Anthropology Major B.A.
- Specializations in Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology
- Hands-on experience in Field School in Ohio Archaeology and Biological Anthropology Laboratory
- Undergraduate research opportunities
- Faculty-led study abroad to Northern Ireland
- Preparation for graduate school including medical, law, anthropology, social work, forensics, history, and other related fields
- Preparation for careers with governmental agencies, NGOs, cultural resource management firms, historical preservation offices, contract archaeology businesses, museums, forensics labs, zoos, primate centers, medical laboratories, and more
Faculty Contact: Dr. Diane Ciekawy
Program Overview
Students who choose to major in Anthropology receive training in the core subfields of the discipline and choose from a variety of topics that allow for greater specialization. Faculty members conduct extended research in Africa, Latin America, South and Southeast Asia, and the United States, and they are dedicated to bringing their real-world experiences into the classroom. Faculty members devote much attention to students, and Anthropology majors have many opportunities to work closely with their professors.
To earn a B.A. in Anthropology, students take at least 11 courses in Anthropology for a total of 33 semester credit hours, including introductory courses in cultural, biological, and archaeological anthropology. They work with an adviser from the Anthropology program to select from a flexible range of courses that best suit their interests and the university's requirements for graduation.
Because Anthropology has applications to and connections with so many other disciplines, students are encouraged to plan their program of study to include courses from Biology, Geological Sciences, Geography, History, Sociology, and Psychology. They are also encouraged to take courses from other academic programs in which Anthropology faculty members participate, such as Global Studies, Classics & World Religions, Women's Studies, War and Peace Studies, and Environmental Studies.
The Anthropology program offers several advantages to its majors:
- Hands-on Experience—Ohio University's Field School in Ohio Archaeology gives students the chance to receive hands-on experience in current archaeological techniques and laboratory analysis of archaeological material in a field school taught by Ohio University Anthropology faculty. In addition, the Biological Anthropology Laboratory gives students hands-on experience through its extensive skeletal collection.
- Undergraduate Research—Ohio University funds competitive grants for undergraduate research projects and holds an annual research symposium that enables students to present their work to the university community.
- Study Abroad—Ohio University's Office of Global Opportunities serves a growing number of students who are choosing to travel and study outside of the United States, offering traditional semester and summer programs, internship placements, volunteer projects and faculty-led programs to more than 30 destinations worldwide. The Anthropology program offers a special Spring Break study abroad course tailored for its majors on human rights law, and justice in Northern Ireland.
Careers and Graduate School
The labor/job market reflects the diversity of anthropology as a field. Past Anthropology students from Ohio University have pursued careers in professional schools including medical, law, and nursing.
Anthropology students have been accepted into top graduate schools in anthropology, social work, forensics, history, and other related fields. Many students have received fellowships or research assistantships due to their Ohio University undergraduate research experiences. They have also entered many governmental agencies, including the Peace Corps, AMERICORPS, VISTA, parks service and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Students in cultural anthropology often get positions in NGOs (non-governmental agencies) focused on U.S. or international development.
Archaeology students are employed in cultural resource management firms, historical preservation offices, contract archaeology businesses, and museums, or they go on to graduate degrees and become university professors.
Students in Biological Anthropology have graduated with positions in forensics labs, zoos, primate centers, and medical laboratories.
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission: No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Change of Program Policy: No selective or limited admission requirements.
External Transfer Admission: No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Degree Requirements
- Major code BA4252
University-wide Graduation Requirements
To complete this program, students must meet all University-wide graduation requirements.
College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences
View the College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences.
Anthropology Hours Requirement
Complete a total of 33 semester hours of ANTH coursework, including all of the requirements below.
Introductory Anthropology Courses
Complete the following three courses:
- ANTH 1010 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 2010 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 2020 - Introduction to World Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
Anthropology Sub-Requirements
Complete one course from each of the following areas: Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology.
Complete two additional courses at the 4000-level from two of the three sub-requirements.
Complete three other Anthropology courses at the 3000- or 4000-level.
Archaeology
Complete one of the following courses:
- ANTH 3590 - Before the Sickle and Plow: Archaeology of Foraging Societies Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3610 - North American Prehistory Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3670 - South American Prehistory Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3700 - Mexican/Central American Prehistory Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3780 - Human Ecology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 4520 - Anthropological Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 4911 - Field School in Ohio Archaeology Credit Hours: 4
- ANTH 4943 - Seminar in Archaeological Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 4944 - Seminar in Human Ecology Credit Hours: 3
Biological Anthropology
Complete one of the following courses:
- ANTH 3460 - Introduction to Human Osteology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3540 - Primate Behavioral Ecology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3550 - Medical Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3730 - Perspectives in Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 4470 - Forensic Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 4480 - Blood, Bones, and Violence Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 4580 - Peoples, Plagues and Pestilence: The Anthropology of Infectious Disease Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 4730 - Human Evolution Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 4942 - Seminar in Biological Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 4960 - Human Diversity Credit Hours: 3
Cultural Anthropology
Complete one of the following courses:
- ANTH 3010 - Visual Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3400 - Applied Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3450 - Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3490 - Life History: The Individual and Culture Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3500 - Economic Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3510 - Political Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3530 - Anthropology of Violence and Peace Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3570 - Anthropology of Religion Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3660 - Cultures of the Americas Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3760 - Culture Contact and Change Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3770 - Peasant Communities Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3800 - Cultures of South Asia Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3810 - Cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3820 - Cultures of the Mediterranean Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3830 - Cultures of Latin America Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3850 - Cultures of Southeast Asia Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 3860 - Problems in Southeast Asian Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 4560 - Ethnographic Methodology and Field Research Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 4590 - Legal Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 4620 - Human Rights, Law and Justice Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 4720 - History of Anthropological Thought Credit Hours: 3
- ANTH 4941 - Seminar in Cultural Anthropology Credit Hours: 3