Undergraduate Programs

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Anthropology, the holistic, comparative study of human diversity, consists of four subfields: archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. The BA/BS degrees develop student knowledge of these four subfields, their theories, methods, applications, and relevance to understanding  global human diversity with an emphasis on the cultures, people, and social issues of Alaska and the Circumpolar North.

Students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a familiarity with the development of anthropological thought and the contemporary concepts, theories, and application of the four subfields.
  • Use anthropological perspectives to describe the past and present cultural diversity of Alaska and analyze contemporary social topics in the Circumpolar North.
  • Identify ethical principles that guide anthropological practice and ethical issues encountered in anthropological research.
  • Exhibit proficiency in documenting, evaluating, and communicating anthropological information.
  • Explain how to apply anthropological methods and techniques to research questions and practical social problems.

Anthropology is the holistic, comparative study of human diversity. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Anthropology provides students with a solid foundation in the contemporary theory, practice and application of the discipline and an understanding of global human diversity with a special emphasis on the cultures, lifeways and contemporary social issues of Alaska and the Circumpolar North. The program prepares students in intercultural fluency, critical thinking and research skills through coursework, applied research experiences and fieldwork. Graduates find opportunities in education, health care, museums, social services, international development agencies, governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, marketing and publishing. Many graduates also pursue graduate degrees in anthropology, law, public health, public policy, social work and other fields.

Admission Requirements Graduation Requirements
Core Courses
ANTH A202Cultural Anthropology3
ANTH A205Biological Anthropology3
ANTH A210Linguistic Anthropology3
ANTH A211Archaeology3
ANTH A410Anthropological Theory3
ANTH A458Applied Ethics in Anthropology 13
Ethnographic Courses
ANTH A200Alaska Native Cultures3
ANTH A390AArctic and Subarctic Cultures 13
ANTH A390BWorld Cultures 13
or ANTH A390C Comparative Culture Studies
Methodology Courses
Complete six credits from at least two of the following courses: 26
ANTH A415
Applied Anthropology
ANTH A430
Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology
ANTH A431
Field Methods in Archaeology and Bioanthropology 3
ANTH A477
Cultural Resource Management
ANTH A480
Analytical Techniques in Archaeology and Bioanthropology 1
ANTH A487
Field Methods in Cultural Anthropology
GEOG A470
Environmental Policy and Regulation in Alaska
or GEOG A475
 Geospatial and Cartographic Techniques for the Sciences
Topical/Theoretical Courses
Complete six credits from at least two of the following courses: 26
ANTH A411
Archaeological Theory
ANTH A452
Culture and Human Biodiversity
ANTH A454
Culture and Ecology
ANTH A455
Culture and Health
ANTH A464
Culture and Globalization
ANTH A490A
Health, Ritual and Science 1
ANTH A490B
Historical Engagements 1
ANTH A490C
Belief and Identity 1
ANTH A490D
Topics in the Contemporary North 1
ANTH A490E
Culture, Environment, Place 1
Program Electives
Complete any additional 3 credits in ANTH or GEOG.3
Upper-Division Humanities Electives
Complete six upper-division credits in AKNS, ART, ENGL, HIST, PHIL, THR or languages.6
Total48
1

Specific topical emphases for these courses vary by offering. See catalog course descriptions for details.

2

Other upper-division selected topics (ANTH A490), practicum (ANTH A495), independent study (ANTH A497), or individual research (ANTH A498), or thesis (ANTH A499) courses may be applied to satisfy methodological or topical/theoretical course requirements with department approval, depending on course content.

3

ANTH A431 is infrequently offered, typically as a summer field school. Please check with the Department of Anthropology for the schedule.

A minimum of 120 credits is required for the degree, of which 39 credits must be upper-division.

Honors in Anthropology

The BA in Anthropology recognizes distinguished achievement by undergraduate majors in the study of anthropology by conferring programmatic honors in Anthropology. In order to receive honors in Anthropology, a student must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a declared anthropology major;
  • Satisfy all of the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Anthropology;
  • Meet the requirements for Graduation with Honors;
  • Earn a minimum GPA of 3.50 in courses specific to the anthropology major;
  • Complete a senior thesis project (taken as ANTH A499), based on library, laboratory or field research resulting in a substantial, thesis-quality paper defended before the anthropology faculty. The course may be taken on a one-semester (3-credit) or two-semester (6-credit) basis.

Anthropology is the holistic, comparative study of human diversity. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Anthropology provides students with a solid foundation in the contemporary theory, practice and application of the discipline and an understanding of global human diversity with a special emphasis on the cultures, lifeways and contemporary social issues of Alaska and the Circumpolar North. The program prepares students in intercultural fluency, critical thinking and research skills through coursework, applied research experiences and fieldwork. Graduates find opportunities in laboratory sciences, international development agencies, governmental agencies, museums, non-profit organizations, publishing and many other fields. Many graduates also pursue graduate degrees in anthropology, medicine, public health, behavioral sciences, forensics and other fields.

Admission Requirements Graduation Requirements
Core Courses
ANTH A202Cultural Anthropology3
ANTH A205
& A205L		Biological Anthropology
and Biological Anthropology Laboratory		4
ANTH A210Linguistic Anthropology3
ANTH A211
& A211L		Archaeology
and Archaeology Laboratory		4
ANTH A410Anthropological Theory3
ANTH A458Applied Ethics in Anthropology 13
Ethnographic Courses
ANTH A200Alaska Native Cultures3
ANTH A390AArctic and Subarctic Cultures 13
ANTH A390BWorld Cultures 13
or ANTH A390C Comparative Culture Studies
Methodology Courses
Complete six credits from at least two the following: 26
ANTH A415
Applied Anthropology
ANTH A430
Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology
ANTH A431
Field Methods in Archaeology and Bioanthropology 3
ANTH A477
Cultural Resource Management
ANTH A480
Analytical Techniques in Archaeology and Bioanthropology 1
ANTH A487
Field Methods in Cultural Anthropology
GEOG A470
Environmental Policy and Regulation in Alaska
or GEOG A475
 Geospatial and Cartographic Techniques for the Sciences
Topical/Theoretical Courses
Complete six credits from at least two of the following: 26
ANTH A411
Archaeological Theory
ANTH A452
Culture and Human Biodiversity
ANTH A454
Culture and Ecology
ANTH A455
Culture and Health
ANTH A464
Culture and Globalization
ANTH A490A
Health, Ritual and Science 1
ANTH A490B
Historical Engagements 1
ANTH A490C
Belief and Identity 1
ANTH A490D
Topics in the Contemporary North 1
ANTH A490E
Culture, Environment, Place 1
Program Electives
Complete any additional 3 credits in ANTH or GEOG.3
Statistics Course
STAT A253Applied Statistics for the Sciences4
or STAT A307 Probability and Statistics
Upper-Division Natural Sciences Electives
Complete six upper-division credits in BIOL, CHEM, GEOL, or PHYS.6
Total54
1

Specific topical emphases for these courses vary by offering. See catalog course descriptions for details.

2

Other upper-division selected topics (ANTH A490), practicum (ANTH A495), independent study (ANTH A497), or individual research (ANTH A498), or thesis (ANTH A499) courses may be applied to satisfy methodological or topical/theoretical course requirements with department approval, depending on course content.

3

ANTH A431 is infrequently offered, typically as a summer field school. Please check with the Department of Anthropology for schedule.

A minimum of 120 credits is required for the degree, of which 39 credits must be upper-division.

Honors in Anthropology

The Bachelor of Science in Anthropology recognizes distinguished achievement by undergraduate majors in the study of anthropology by conferring programmatic honors in anthropology. In order to receive honors in anthropology, a student must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a declared anthropology major;
  • Satisfy all of the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Anthropology;
  • Meet the requirements for Graduation with Honors as outlined in the catalog;
  • Earn a minimum GPA of 3.50 in courses specific to the anthropology major;
  • Complete a senior thesis project (taken as ANTH A499), based on library, laboratory or field research resulting in a substantial, thesis-quality paper defended before the anthropology faculty. The course may be taken on a one-semester (3-credit) or two-semester (6-credit) basis.

Students majoring in another subject who wish to minor in anthropology must complete the following requirements.

Core Anthropology Courses
Complete two of the following courses:6
ANTH A101
Introduction to Anthropology
ANTH A202
Cultural Anthropology
ANTH A205
Biological Anthropology
ANTH A210
Linguistic Anthropology
ANTH A211
Archaeology
ANTH A250
First Footsteps/ First Cities: Emergence of Complex Societies
Ethnographic Courses
Complete 6 credits from at least two of the following courses:6
ANTH A200
Alaska Native Cultures
ANTH A390A
Arctic and Subarctic Cultures 1
ANTH A390B
World Cultures 1
ANTH A390C
Comparative Culture Studies 1
Methodological, Topical, and Theoretical Courses 2
Complete 6 credits from at least two of the following courses:6
ANTH A410
Anthropological Theory
ANTH A411
Archaeological Theory
ANTH A415
Applied Anthropology
ANTH A430
Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology
ANTH A431
Field Methods in Archaeology and Bioanthropology
ANTH A452
Culture and Human Biodiversity
ANTH A454
Culture and Ecology
ANTH A455
Culture and Health
ANTH A458
Applied Ethics in Anthropology 1
ANTH A464
Culture and Globalization
ANTH A477
Cultural Resource Management
ANTH A480
Analytical Techniques in Archaeology and Bioanthropology 1
ANTH A487
Field Methods in Cultural Anthropology
ANTH A490A
Health, Ritual and Science 1
ANTH A490B
Historical Engagements 1
ANTH A490C
Belief and Identity 1
ANTH A490D
Topics in the Contemporary North 1
ANTH A490E
Culture, Environment, Place 1
Total18
1

Specific topical emphasis for this course varies by offering. See catalog course description for details.

2

Other upper-division selected topics courses ANTH A490 or independent study courses (ANTH A397 or ANTH A497) may be petitioned to satisfy the methodological/topical/theoretical course requirements, depending on course content.

 A total of 18 credits is required for the minor, 9 of which must be upper-division. 

The Minor in Cultural and Natural Resource Management introduces students to key environmental and cultural issues as well as state and federal programs and laws that regulate cultural and natural resource management. Students focus on Alaska-specific issues and regulations to enhance the relevance of the minor to cultural and natural resource management in the state. The course of study complements degrees in Anthropology, Biology, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, English, Geology, and History by teaching students how their future careers might intersect with environmental and other laws and by building skills that will improve their success in finding employment in environmental, natural, and cultural resource compliance.

Students who wish to minor in Cultural and Natural Resource Management must complete the following requirements with a minimum grade of C:

Complete 6 credits from these foundational courses:6
ANTH A211
Archaeology
or ANTH A101
 Introduction to Anthropology
or ANTH A202
 Cultural Anthropology
ECON A210
Environmental Economics and Policy
or PHIL A303
 Environmental Ethics
GEOG A111
Discovering Alaska and Earth's Physical Geography: From Weather to Glaciers
SOC A101
Introduction to Sociology
or JPC A104
 Media Literacy
or SOC A202
 Social Institutions
Complete the following three core courses:9
ANTH A454
Culture and Ecology
or SOC A404
 Environmental Sociology
ANTH A477
Cultural Resource Management
GEOG A470
Environmental Policy and Regulation in Alaska
Complete one of the following electives: 1, 23-4
AKNS/PS A346
Alaska Native Politics
ANTH A431
Field Methods in Archaeology and Bioanthropology 3
ANTH A480
Analytical Techniques in Archaeology and Bioanthropology
BIOL A473
Conservation Biology
CE A442
Environmental Engineering Design
CM A422
Sustainability in the Built Environment
ECON A210
Environmental Economics and Policy
ENGL A478
Public Science Writing
GEOG A475
Geospatial and Cartographic Techniques for the Sciences
GEOL A361
Earth Resources and Society
HIST A341
History of Alaska
JPC A362
Principles of Strategic Communications
Total18-19

A minimum of 18-19 credits is required for the minor. 

1

Many of these courses have prerequisites relevant to the course of study but not included in the minor credit total.

2

Other selected topics courses (A290, A390, and A490) that cover topics relevant to cultural or natural resources management may be substituted in this list with department approval.

3

ANTH A431 is infrequently offered, typically as a summer field school. Please check with the Department of Anthropology for the schedule.

Undergraduate Academic Advising

Visit the Academic Advising website to find your advsior, schedule a meeting, or learn more about the program. 

Academic Advising