BA in Anthropology
Degree Program Description
Anthropology is the study of the entire human experience, from our primate roots to our globalized present. Anthropology at MU emphasizes scientific approaches to the study of human biology, behavior, culture, and evolution. Anthropology majors are required to take core courses in all three focal areas of the discipline (archaeology, biological anthropology, and cultural anthropology) but may concentrate in one or more of these fields. The degree offers three specialized tracks of study for students who want a closer fit between the major and future employment or post-baccalaureate training: Health & Human Biology, Archaeology & Heritage, and Culture & Human Ecology. Students are not required to choose a track and these do not appear on diplomas or transcripts. Students have opportunities to become involved in research, helping them develop creativity, enhance critical thinking skills, solve problems and improve their writing. Undergraduate training in anthropology also prepares students for work in government (both in the United States and abroad), museum positions, and field positions in archaeology, ethnography, human paleontology, or forensics. It may also provide students with the opportunity to enter graduate school leading towards an academic career teaching and conducting anthropological research at a university. A degree in anthropology also provides students with the background to pursue careers in business, journalism, health care, law, and many other fields.
Major Program Requirements
In addition to University, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements, students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated. All anthropology students are required to complete the following core courses.
| Core Courses | 15 | |
| ANTHRO 2020 | Fundamentals of Archaeology with Laboratory | 4 |
| or ANTHRO 2021 & ANTHRO 2022 | Fundamentals of Archaeology and Fundamentals of Archaeology Lab | |
| ANTHRO 2030 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 2050 | Introduction to Biological Anthropology with Laboratory | 5 |
| or ANTHRO 2051 & ANTHRO 2052 | Introduction to Biological Anthropology and Biological Anthropology Laboratory | |
| ANTHRO 4990 | Capstone Seminar in Anthropology | 3 |
ANTHRO 4990 Capstone Seminar in Anthropology must be completed even if a student completes an additional major in another department. Some departments waive this requirement for students completing a double major. Students with second majors should check with the other department to see if they are required to complete both capstone courses.
Electives and Specialized Tracks
A minimum of 15 additional Anthropology credits (usually 5 courses) are required for the major. No specific courses are required but a minimum of 8 credits must be at the 3000-level or above (excluding capstone ANTHRO 4990). Students are encouraged to follow one of the three tracks described below to specialize their elective courses. Tracks do not appear on diplomas or transcripts.
HHB Track: Health & Human Biology
Coursework in this track encourages students to develop skills for careers devoted to understanding human health and biological variation from cross-cultural and evolutionary perspectives. Students are encouraged to become involved in research (see below) or internships that will advance their training. Appropriate field schools can also be valuable (e.g., paleoanthropology, primatology, bioarchaeology). The department keeps an updated list of these field schools operated by other universities. Students adopting this track are also encouraged to consider declaring a Paleobiology minor to support their coursework.
| ANTHRO 1000 | Introduction to Anthropology: Human Biology, Prehistory, and Culture | 3 |
| or ANTHRO 1000H | Introduction to Anthropology: Human Biology, Prehistory, and Culture - Honors | |
| ANTHRO 1500 | Monkeys, Apes and Humans | 3 |
| or ANTHRO 1500W | Monkeys, Apes and Humans - Writing Intensive | |
| ANTHRO 2002 | Topics in Anthropology-Biological Science | 1-3 |
| ANTHRO 2500 | Primate Anatomy and Evolution | 3 |
| ANTHRO 2530 | Human Evolution through Film and Literature | 1-3 |
| ANTHRO 2570 | Parents and Offspring | 3 |
| ANTHRO 2580 | Evolution of Human Sexuality | 3 |
| or ANTHRO 2580W | Evolution of Human Sexuality - Writing Intensive | |
| ANTHRO 3002 | Topics in Anthropology-Biological Sciences | 3 |
| ANTHRO 3540 | Human Biology and Life History | 3 |
| ANTHRO 3560 | Plagues and Peoples | 3 |
| or ANTHRO 3560W | Plagues and Peoples - Writing Intensive | |
| ANTHRO 4360 | Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4500 | Human Origins | 5 |
| ANTHRO 4520 | Functional Morphology of the Human Skeleton | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4540 | Human Biological Variation | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4580 | Evolutionary Medicine | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4880 | Demographic Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4885 | Human Evolutionary Genetics | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4890 | Human Skeletal Identification and Analysis | 5 |
| ANTHRO 4950 | Undergraduate Research in Anthropology | 2-8 |
| or ANTHRO 4950H | Honors Research in Anthropology | |
| or ANTHRO 4950HW | Undergraduate Research in Anthropology - Honors/Writing Intensive | |
| ANTHRO 4960 | Undergraduate Readings in Anthropology | 1-99 |
A&H Track: Archaeology & Heritage
Students choosing this track develop skills for collection, interpretation, and curation of material culture from archaeological or contemporary human groups. A field school experience is strongly recommended. The department keeps an updated list of these field schools operated by other universities. MU-hosted field schools include AMS 2940 and varying summer study abroad courses. Additional research or internships opportunities, particularly with MURR and the Museum of Anthropology, are also encouraged. Students adopting this track are also encouraged to consider declaring an Archaeology minor to support their coursework.
| ANTHRO 1000 | Introduction to Anthropology: Human Biology, Prehistory, and Culture | 3 |
| or ANTHRO 1000H | Introduction to Anthropology: Human Biology, Prehistory, and Culture - Honors | |
| ANTHRO 1003 | Topics in Anthropology - Behavioral | 1-3 |
| ANTHRO 1200 | Significant Discoveries of Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 2003 | Topics in Anthropology - Behavioral | 1-3 |
| ANTHRO 2215 | World Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 2800 | Introduction to Field Methods in Archaeology | 1-6 |
| ANTHRO 2825 | Analyzing Artifacts | 3 |
| ANTHRO 2950 | Research Skills in Anthropology | 1-3 |
| ANTHRO 3003 | Topics in Anthropology - Behavioral Science | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4200 | Environment and Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4240 | History of Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4280 | Archaeology of Magic and Ritual | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4300 | Comparative Social Organization | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4340 | Cultural Evolution and Change | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4500 | Human Origins | 5 |
| ANTHRO 4620 | North American Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4640 | Prehistory of the Greater Southwest | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4650 | Prehistory of Mesoamerica | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4700 | Old World Prehistory | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4800 | Field Methods in Archaeology | 1-8 |
| ANTHRO 4820 | Zooarchaeology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4826 | Stone Artifact Analysis | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4828 | Archaeological Analysis of Ceramics | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4840 | The Comparative Method in Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4880 | Demographic Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4890 | Human Skeletal Identification and Analysis | 5 |
| ANTHRO 4950 | Undergraduate Research in Anthropology | 2-8 |
| or ANTHRO 4950H | Honors Research in Anthropology | |
| or ANTHRO 4950HW | Undergraduate Research in Anthropology - Honors/Writing Intensive | |
| ANTHRO 4960 | Undergraduate Readings in Anthropology | 1-99 |
CHE Track: Culture & Human Ecology
This track provides training in the skills of cultural anthropologists for collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and communicating information about cultural processes and cultural variation. Completion of the multicultural certificate and a minor, especially in a foreign language, are strongly recommended. Students are encouraged to become involved in research (see below) or internships that will advance their training. Appropriate field schools can also be valuable (e.g., language or cultural immersion, ethnographic field work). The department keeps an updated list of these field schools operated by other universities.
| ANTHRO 1000 | Introduction to Anthropology: Human Biology, Prehistory, and Culture | 3 |
| or ANTHRO 1000H | Introduction to Anthropology: Human Biology, Prehistory, and Culture - Honors | |
| ANTHRO 1003 | Topics in Anthropology - Behavioral | 1-3 |
| ANTHRO 1060 | Human Language | 3 |
| ANTHRO 1150 | Introduction to Folklore Genres | 3 |
| ANTHRO 1300 | Multiculturalism: An Introduction | 3 |
| ANTHRO 1350 | Deviance: A Cross-Cultural Perspective | 3 |
| ANTHRO 2003 | Topics in Anthropology - Behavioral | 1-3 |
| ANTHRO 2005 | Topics in Anthropology - Humanities | 1-3 |
| ANTHRO 2100 | Indigenous Religions | 3 |
| or ANTHRO 2100H | Indigenous Religions - Honors | |
| ANTHRO 2150 | Introduction to Folklore Field Research | 3 |
| ANTHRO 2300 | Anthropology of War | 3 |
| ANTHRO 2340 | Hunters and Gatherers of the World | 3 |
| ANTHRO 2950 | Research Skills in Anthropology | 1-3 |
| ANTHRO 3003 | Topics in Anthropology - Behavioral Science | 3 |
| ANTHRO 3004 | Topics in Anthropology - Social Science | 3 |
| ANTHRO 3005 | Topics in Anthropology - Humanities | 3 |
| ANTHRO 3150 | American Folklore | 3 |
| ANTHRO 3340H | The Evolution of Human Nature - Honors | 3 |
| or ANTHRO 3340HW | The Evolution of Human Nature - Honors/Writing Intensive | |
| ANTHRO 3380 | Native American Religions | 3 |
| ANTHRO 3470 | Culture as Communication | 3 |
| ANTHRO 3490 | Indian Cinema | 3 |
| ANTHRO 3560 | Plagues and Peoples | 3 |
| or ANTHRO 3560W | Plagues and Peoples - Writing Intensive | |
| ANTHRO 3600 | North American Indian Culture | 3 |
| ANTHRO 3780 | Cultures of Southeast Asia | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4005 | Topics in Anthropology - Humanities | 1-3 |
| ANTHRO 4001 | Topics in Anthropology-General | 1-3 |
| ANTHRO 4150 | Special Themes in Folklore | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4170 | Oral Tradition | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4300 | Comparative Social Organization | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4320 | Ecological and Environmental Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4340 | Cultural Evolution and Change | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4350 | Psychological Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4360 | Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4370 | Anthropology of Gender | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4380 | Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4385 | Anthropology of Shamanism | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4412 | Gender, Language, and Communication | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4420 | Historical Linguistics | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4600 | Ethnographic Studies of Selected Cultures | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4680 | Cultures and Peoples of the Amazon | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4790 | Culture and Society in South Asia | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4830 | Ethnographic Methods | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4840 | The Comparative Method in Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4870 | Field Methods in Linguistics | 4 |
| or ANTHRO 4870W | Field Methods in Linguistics - Writing Intensive | |
| ANTHRO 4880 | Demographic Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 4950 | Undergraduate Research in Anthropology | 2-8 |
| or ANTHRO 4950H | Honors Research in Anthropology | |
| or ANTHRO 4950HW | Undergraduate Research in Anthropology - Honors/Writing Intensive | |
| ANTHRO 4960 | Undergraduate Readings in Anthropology | 1-99 |
Student Research
Students can gain hands-on experience doing anthropological research in their coursework. This experience will normally begin with ANTHRO 2950 Research Skills in Anthropology, an introduction to the methods used by one or more faculty members. This course will satisfy the methods requirement if a student enrolls in it for at least 3 credits. A student may independently choose a faculty mentor and arrange for course credit or can work with the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies, who will match the student's interests with those of one or more faculty members.
Students wishing to continue doing research of an independent nature may register for ANTHRO 4950 Undergraduate Research in Anthropology. Prior approval by the director of undergraduate studies is required to use these courses to satisfy the departmental methods requirement. ANTHRO 4950H Honors Research in Anthropology may be used to satisfy the requirements for an Honors BA with a major in Anthropology, but the course is not required for that degree. Specific requirements for the Honors BA are described below.
Related Courses
Because of the interdisciplinary nature of anthropology, the Department of Anthropology strongly recommends that all students complete a cluster of at least two or three courses that complement chosen courses within the major.
These courses may be offered by a single department or may be a related set of courses from several departments (e.g., courses in ancient history from both the Ancient & Mediterranean Studies and the History departments). The courses should be chosen with their mentor and are intended to provide background in the content of other disciplines related to the student's anthropological focus. Fulfillment of a formal minor (15 credits in another department as approved by that department) or a second major (at least 30 credits in another department as approved by that department) can also be an effective way to gain expertise in related areas. Certificates can provide further credentials as evidence of specialized training and experience (e.g. multicultural certificate) and anthropology courses can be counted toward those certificate requirements.
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ANTHRO 20301 | 3 | ANTHRO 20201 | 4 |
| ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | MATH 1050, 1100, or STAT 1200 | 3 |
| Second language 1 | 5 | Behavioral science course | 3 |
| HIST 1100 or POL_SC 1100 | 3 | Second language 2 | 5 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Anthropology elective1 | 3 | ANTHRO 2050 (Satisfies lab science)1 | 5 |
| Second language 3 | 3 | Bio./Phys./Math. Science course | 3 |
| Bio./Phys./Math. Science course | 3 | Behavioral science (upper level) | 3 |
| Social science course | 3 | Humanities course | 3 |
| Humanities course | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Anthropology elective1 | 3 | Anthropology elective1 | 3-5 |
| Anthropology elective1 | 3 | WI course | 3 |
| Bio/Phys/Math Science course (if needed) | 3 | Humanities (upper level) | 3 |
| Social science (upper level) | 3 | Related field course (recommended)1 | 3 |
| Humanities course | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15-17 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Anthropology elective1 | 3 | Capstone Seminar in Anthropology 1 | 3 |
| Related field course (recommended)1 | 3 | Related field course (recommended)1 | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | Electives | 9-11 |
| 15 | 15-17 | ||
| Total Credits: 121-125 | |||
- 1
Course meets degree program requirements.
Departmental Honors
The Honors Program is organized under the Honors College of the College of Arts and Science within the University of Missouri. To be accepted in the Honors Program, the student must achieve and maintain a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.3 in all course work. In addition, to be accepted, and remain eligible for the honors program in the Department of Anthropology, the student must maintain a GPA of 3.5 in all anthropology courses.
The University of Missouri grants three types of Honors degrees to students in the College of Arts and Science:
- General Honors, which is administered by the Honors College and which is obtained by completion of a suitable number of honors courses (see the Honors College for details),
- Latin Honors (e.g., cum laude), which are conferred on students whose GPAs meet specified minimum requirements, and
- Departmental Honors, which is administered by the Department of Anthropology.
The departmental program leading to the BA degree with Honors in Anthropology is designed for students who desire a more intensive experience in anthropology and who wish to work closely with a particular faculty member in the anthropology department on an independent research or scholarly project. A student wishing to graduate with departmental honors must fulfill the basic course requirements for the BA in Anthropology. In addition, the student, with the assistance of his/her honors advisor, is expected to develop, plan, and conduct research on an independent project. It is recommended that students in the honors program enroll in ANTHRO 4950H Honors Research in Anthropology, although projects initiated in other courses or through independent, noncredit research experiences may also be honors eligible. To complete the Honors degree, a student must submit the results of the research project as a formal honors thesis that the student defends during an oral examination conducted by an examining committee. The committee consists of three faculty members: the advisor, another faculty member, and the departmental Honors Director. The examination is scheduled no later than the thirteenth week of the term during which the student expects to graduate. Each member of the committee is furnished with a copy of the student’s thesis or evidence of scholarly activity at least ten days before the examination. After the oral defense the student furnishes the department with one final copy of the thesis or evidence of scholarly achievement (e.g., photographs) suitable for preservation by the Department. Upon completion of the program, the examining committee recommends to the Dean of the College of Arts and Science that the student be awarded a BA with Honors in Anthropology.
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.