Anthropology students are typically interested in a wide range of topics, unified only by their connection to the human condition. These interests range from the reconstruction of the evolutionary processes leading to modern humans to complex issues concerning contemporary human cultural diversity. Many students are fascinated by the archaeological remains of the peoples who previously occupied not only our region, but many other areas of the world. Many of our students are interested in traveling, meeting people of other societies, viewing museum exhibits, analyzing artifacts, interviewing and learning techniques of observation, learning new languages and developing excellent cross-cultural communication skills. Anthropology students acquire skills that serve them in many different settings and occupations, including how to communicate with people of different cultures, how to recognize the varied perspectives that characterize people from different societies, how to gather and interpret data about human beings and how to obtain funding and work within a budget.
Admission into the Major
Students are expected to formally declare a major no later than the fourth semester of full-time enrollment (or at 61 semester hours for transfer students). Students can declare a major by completing the Change of Major/Minor Application online under the Student tab of myBama.
Students are expected to meet the director of undergraduate studies as soon as they declare a major in Anthropology. The director will advise them of curriculum requirements, assign an adviser in the department, and answer any questions concerning curriculum.
Special Opportunities
The department sponsors a local chapter of Lambda Alpha, a national anthropology honor society. Membership requires junior standing, at least 12 hours of completed coursework in the major and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. The department also supports an active student-run Anthropology Club, which is involved in archaeological digs, the Moundville Native American Festival, and many other academic and recreational activities throughout the year.
Students earning a bachelor of arts (BA) degree with a major in anthropology must complete all University, College, and departmental degree requirements. These include the general education requirements, the following major requirements, all requirements for an approved minor (or second major), and other sufficient credits to total a minimum of 120 applicable semester hours.
| Code and Title | Hours |
| ANT 102 | Intro to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 107 | Intro to Archaeology | 3 |
| ANT 210 | Language and Culture | 3 |
| ANT 270 | Biological Anthropology | 4 |
| 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 3 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 3 |
| 9 |
| |
| Ancient New World Civilization | |
| Environmental Archaeology | |
| Archaeological Field Research | |
| Field Archaeology | |
| Southeastern Archaeology | |
| Ancient Maya Civilization | |
| Archaeological Ethics | |
| Applied Archaeology: CRM | |
| GIS for Archaeologists | |
| Archaeology East North America | |
| Radiocarbon for Archaeologists | |
| North American Archaeology | |
| Geoarchaeology | |
| Archaeology of Food | |
| Historical Archaeology | |
| Museum Collections Management | |
| Anthropology and Museums | |
| Ancient Andean Civilizations | |
| Paleoethnobotany | |
| Laboratory Methods Archaeology | |
| |
| Tattooing and Human Nature | |
| Pop., Health & Human Origins | |
| Non-Human Primates | |
| Biocultural Bodies | |
| Culture, Health, and Healing | |
| Fossil Humans and Evolution | |
| Neuroanthropology | |
| The Plastic Human | |
| Nutritional Anthropology | |
| Anthro of Human Development | |
| |
| Language and Race | |
| Maya Language and Culture | |
| Science, Technology, & Justice | |
| Anth-Modern Life | |
| Anthropology of CAM | |
| Community Engaged Ethnography | |
| Linguistic Anthropology | |
| Health Inequities | |
| Culture, Mind, and Behavior | |
| Ethnography of Communication | |
| Anthropology of Europe | |
| Peoples of Latin Amer | |
| Anthropology of Africa | |
| Contemporary China | |
| Ethnography | |
| Culture | |
| Total Hours | 34 |
Grade Point Average
A 2.0 grade point average in the major is required for completion of the degree. Please see the Grades and Grade Points section of this catalog for an explanation on grade point average calculations.
Upper-level Residency
A minimum of 12 hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be earned on this campus.
Ancillary Courses
The major in anthropology does not require ancillary courses. However, students considering graduate school are encouraged to study a foreign language.
Required Minor
This major requires the completion of a minor or a second major.
Additional Major Requirements
Students are responsible for ensuring that they have met all University, College, major and minor requirements. However, each student must meet with an adviser in the major department for academic planning and to be approved for registration each semester. College advisers are also available for additional assistance with minor, College and University requirements.
Prerequisites
The prerequisites for 300+ level ANT courses include introductory courses specific to a subfield (i.e., ANT 102 Intro to Cultural Anthropology is required to enroll in upper-level courses in cultural anthropology, ANT 107 Intro to Archaeology is required to enroll in upper-level courses in archaeology, ANT 210 Language and Culture is required to enroll in upper-level courses in linguistic anthropology, and ANT 270 Biological Anthropology is required to enroll in upper-level courses in biological anthropology). Independent research classes require at least 6 hours of ANT classes be completed prior to enrollment. If a student lacks the necessary credits or courses, they may request permission to enroll from the instructor.
Concentrations
Students majoring in Anthropology have the option of concentrating in either the Archaeology of the Americas or Health Professions. No additional classes are required, but specific electives (12 hrs) will replace the 4 general electives for the major.
Health Professions Concentration
Students pursuing a major in anthropology who are interested in a career in health professions such as medicine, nursing, public health, health policy, epidemiology, medical anthropology or medical sociology can choose a sequence of courses in the health professions concentration. These students should choose anthropology electives from the following courses below for their general 100+ (3 hrs) and 300+ (6 hrs) electives:
| Health Professions Concentration | Hours |
| ANT 275 | Race, Ethnicity, & Human Var. | 3 |
| ANT 411 | Culture, Health, and Healing | 3 |
| 6 |
| Language and Race | |
| Tattooing and Human Nature | |
| Science, Technology, & Justice | |
| Pop., Health & Human Origins | |
| Anthropology of CAM | |
| Health Inequities | |
| Biocultural Bodies | |
| Culture, Mind, and Behavior | |
| Anthropology of Africa | |
| Contemporary China | |
| Ethnography | |
| Culture | |
| Neuroanthropology | |
| The Plastic Human | |
| Anthro of Human Development | |
| Nutritional Anthropology | |
| 12 |
Archaeology of the Americas Concentration
Students pursuing a major in anthropology who are interested in an academic career in archaeology or a career in cultural resource management with companies such as the National Park Service, the National Forest Service, Bureaus of Land Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and State Historic Preservation offices or private consulting firms should choose a total of nine hours of anthropology electives from the following courses:
| Archaeology of the Americas Concentration | Hours |
| 3 |
| Archaeological Field Research | |
| Field Archaeology | |
| ANT 466 | Laboratory Methods Archaeology | 3 |
| 6 |
| Ancient New World Civilization | |
| Environmental Archaeology | |
| Southeastern Archaeology | |
| Ancient Maya Civilization | |
| Archaeological Ethics | |
| Applied Archaeology: CRM | |
| GIS for Archaeologists | |
| Archaeology East North America | |
| Radiocarbon for Archaeologists | |
| North American Archaeology | |
| Geoarchaeology | |
| Archaeology of Food | |
| Historical Archaeology | |
| Probs In Anthropology | |
| Undergraduate Research | |
| Museum Collections Management | |
| Anthropology and Museums | |
| Ancient Andean Civilizations | |
| Paleoethnobotany | |
| 12 |
Students with anthropology degrees have employment opportunities in educational institutions, museums, non-profit and non-governmental organizations, international agencies, marketing (and other aspects of commerce), health agencies, the Park and Forest services, the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state historic preservation offices, cultural resource management firms and many other professions.
Types of Jobs Accepted
Graduates of the Department of Anthropology at UA have gone on to pursue advanced degrees, found employment in institutions of higher learning, in private cultural resource firms, in journalism and in public health entities (both in the U.S. and abroad.)
Jobs of Experienced Alumni
Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal; professor, vice president of public service and outreach; Center for Disease Control specialist; archaeologist with the National Park Service, National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; consumer habit researcher with Microsoft; product promotion strategist with AT&T
Learn more about opportunities in this field at the Career Center
