological Field Techniques Credits: 6
ANTH 441 - Archaeological Problems and Analyses Credits: 3

Archaeological Studies Concentration

ANTH 441 - Archaeological Problems and Analyses Credits: 3
and at least 3 hours of
ANTH 483 - Anthropology Internship Credits: 3
or
ANTH 484 - Anthropology Internship Credits: 3
or
and 3 hours of an additional Archaeology course (in addition to the Perspective requirement) or 3 additional hours of ANTH internship (ANTH 483, 484 or 485).
ANTH 485 - Anthropology Internship Credits: 3

Cultural Anthropology Concentration

Take nine additional hours of Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology courses listed above. (This is in addition to the three hour Perspective requirement for this category.)

Forensic Anthropology Concentration

Forensic Anthropology is the application of anthropological method and theory to matters of legal concern, particularly those that relate to the recovery and analysis of the human skeleton. The goal of WCU’s forensic anthropology program is to provide our students with the education and skills needed to support their future careers in forensic anthropology or related fields such as death investigation, law enforcement, or medicine.

Take nine hours consisting of

ANTH 251 - Introduction to Forensic Anthropology Credits: 3
ANTH 300 - Human Osteology Credits: 3
ANTH 400 - Forensic Anthropology Method and Theory Credits: 3

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

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