Anthropology (BA)
This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2021–Spring 2022 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.
Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Anthropology
Academic Plan Code(s): ANTHBA
Program Information
The Anthropology major at the University of Louisville includes 200-level and 300-level courses in Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, and Cultural Anthropology; a Methods course in one sub-discipline; ANTH 475, which enables majors to apply Anthropology in real-world situations; and ANTH 508, the capstone course that provides a fundamental understanding of the ideas that underlie Anthropology.
Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.
Degree Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements 1 | 31 | |
| College/School Requirements | 22 | |
| Program/Major Requirements 1 | 36-38 | |
| Supporting Courses | 32 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121 | |
| 1 | Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework. |
Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.
Accelerated BA/MA in Anthropology
Anthropology majors who are considering pursuing a master's degree (MA) in Anthropology can speed up the process by applying some of their undergraduate credit hours toward a master’s degree. Students accepted into the Accelerated BA/MA program take three graduate courses (9 credit hours) as an undergraduate that apply toward both the bachelor’s degree and the eventual master's degree.
Interested students should apply to the program during their Junior year (i.e., when they have accumulated 60-90 hours of credit). Students must complete both the department’s internal application for permission to participate in the accelerated BA/MA program and the Graduate School’s application for admission to the Master of Arts program. Students must have at least a minimum overall Anthropology GPA of 3.3 and meet all other requirements for admission to the Master of Arts in Anthropology program (including at least 18 credit hours of Anthropology with at least nine (9) hours at the 300 level or higher). Students must retain a 3.0 GPA in Anthropology during their senior year to remain in the program.
Departmental Admission Requirements
Admission to the BA in Anthropology requires a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
The Application for Major form can be found on the Arts & Sciences Advising Center website.
Accelerated BA/MA in Anthropology
Students apply to the Accelerated BA/MA program toward the end of their junior year. Applicants should have completed at least 18 credit hours in Anthropology (ANTH) coursework, with at least nine (9) credit hours are the 300 level or higher. Students must have at least a 3.3 GPA in these and any other ANTH courses.
Students must first complete the internal application form requesting departmental permission to participate in the accelerated program. After obtaining the department's approval, the student applies for admission to the Graduate School; complete applications include:
- GRE scores
- Names of referees
- Unofficial transcript
- Statement of Purpose.
Upon admission to the accelerated program, students will select courses in consultation with their advisor and the Anthropology Director of Graduate Studies (DGS).
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements * | 31 | |
| The following courses are required by the program and can satisfy the respective General Education Requirement: | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology - D2, SB | ||
| Biological Anthropology - S | ||
or ANTH 207 | Principles of Biological Anthropology - B | |
*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above). Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
College/School Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Arts & Sciences Requirements | ||
| GEN 100 | Student Success Center First Year Experience | 1 |
| or GEN 101 | Arts & Sciences First Year Experience | |
| Foreign Language 1 | 12 | |
| Electives in Humanities or Natural Sciences 2 | 9 | |
| WR—two approved courses at the 300 level or above 3 | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 22 | |
Program/Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Anthropology | ||
| ANTH 201 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology - D2, SB | 3 |
| ANTH 202 | Biological Anthropology - S | 3-4 |
| or ANTH 207 | Principles of Biological Anthropology - B | |
| ANTH 204 | Archaeology - SB, D2 | 3-4 |
| or ANTH 206 | Principles of Archaeology - B | |
| ANTH 475 | Engaged Anthropology - CUE | 3 |
| ANTH 508 | History of Anthropology - WR, CUE | 3 |
| Methods (Select one of the following): | 3 | |
| Archaeological Theory and Methods - WR | ||
or ANTH 526 | Archaeology as Practice | |
| Methods in Biological Anthropology - WR | ||
or ANTH 512 | Methods in Skeletal Forensics - WR | |
| Ethnographic Methods - WR | ||
| Archaeology (select one of the following): | 3 | |
| Archaeology of Sacred Sites | ||
| Underwater Archaeology | ||
| Prehistoric Archaeology of Europe - SBH | ||
| Emergence of Human Culture - SBH | ||
| Rise of Civilization | ||
| Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica | ||
| Archaeology of North America - SBH | ||
| African Archaeology | ||
| Environmental Archaeology | ||
| Zooarchaeology | ||
| Urban and Historic Archaeology | ||
| Special Topics in Archaeology | ||
| Field Methods in Archaeology | ||
| Lithic Technology | ||
| Ceramic Analysis | ||
| Archaeology as Practice | ||
| Zooarchaeology | ||
| Human Impacts on Past Environments | ||
| Lithic Technology | ||
| Ceramic Analysis | ||
| Biological Anthropology (select one of the following): | 3 | |
| Human Origins | ||
| Genes, Peoples and Evolution | ||
| Human Biological Variation | ||
| Darwin | ||
| Primates | ||
| The Human Skeleton | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| Evolutionary Anthropology | ||
| Anthropology of Infectious Disease | ||
| Special Topics in Biological Anthropology | ||
| Skeletal Forensics | ||
| Nutritional Anthropology | ||
| Health and Civilization | ||
| Special Topics in Biological Anthropology | ||
| Cultural Anthropology (select one of the following): | 3 | |
| Sex, Gender and Culture | ||
| Race, Culture, Identity | ||
| Studies in Enthnomusicology - D2, SB | ||
| Introduction to Japanese Society - SB, D2 | ||
| The Anthropology of Europe - SB | ||
| Anthropology of China - D2, SB | ||
| African-American Cultural Traditions | ||
| Cultures of the Middle East | ||
| Indigenous Peoples of North America - SBH, D1 | ||
| American Indian Women | ||
| Cultures of Africa - SB, D2 | ||
| Iberian Anthropology | ||
| The Anthropology of Latin America - D2, SB | ||
| Anthropology of Religion | ||
| Ecology, Politics and Culture | ||
| Globalizing Inequalities - WR | ||
| Conflict, Law, and Culture | ||
| War and Society - WR | ||
| Nationalism, Violence, and the State | ||
| Anthropology of Refugees | ||
| The Anthropology of Space and Place | ||
| Human Rights | ||
| Museums, Culture and Nationhood | ||
| Language and Culture - D1, AH | ||
| Anthropology of Clothing | ||
| Sustainability: Anthropological Perspectives | ||
| Global Capitalisms | ||
| State & Empire | ||
| Modes of Consciousness | ||
| Food and Body Politic | ||
| Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Space, Place and Culture | ||
| Ecology, Politics and Culture | ||
| Food and Farm Movements in the Americas | ||
| Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Anthropology Electives | 9 | |
Select three courses from any elective category above or from the following: | ||
| Special Topics in Anthropology | ||
| Cooperative Internship in Anthropology | ||
| Practicum in Anthropology Education | ||
| Readings and Research | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Senior Honors Thesis | ||
| Anthropology of China | ||
| Animals and Humans | ||
| Anthropology of Water | ||
| Modes of Consiousness | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 36-38 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting Courses | ||
| Electives in the Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Humanities (other than Anthropology) 4 | 21 | |
| Minimum Electives 5 | 9-11 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 32 | |
Only 40 hours in the major department may be applied toward the Bachelor of Arts Degree.
At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement) | ||
| Requirement fulfilled by completing one of the following: | ||
| Engaged Anthropology - CUE | ||
| History of Anthropology - WR, CUE | ||
| 1 | Completion of the intermediate level of a single foreign language |
| 2 | In addition to courses counted toward General Education; 6 hours must be at 300 level or above |
| 3 | May be incorporated into other degree requirements |
| 4 | 15 hours must be at the 300-level or above. |
| 5 | Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree. |
Flight Plan
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| GEN 100 or GEN 101 |
Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience |
1 |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Qualitative Reasoning - QR | 3 | |
| ANTH 201 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology - D2, SB | 3 |
| General Elective | 2 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences with Lab - B | 4 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH | 3 | |
| Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, or Humanities Elective (not Anthropology) | 3 | |
| ANTH 202 or ANTH 207 |
Biological Anthropology - S or Principles of Biological Anthropology - B |
3-4 |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 1 | 4 | |
| ANTH 204 or ANTH 206 |
Archaeology - SB, D2 or Principles of Archaeology - B |
3-4 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities US Diversity - AHD1 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 2 | 4 | |
| Cultural Anthropology Course | 3 | |
| Humanities or Natural Science Elective | 3 | |
| Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, or Humanities Elective (not Anthropology) | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Foreign Language 3 | 4 | |
| Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, or Humanities Elective (not Anthropology) (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, or Humanities Elective (not Anthropology) (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Archaeology Course | 3 | |
| ANTH 475 | Engaged Anthropology - CUE | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Foreign Language 4 (if needed to total 12 hours of foreign language) or General Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities or Natural Science Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Biological Anthropology Course | 3 | |
| Anthropology Elective | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Archaeological Theory and Methods - WR | ||
| Methods in Biological Anthropology - WR | ||
| Ethnographic Methods - WR | ||
| Methods in Skeletal Forensics - WR | ||
| Archaeology as Practice | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Humanities or Natural Science Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, or Humanities Elective (not Anthropology) (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, or Humanities Elective (not Anthropology) (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Anthropology Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| ANTH 508 | History of Anthropology - WR, CUE | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, or Humanities Elective (not Anthropology) (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Anthropology Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121-123 | |
Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan. What-if reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan. Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.
To create either report:
- Log into your ULink account.
- Click on the Academic Progress tile.
- Next, click on "View my Degree Audit" to run a Degree Audit report in the Undergraduate Advising area.
- To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."
Click here to run a Degree Audit report, or create a What-if report.
Flight Planner
Based on your major, the Flight Planner tool may be available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan. The Flight Planner can be found in the ULink Student Center. Consult with your advisor for assistance with the Flight Planner.
