Anthropology (BA)

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Offered by the Department of Anthropology , College of Arts and Sciences .

Admission to the Program

Formal admission to the major by the department’s undergraduate studies director requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) and a grade point average of 2.00 or higher in two anthropology courses.

University Requirements

120 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better
Completion of college writing requirement
Completion of university mathematics requirement

General Education Requirements

A total of ten courses, consisting of two courses from each of the five foundational areas
At least one course from Area Five: The Natural and Mathematical Sciences must include a laboratory science component
No more than two courses may be taken in the same discipline

Major Requirements

48 credit hours with grades of C or better

Course Requirements

Core Courses (24 credit hours)

Fieldwork (3 credit hours)

Note: Other fieldwork, including study abroad programs or community service learning projects, may be used with the approval of the student’s advisor.

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

Elective Courses (21 credit hours)

Complete 21 credit hours from the following with a minimum of 12 credit hours at the 300 level or above:

Combined BA in Anthropology and MA in Public Anthropology

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. For more information, see Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees of this catalog.

This program allows qualified students to complete both the BA in Anthropology and the MA in Public Anthropology.

Requirements

The standards for admission to the undergraduate major must first be satisfied. Undergraduate majors ordinarily apply for admission to the combined BA/MA program at the end of their junior year. Admission decisions follow the procedures used to evaluate graduate applicants to the MA program. Interest in this program should be discussed with members of the faculty before formal application is begun.
All requirements for the BA in Anthropology Undergraduate students may apply up to 9 credit hours of approved graduate-level coursework in anthropology to satisfy the requirements for both degrees.
All requirements for the MA in Public Anthropology, including a minimum of 18 credit hours completed in residence in graduate status after the undergraduate degree has been awarded. Students must finish the master’s degree requirements within three years from the date of first enrollment in the master’s program.