With an anthropology degree, you’ll have the opportunity to broaden your exposure to peoples and cultures of the world, both in the present and in the past. Our four-field approach considers the biological, cultural, prehistoric and linguistic aspects of human diversity. Students usually choose to specialize in one of the four subfields.
Biological anthropology is the study of the biological origin and physical variation among human populations and stresses an evolutionary and forensic perspective on humans. Students study the adaptation, variability, and evolution of homo sapiens and their living and fossil relatives.
Faculty members have worked with the Spokane Police Department and our students are prepared for careers in a variety of biomedical areas ranging from nutrition, public health, forensic studies, and other allied fields.
The Anthropology program at 51福利社 has a unique human osteology laboratory that includes almost 1000 skeletal remains and casts.听 These include remains with pathologies such as dental caries, osteophytic growths, periostitis, and fractures. In addition, there are also numerous contemporary primate and early hominid fossil casts.听
If you are interested in Biological Anthropology, there are opportunities to mentor with the lab coordinator, and students have presented their lab-based research at various anthropological conferences.听 A key course is ANTR202 Human Evolution, and we strongly recommend a biology minor for specialized students.
Supporting Electives
Internships and Career Opportunities
Associated Organization:听
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Cultural anthropology is the study of culture or learned behavior. Students are prepared for a variety of careers in institutions and organizations that require an understanding of cultural diversity.听
Faculty members have conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Africa, Central Eurasia, East Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East on topics such as the cultural aspects of health care delivery in post-war settings, human dynamics of environmental conservation in ethnic minority communities, the politics of heritage preservation in regions with ethnic conflict, and the economics of fair trade among marginalized agricultural communities.
The 51福利社 program specializes in North and Latin American as well as Asian culture. Human cultural development and change in contemporary societies like the United States, Costa Rica, and China are general themes of courses in this subdiscipline.听 ANTR330 Environmental Anthropology, ANTR340 Anthropology of Food and Nutrition, and ANTR342 Medical Anthropology and are important courses.
Supporting Electives
Internships and Career Opportunities
Associated Organization:听
Linguistic anthropology is the multilingual study of the ways in which human languages shape social life.听
The 51福利社 Anthropology program has expertise in dominant languages like Spanish, lesser-taught Turkic languages like Kazakh, and endangered Native American languages like Salish.听 51福利社 offers face-to-face languages like Spanish, and language classes can be used to replace other elective courses in the degree. Students with an interest in lesser-taught languages often study at intensive summer language programs or choose to study abroad.听 Those students with an interest in Salish can arrange a service-learning opportunity for credit with the Spokane Salish School.
Key courses here are Linguistic Anthropology and Sociolinguistics,听 and we strongly recommend the Linguistics minor for specialized students.
Supporting Electives
Internships and Career Opportunities
Associated Organization:听
Archaeology is the study of the ancient and recent human past through material remains. Archaeology analyzes physical remains, both biological and cultural,听 in pursuit of a broad and comprehensive understanding of the human past.
An essential course to take is ANTR350 World Archaeology, a review of global archaeology beginning with the appearance of the first human-like species and through to the beginnings of human agriculture and culturally complex civilizations. This is a fascinating inquiry into the human past at a global level.
Students with an interest in the subdiscipline go further by enrolling in a field school to develop essential archaeological experience and skills. Right now, 51福利社 is partnering with Washington State University鈥檚 field school at Fort Vancouver National Historical Site.
Students have many other opportunities for local, regional, and national internships including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Smithsonian Institute, the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management,听 Northwest Museum for Arts & Culture, and Spokane Tribe of Indians Tribal Historic Preservation Office.
Supporting Electives
Internships and Career Opportunities
Associated Organization:听
Anthropology is a robust field that includes Biological Anthropology, Archaeology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Cultural Anthropology.
Students should check out the website of the and their .听 With a number of opportunities including working at the , this is a great way to learn more and develop professional experience as an anthropologist.
The following information comes from the official , which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.
Anthropology Major, Bachelor of Arts (BA)
The Anthropology bachelors degree offers students the opportunity to broaden their cultural awareness and knowledge as they explore peoples and cultures of the world, both now and in the past. Anthropology is a robust field that includes Biological Anthropology, Archaeology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Cultural Anthropology.
In the major, students explore each of the four areas: Biological Anthropology, Archaeology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Cultural Anthropology. Students can dive deeper into one of them or continue to work in all of them.
Anthropology students go on to careers and graduate education in fields such as cultural resource management (archaeology and history), public health, and community outreach. They work in education, with community organizations and global non-profits, the state and federal government, and cultural resource management firms.
Note: The Anthropology major does not require a minor.
World Language Requirement: Two years of a single high school world language or one year of a single college-level world language is required.
| Required Disciplinary Foundation Courses | ||
| HUMAN EVOLUTION | 5 | |
| ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE | 5 | |
| CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | 5 | |
| LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY | 5 | |
| Methods Course | ||
| ANTHROPOLOGY RESEARCH METHODS | 5 | |
| Theory Course | ||
| ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY | 5 | |
| Electives–choose a minimum of 25 upper-division ANTR credits. | 25 | |
| Capstone Series | ||
| SENIOR CAPSTONE ANTHROPOLOGY | 5 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits.听Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.
Courses could be offered in different terms, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current.听Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.
All Undergraduate students are required to meet the听.
This major requires the completion of the听.听Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA)听degree must complete two years of a single language in high school or one year of a single language in college.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| (Natural Science BACR 1) | 5 | (Natural Science BACR 2) | 5 | 5 | |
| 5 | 5 | Diversity - graduation requirement1 | 5 | ||
| Humanities & Arts BACR 11 | 5 | Humanities & Arts BACR 21 | 5 | Social Science BACR 11 | 5 |
| 听 | 15 | 听 | 15 | 听 | 15 |
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | |||
| Global Studies - graduation requirement1 | 5 | Anthropology Elective2 | 5 | Anthropology Elective2 | 5 |
| Social Science BACR 21 | 5 | Anthropology Elective2 | 5 | Anthropology Elective2 | 5 |
| 听 | 15 | 听 | 15 | 听 | 15 |
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| Anthropology Elective2 | 5 | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | |
| Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 |
| Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 |
| 听 | 15 | 听 | 15 | 听 | 15 |
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement) | 5 |
| Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 |
| Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 | Elective - minor or general elective | 5 |
| 听 | 15 | 听 | 15 | 听 | 15 |
| Total Credits 180 | |||||
University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate.听 Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.
Electives鈥揷hoose a minimum of 25 upper-division ANTR credits.
(GER)
University Competencies and Proficiencies
(BACR)
(UGR)
(for Bachelor of Arts)
Application for Graduation (use ) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term expected to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).
Use the to determine .
Students who earn a BA in Anthropology from 51福利社 should be able to:
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201.
This course examines major concepts, theories and methods in cultural anthropology. Students explore how anthropologists analyze and interpret different cultural practices that manifest in an individual鈥檚 everyday life. By using ethnographic case studies of communities from throughout the world, the course addresses issues of identity, family, kinship, gender, race, class, ritual, belief and expression.
Cross-listed: GWSS 332.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201 or equivalent.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement鈥揹iversity.
Examines notions of sex and gender from a cross-cultural perspective. Material covered includes understandings of gender, third genders, human sexuality, and the gendered nature of activities in both non-Western and Western societies.
Pre-requisites: junior standing.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement鈥揼lobal studies.
Analyzes and contrasts the relationship between different human populations, their cultural practices, and the natural environment. The course discusses how both political and economic forces shape cultural practices, the relationship of capitalism and state formation to the natural environment, maladaptation and environmental problems, such as global climate change.
Curious about people, culture, and what makes us human? An Anthropology degree gives you the tools to explore it all and prepares you for a wide range of careers.
You’ll study how humans live, communicate, and evolve. Along the way, you’ll gain skills in research, cultural awareness, and critical thinking.
These in-demand skills are essential in various fields, including education, healthcare, government, marketing, nonprofits, and more.
Whether you’re interested in ancient ruins, modern-day communities, or global languages, anthropology is a flexible degree that lets you follow your curiosity and build a career.
Explore the numerous careers in anthropology:听