Anthropology (BA/BS)

At the UO’s Department of Anthropology, you can learn about various cultures and populations, dig up fossils, study gorillas, hunt for ancient relics, and more. Pursue your specific interests through our three anthropological subfields: cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, and archaeology.

You will be taught by working anthropologists who study societies from the past and present in West Africa, East Africa, Latin America, North America, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and the Caribbean. Learn about the human species from ecological and evolutionary perspectives, and gain a deeper understanding of human biological variation and our relation to other animals. You can participate in field schools that travel across the world digging for artifacts, and go abroad to study international cultures.

Program's Admission Requirements

Please visit the program's website.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Explain how Anthropology as a discipline examines what it means to be human through a holistic and integrative approach.
  • Explain how knowledge is produced and how incorporation of diverse perspectives leads to broader understandings of the human experience.
  • Evaluate the influence of genetic, ecological, and sociocultural factors on human biological and cultural variation in the past, present, and future.
  • Evaluate how anthropology can help us to better understand the broad range of important issues that will require decision and policy making in the future.
  • Demonstrate cross cultural awareness, cultural competency, and the importance of understanding different perspectives.

Anthropology Major Requirements

Courses used to fulfill major requirements must be taken for letter grades and passed with a C– or better. To ensure a liberal education, anthropology majors are strongly encouraged to limit their anthropology credits to 52. Majors contemplating graduate work are advised to complete two years of a second language. Statistics is desirable for those with interests in biological anthropology and archaeology.

Core Requirements12
Principles of Archaeology
World Archaeology
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Introduction to Biological Anthropology
Breadth Requirements12
One upper-division geographic area course in archaeology
One course in cultural anthropology
One course in biological anthropology
Four upper-division anthropology courses in one area of concentration 116
Two upper-division anthropology electives 28
Total Credits48
1

Areas of concentration: cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, archaeology. 

ANTH 406, ANTH 408, ANTM 406, and ANTM 408, may not be used to fulfill Area of Concentration requirement.

Courses that may only be taken P/NP, e.g., ANTH 401, 403, and 405 do not count toward the fulfillment of major requirements.

2

No more than 8 credits of independent study and 8 credits of eligible courses in other departments may be used to fulfill Anthropology electives requirement.

Additional Requirements

Students must complete at least 28 upper-division (300- or 400-level) credits - with a minimum of 12 credits at the 400-level.

Majors must meet with an anthropology advisor at least once a year.

Concentration in Archaeology

Four Upper Division Archaeology Courses 116
Fundamentals of Archaeology
Food Origins
Archaeology of Egypt and Near East
Pacific Islands Archaeology
Oregon Archaeology
Archaeology of East Asia
Psychoactive Substances in Ancient Societies
Northwest Coast Archaeology
North American Archaeology
Practical Archaeobotany
Gender and Archaeology
Cultural Resource Management
African Archaeology
Peopling of the Americas
Zooarchaeology: [Topic]
Total Credits16
1

The following additional upper division Anthropology courses MAY NOT be used to fulfill this requirement: ANTH 406, ANTH 408, ANTM 406 & ANTM 408. 

Students may complete a second or third area of concentration by taking 3 additional courses (12 credits) in that area of concentration.   Please see a major advisor for details. 

All courses must be graded, with a minimum grade of C-.  Courses that may only be taken P/NP, e.g., ANTH 401, 403, 405, and 409 do not count toward the fulfillment of major requirements.

Concentration in Biological Anthropology

Four Upper Division Biological Courses 116
Human Attraction and Mating Strategies
Origins of Art
Human Evolution
Human Biological Variation
Human Osteology Laboratory
Human Growth and Development
ANTH 375
Decoding Your Genome
Advanced Evolutionary Medicine
Primate Evolution
Primate Behavior
ANTH 466
Paleoecology and Human Evolution
Evolutionary Theory
Statistical Analysis of Biological Anthropology
Primate Conservation Biology
Advanced Forensic Anthropology
Taphonomy: Bones, Bugs, and Burials
Principles of Evolutionary Psychology
Bioanthropology Methods
Total Credits16
1

The following additional upper division Anthropology courses MAY NOT be used to fulfill this requirement: ANTH 406, ANTH 408, ANTM 406 & ANTM 408. 

Students may complete a second or third area of concentration by taking 3 additional courses (12 credits) in that area of concentration.   Please see a major advisor for details. 

All courses must be graded, with a minimum grade of C-.  Courses that may only be taken P/NP, e.g., ANTH 401, 403, 405, and 409 do not count toward the fulfillment of major requirements.

Concentration in Cultural Anthropology

Four Upper Division Cultural Anthropology Courses 116
Anthropology of Globalization
Gender, Folklore, Inequality
Native North Americans
Anthropology of the United States
ANTH 326
Immigration and Farmworkers
Hunters and Gatherers
Cultures of India and South Asia
Food and Culture
ANTH 411
Culture and Psychology
Human Life History
Culture, Illness, and Healing
Latino Roots I
Latino Roots II
Jewish Folklore and Ethnology
Indigenous Peoples of South America
Race and Gender in Latin America
Total Credits16
1

The following additional upper division Anthropology courses MAY NOT be used to fulfill this requirement: ANTH 406, ANTH 408, ANTM 406 & ANTM 408. 

Students may complete a second or third area of concentration by taking 3 additional courses (12 credits) in that area of concentration.   Please see a major advisor for details. 

All courses must be graded, with a minimum grade of C-.  Courses that may only be taken P/NP, e.g., ANTH 401, 403, 405, and 409 do not count toward the fulfillment of major requirements.

Honors

The Anthropology Honors Program is designed for outstanding Anthropology majors interested in independent exploration of a special topic of their own choosing under the guidance of a faculty member.

Students should identify an area of research interest during their junior years or earlier, and approach members of the faculty with whom they want to work. It is best if a student can take a class taught by the faculty member during the junior year (at the latest). Some faculty members require students to take a course from them before allowing students to work in their laboratories.

An honors thesis is expected to make a substantial and persuasive argument situated with in, and contributing to, current critical debates while demonstrating exceptional verbal clarity and sophistication.

If you intend to pursue honors in Anthropology you will need to notify the department's undergraduate support team at via email, undergradasu7@uoregon.edu, no later than the first term of your senior year.

Must meet all requirements:

  • Maintains at least a 3.75 GPA in Anthropology coursework
  • Maintain a cumulative 3.50 overall GPA
  • Submit an original undergraduate thesis written under the guidance of a departmental faculty member, who serves as thesis advisor.
  • Honors thesis must be submitted to thesis advisor 3 weeks before the end of the term you are graduating.
  • An electronic copy of Honors Thesis emailed to undergradasu7@uoregon.edu.

Four-Year Degree Plan

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.

Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology

An optional minor is included in this example. Please consult with an anthropology advisor concerning a plan that is best for you.

Degree Map
First Year
FallMilestonesCredits
WR 121Z Composition I 4
ANTH 145
Principles of Archaeology
or World Archaeology
4
First term of first-year second-language sequence 4
 Credits 12
Winter
WR 122Z Composition II 4
ANTH 270 Introduction to Biological Anthropology 4
Second term of first-year second-language sequence 4
Multicultural course 4
 Credits 16
Spring
ANTH 161 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 4
Third term of first-year second-language sequence 4
Multicultural course 4
Group-satisfying social science course 4
 Credits 16
Second Year
Fall
Upper-division geographic-area course in archaeology 4
First term of second-year second-language sequence 4
Group-satisfying course in arts and letters 4
Group-satisfying course in social science 4
 Credits 16
Winter
One course in cultural anthropology 4
Second term of second-year second-language sequence 4
Group-satisfying course in social science 4
Group-satisfying course in science 4
 Credits 16
Spring
One course in biological anthropology 4
Third term of second-year second-language sequence 4
Group-satisfying course in arts and letters 4
Group-satisfying course in science 4
 Credits 16
Third Year
Fall
Upper-division course in an area of concentration 4
Group-satisfying course in arts and letters 4
Group-satisfying course in science 4
Course that satisfies minor requirement 4
 Credits 16
Winter
Upper-division course in an area of concentration 4
Group-satisfying course in arts and letters 4
Group-satisfying course in social science 4
Course that satisfies minor requirement 4
 Credits 16
Spring
Upper-division course in an area of concentration 4
Group-satisfying course in science 4
Two courses that satisfy minor requirement 8
 Credits 16
Fourth Year
Fall
Upper-division course in an area of concentration 4
Two courses that satisfy minor requirement 8
Additional course 4
 Credits 16
Winter
Anthropology elective 4
Course that satisfies minor requirement 4
Additional course 4
 Credits 12
Spring
Anthropology elective 4
Course that satisfies minor requirement 4
Additional course 4
 Credits 12
 Total Credits 180

Bachelor of Science in Anthropology

An optional minor is included in this example. Please consult with an anthropology advisor concerning a plan that is best for you.

Degree Map
First Year
FallMilestonesCredits
MATH 105Z Math in Society 4
WR 121Z Composition I 4
ANTH 145
Principles of Archaeology
or World Archaeology
4
 Credits 12
Winter
MATH 106 University Mathematics II 4
WR 122Z Composition II 4
ANTH 270 Introduction to Biological Anthropology 4
Multicultural course 4
 Credits 16
Spring
MATH 107 University Mathematics III 4
ANTH 161 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 4
Multicultural course 4
Group-satisfying course in social science 4
 Credits 16
Second Year
Fall
Upper-division geographic-area course in archaeology 4
Course that satisfies minor requirement 4
Group-satisfying course in arts and letters 4
Group-satisfying course in social science 4
 Credits 16
Winter
One course in cultural anthropology 4
Course that satisfies minor requirement 4
Group-satisfying course in social science 4
Group-satisfying course in science 4
 Credits 16
Spring
One course in biological anthropology 4
Course that satisfies minor requirement 4
Group-satisfying course in arts and letters 4
Group-satisfying course in science 4
 Credits 16
Third Year
Fall
Upper-division course in an area of concentration 4
Course that satisfies minor requirement 4
Group-satisfying course in arts and letters 4
Group-satisfying course in science 4
 Credits 16
Winter
Upper-division course in an area of concentration 4
Course that satisfies minor requirement 4
Group-satisfying course in arts and letters 4
Group-satisfying course in social science 4
 Credits 16
Spring
Upper-division course in an area of concentration 4
Course that satisfies minor requirement 4
Group-satisfying course in science 4
Additional course 4
 Credits 16
Fourth Year
Fall
Upper-division course in an area of concentration 4
Course that satisfies minor requirement 4
Additional courses 8
 Credits 16
Winter
Anthropology elective 4
Course that satisfies minor requirement 4
Additional course 4
 Credits 12
Spring
Anthropology elective 4
Additional courses 8
 Credits 12
 Total Credits 180