As an anthropology major at Michigan State University, you can choose to pursue either a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree. Both programs provide a strong liberal arts education with exposure to all subfields of anthropology while permitting you sufficient freedom to pursue secondary areas of study.
For either degree, you complete the standard University requirements and College of Social Science requirements in addition to a minimum of 30 credits in Anthropology Coursework. You begin by taking three introductory-level classes, one introduction to cultural anthropology, one introduction to archaeology, and one introduction to physical anthropology, and one methods course (chosen from ANP 429, ANP 441, ANP 463, or ANP 464). In addition, you must also take one culture-area course and one thematic or analytical course. Four additional courses are electives, but three of them must be at the 300-level or above. To complete the major, you must take the anthropology capstone course, which also satisfies the University’s Tier II writing requirement.
In addition to required coursework, the undergraduate anthropology major allows you approximately 30 credits of elective coursework. You can use these credits to pursue supplemental programs, such as an additional major in another department, a minor a second language, a thematic area, or a specialization.
The anthropology major can prepare you for a wide variety of occupations. Our graduates have found jobs in government, in health care delivery, with museums, with non-governmental organizations, and with industry as social analysts, translators, journalists, teachers, and community and resource use planners, both in the United States and abroad. In addition, the major serves as excellent preparation for advanced professional study in areas such as law or business, as well as in anthropology.
Additional Major in Anthropology
The following is required for an additional major in Anthropology:
A minimum of 30 semester credits n Anthropology course work to include:
- ANP 201 – Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
- ANP 202 – Introduction to Archaeology
- ANP 206 – Introduction to Physical Anthropology
- 1 culture area course in Anthropology: (ANP 410, 411, 415, 417, 419, 432, 433, 437, 452, 455)
- 1 topical/analytical course in Anthropology (ANP 310, 320, 321, 325, 330, 362, 363, 364, 370, 420, 422, 425, 426, 436, 439, 440, 441, 443, 461, 486)
- 1 methods course in Anthropology (ANP 412, 429, 441, 463, 464)
- 4 additional ANP courses, at least 3 of which are at the 300/400 level (ANP 101 or 200 cannot be used for this requirement)
- ANP 489 (Tier II Writing Course)
A minimum overall 2.0 GPA in Anthropology course work.
Minor in Anthropology
The following is required for a Minor in Anthropology:
Complete at least 18 credits in the Department of Anthropology as follows:
(1) All of the following courses (9 credits)
- ANP 201 – Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
- ANP 203 – Introduction to Archaeology
- ANP 206 – Introduction to Physical Anthropology
(2) One of the following area courses (3 credits)
- ANP 410 – Anthropology of Latin America
- ANP 411 – North American Indian Ethnography
- ANP 415 – China: Culture and Society
- ANP 417 – Introduction to Islam in Africa
- ANP 419 – Anthropology of the Middle East
- ANP 432 – American Indian Women
- ANP 433 – Contemporary American Indian Communities
- ANP 437 – Asian Emigrant Communities: A Global Perspective
- ANP 452 – North American Archaeology
- ANP 455 – Archaeology of Ancient Egypt
(3) Two of the following topical/analytical/methods courses (6 to 8 credits)
- ANP 310 – Archaeology of Human Migrations
- ANP 320 – Social and Cultural Theory
- ANP 321 – Anthropology of Social Movements
- ANP 325 – Anthropology of the Environment and Development
- ANP 330 – Race, Ethnicity, and Nation: Anthropological Approaches to Collective Identity
- ANP 362 – Archaeology of Foragers to Farmers
- ANP 363 – Rise of Civilization
- ANP 364 – Fake Archaeology: Pseudoscience and the Past
- ANP 370 – Culture, Health, and Illness
- ANP 412 – Method and Practice in Digital Heritage
- ANP 420 – Language and Culture
- ANP 422 – Religion and Culture
- ANP 425 – Issues in Medical Anthropology
- ANP 426 – Urban Anthropology
- ANP 429 – Ethnographic Field Methods
- ANP 436 – Globalization and Justice: Issues in Political and Legal Anthropology
- ANP 439 – Human Rights: Anthropological Perspectives
- ANP 440 – Hominid Fossils
- ANP 441 – Osteology and Forensic Anthropology
- ANP 443 – Human Adaptability
- ANP 461 – Method and Theory in Historical Archaeology
- ANP 463 – Laboratory Methods in Archaeology
- ANP 486 – Environmental Archaeology
Students who plan to complete the minor should set up an appointment with the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Anthropology, Nicolas Gisholt (gisholt@msu.edu). Advising appointments can be set up through student.msu.edu.