Bachelor of Arts

Anthropology is the study of people in their cultural context and the examination of all aspects of patterned social behavior. The discipline is worldwide in scope and encompasses all aspects of human, biological, and social life from earliest times to the present. It is a broad, holistic field that seeks to understand human adaptation to natural and social environments.

About this Program

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

Department Information

Anthropology lies at the intersection of the multiple approaches to the study of humankind that characterize other disciplines – biological, social, cultural, historical, linguistic, cognitive, material, technological and aesthetic – because of its unique holistic perspective. These multiple approaches are encapsulated in the four traditional subfields that have composed the discipline since its establishment in the 19th century: cultural, archaeological, biological and linguistic anthropology.
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Curriculum

The BA in Anthropology provides students with a broad-based liberal arts education and prepares students to work in an increasingly complex world. BA majors learn about different groups of people, their prehistory, and their biological and cultural diversity through disciplines that combine social science, natural science, and the humanities. Many undergraduate anthropology majors go on to graduate school in the social sciences, while others use anthropology to prepare themselves for professional careers in other disciplines. In a world of increasing globalization and need for effective international relations and understanding, anthropology is a highly relevant liberal arts and sciences major for students interested in pursuing careers in business, education, government, health, and law. 

Anthropology includes four subfields: cultural anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, and linguistics. Undergraduates may concentrate their studies in one of these four subfields or pursue a focus in an interdisciplinary track with another major or minor. The anthropology major has two different programs: the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science. Coursework for the major will depend upon the program, both of which are flexible. Both degrees are earned in anthropology rather than in any one subfield.

Students who are uncertain of a program should contact the Department of Anthropology's undergraduate coordinator for information and curriculum planning.

Degrees

Anthropology | BA

Provides a broad-based liberal arts education and prepares students to work in an increasingly complex world. BA majors learn about different groups of people, their prehistory, and their biological and cultural diversity through disciplines that combine social science, natural science, and the humanities. Many undergraduate anthropology majors go on to graduate school in the social sciences, while others use anthropology to prepare themselves for professional careers in other disciplines. In a world of increasing globalization and need for effective international relations and understanding, anthropology is a highly relevant liberal arts and sciences major for students interested in pursuing careers in business, education, government, health, and law.

Anthropology | BS

Provides a degree option that blends their interest in basic science with the holistic lens of anthropology. BS majors engage in anthropology through coursework, lab and field-based research, and outreach. A grounding in scientific-based research, community initiatives, and multicultural skillsets enables students to address pressing needs in both local and global contexts. For example, students often participate in independent and collaborative initiatives on and off campus and receive pre-graduate training in life sciences, health-related disciplines, natural history, or archaeological science fields. A BS in Anthropology will encourage students to develop STEM-based skill sets and enhance scientific inquiry to address salient anthropological issues. This degree inevitably draws upon multidisciplinary fields including anatomy, biology, chemistry, ecology, engineering, genetics, geology, physics, mathematics, statistics, zoology, and botany.

Coursework for the Major

Both the BA and the BS require a minimum of 34 semester credits in anthropology and all coursework must be completed with minimum grades of C. A minimum of 18 credits of anthropology coursework must be completed at UF.

For the BS degree, all required anthropology, and required related coursework must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Overseas Studies

Students concentrating in any subfield, particularly cultural anthropology and archaeology, are also encouraged to complete either an ethnographic study abroad program or an archaeological field school before their senior year.

Relevant Minors and Certificates

The department encourages students pursuing the BA to choose a minor or an interdisciplinary certificate option in African studies, Asian studies, environmental studies, Jewish studies, Latin American studies, Linguistics, or Women's Studies. Relevant courses in anthropology may be used to fulfill some requirements.

Required Coursework for the BA

Anthropology Core Courses
ANT 2410Cultural Anthropology3
ANT 2140Introduction to World Archaeology3
ANT 3514CIntroduction to Biological Anthropology4
ANT 3620Language and Culture3
ANT 4931Capstone in Anthropology3
Anthropology BA Electives 1
3000 level and above6
4000 level6
Any level6
Related Coursework for the BA
STA 2023Introduction to Statistics 13
Total Credits37
1

There are no prerequisites for 2000-level courses. Students in the honors program may take honors sections of any offered anthropology class. Any student at the sophomore level and above with the appropriate prerequisites or permission of the instructor may enroll in cross-listed graduate-level courses. Students are encouraged to take courses that address theory and method in the discipline, in addition to survey courses and area studies.

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 2

  • Complete 1 anthropology course
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

  • Complete 1 additional anthropology course or STA 2023
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

  • Complete 1 additional anthropology course
  • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

  • Complete 2 additional anthropology courses
  • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 6

  • Complete 2 additional anthropology courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 7

  • Complete 2 additional anthropology courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 8

  • Complete ANT 4931
  • Complete 1 additional anthropology course
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Students are expected to complete the Writing Requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the General Education International (GE-N) and Diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another General Education requirement (typically, GE-C, H, or S).

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
ANT 2410 Cultural Anthropology (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences with Diversity) 3
State Core Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences 3
State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement 3
Foreign language 3-5
Elective 2-3
 Credits14-17
Semester Two
Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) 3
ANT 2140 Introduction to World Archaeology (Critical Tracking) 3
ANT 2000 General Anthropology (recommended; State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) 3
State Core Gen Ed Mathematics 3
Foreign language 3-5
 Credits15-17
Semester Three
Quest 2 (Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences-area not taken in semester 1) 3
ANT 3514C Introduction to Biological Anthropology (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences) 4
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (Gen Ed Mathematics) 3
State Core Gen Ed Humanities 3
Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option) 3
 Credits16
Semester Four
ANT 3620 Language and Culture (Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences and International) 3
Gen Ed Humanities 3
Gen Ed Physical Sciences 3
Electives 6
 Credits15
Semester Five
Anthropology BA electives 6
Select one composition course (ENC 3254 or ANT 3860 recommended): 3
Professional Writing in the Discipline (Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement)
Writing in Anthropology (Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement)
Electives 6
 Credits15
Semester Six
Anthropology BA electives (one at 3000 level or above; one at 4000 level) 6
Electives (3000 level or above; not in major) 6
Elective 3
 Credits15
Semester Seven
Anthropology BA elective (4000 level) 3
Anthropology BA elective (1000-4000 level) 1 3
Electives (3000 level or above; not in major) 6
Elective 3
 Credits15
Semester Eight
ANT 4931 Capstone in Anthropology (Critical Tracking) 3
Electives 6
Electives (3000 level or above; not in major) 6
 Credits15
 Total Credits120
1

Or elective if ANT 2000 taken as State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences.


Students will develop critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills in the social sciences and in studies of natural history pertaining to human and non-human primates. Through study of human biological and cultural history and diversity, students will learn holistic, comparative and relative perspectives of anthropology, both scientific and humanistic. Emphasis is on critical thinking skills in the evaluation of alternative knowledge claims. Students will learn to identify western cultural biases, to integrate diverse sources of information into holistic perspectives and to apply anthropological knowledge and perspectives to solve problems of broad human relevance in contemporary contexts.

Before Graduating Students Must

  • Achieve satisfactory evaluation of a term paper written for an upper-division course or senior honors thesis.
  • Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs

Content

  1. Identify, describe, explain and apply factual, conceptual and procedural knowledge in the four subfields of anthropology (cultural anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, linguistics).

Critical Thinking

  1. Apply scientific and humanistic approaches to investigate human variation in its biological, social, and cultural dimensions, and identify and evaluate disparate knowledge claims culturally and historically.

Communication

  1. Articulate anthropological knowledge professionally in written and verbal form.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Courses SLO 1 SLO 2 SLO 3
ANT 2000 I, R, A
ANT 2140 I, R, A I
ANT 2410 I, R, A I I
ANT 3126 R R R
ANT 3141 I R R
ANT 3153 R R R
ANT 3162 R R R
ANT 3164 R R R
ANT 3181 R R R
ANT 3241 R R R
ANT 3302 R R R
ANT 3390 R R R
ANT 3451 R R R
ANT 3514C I, R, A I
ANT 3515 R R R
ANT 3520 R R R
ANT 3620 I, R, A I
ANT 4110 R R R
ANT 4114 R R R
ANT 4266 R R R
ANT 4274 R R R
ANT 4336 R R R
ANT 4340 R R R
ANT 4352 R R R
ANT 4354 R R R
ANT 4403 R R R
ANT 4468 R R R
ANT 4525 R R R
ANT 4550 R R R
ANT 4552 R R R
ANT 4554 R R R
ANT 4586 R R R
ANT 4740 R R R
ANT 4823 R R R
ANT 4824 R R R
ANT 4956 R R R
ANT Capstone I, R, A A A

Assessment Types

  • Exams