Anthropology

major | UF Online

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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CONTACT

Email | 352.392.2253

P.O. BOX 117305
1112 TURLINGTON HALL
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-7305
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Curriculum

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. A Bachelor of Arts is earned in anthropology rather than in any one subfield.

A BA in Anthropology provides students with a broad-based liberal arts education and prepares students to work in an increasingly complex world. Anthropology BA students 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.

Coursework for the Major

The major requires a minimum of 34 semester credits in anthropology and 3 credits of statistics. All coursework must be completed with minimum grades of C. A minimum of 18 credits of anthropology coursework must be completed at UF.

Required Coursework

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
3000 level and above6
4000 level6
Any level6
Related Coursework
STA 2023Introduction to Statistics 13
Total Credits37

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.

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.

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