Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 University Catalog 
    
2022-2023 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Anthropology, BA


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About the Program

Anthropology is unique among the social sciences in considering humankind from a holistic perspective that aims for an understanding of how culture, biology, history and language intersect. We have a rigorous and well-balanced four-field (biological, archaeological, cultural, and linguistic anthropology) undergraduate program. Our faculty cover a range of substantive, methodological and theoretical areas in courses that provide students with a solid grounding in anthropological perspectives.

Our four-field program at the undergraduate level includes coursework in biological, archaeological, sociocultural, and linguistic anthropology. Undergraduates have an opportunity for hands-on experience and training in archaeological and bioanthropological methods. Students also have the option to complete a Concentration in one of six specialty areas within the major.

Our honors program provides a capstone experience for students. The year-long program enables students to focus on a particular empirical issue in an anthropological subdiscipline and to write an honors thesis based on that research.

Please visit the Department of Anthropology for more information.

3 Year Degrees

The College of Liberal Arts offers the opportunity for students to complete their degree in three years. Degree in 3 majors allow students to enter the work force or graduate school a year earlier than traditional plans of study while also providing a cost-effective way to complete an undergraduate degree.

Students can complete the three-year option with or without AP credit by adding summer sessions to traditional coursework in Fall and Spring semesters. Degree in 3 offers a great combination of cost-savings and the opportunity to accelerate your future and achieve your goals.

Degree Requirements


120 Credits Required

Liberal Arts Curriculum


Each liberal arts major is designed as a four-year plan of study and includes three types of courses: Major, Core, and Elective. Most students take five courses per semester, with some of each type.

Professional academic advisors meet individually with each of our students on a regular basis to help with course selection, academic planning, and career development, as well as to help students find additional resources on campus.

Departmental/Program Major Courses (36 credits)


Area A - Anthropology Requirements (15 credits)


Area B - Anthropology Selectives (21 credits)


  • Anthropology Supplemental Information : At least (1) course must be chosen from each of the first five categories: Archaeology, Biological, Linguistic, Methods, Sociocultural.
  • Only 6 hours of ANTH 39000 and only 6 hours of any of ANTH 41800, 42800, 43800 may be used toward area B requirements

Other Departmental - Liberal Arts Core (31-55 credits)


The College of Liberal Arts Other Departmental area is designed to be experiential, informative, and relevant to life in a rapidly changing universe. It combines courses that fulfill University Core foundational outcomes, discipline diversity, social diversity, and other languages to produce a well-rounded background for students. Coursework is integrative and collaborative and fosters insight, understanding, independence, initiative, and the desire to reach across divides and redefine our relationship to the peoples and the worlds that surround us.

Core I: Disciplinary Diversity (6-18 credits)


Choose 1 course in 6 different disciplines within the College of Liberal Arts.

Note: Disciplines are differentiated by course prefix. Undistributed credit does not count to satisfy this requirement.

Core II: Social Diversity (1-3 credits)


Culture, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity all play a role in how others perceive us and how we experience the world, and as such, are meaningful categories for analyzing social change and social problems past and present. The purpose of this category is to acquaint students with the pluralistic nature of the world and foster an appreciation and awareness of the diverse range of lived human experience. Courses in this list will expose students to important aspects of human diversity and foster understanding about different world views.

Choose 1 course from the Social Diversity Selective List .  

Core III: Linguistic Diversity (3-4 credits)


Proficiency through Level IV in one world language. Courses may be required to reach Level IV proficiency; these courses will be counted toward electives. (fulfills Humanities for core)

Foundational Requirements (21-30 credits)


Students must complete approved coursework that meet the following foundational outcomes. Many of these can also be used to fulfill Core I, Core II, or Core III.

  • Humanities - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Humanities for core)
  • Behavioral/Social Science - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Behavioral/Social Science for core)
  • Information Literacy - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Information Literacy for core)
  • Science #1 - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Science for core)
  • Science #2 - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Science for core)
  • Science, Technology, and Society - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Science, Technology, Society for core)
  • Written Communication - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Written Communication for core)
  • Oral Communication - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Oral Communication for core)
  • Quantitative Reasoning - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Quantitative Reasoning for core)

Notes


  • Double counting of courses is allowed across the various categories. 
  • All accredited programs whose accreditation is threatened by CLA Core requirements, both professional BAs and BFAs, are exempt from Liberal Arts Core I & II in order to meet accreditation standards and requirements. Liberal Arts Core III: Linguistic Diversity is still required for such programs. 
  • “Degree +” students (students with a second major outside of Liberal Arts) are exempt from the CLA Core

Electives (29-53 credits)


University Requirements


University Core Requirements


For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the Provost’s Website.
  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
  • Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
  • Information Literacy (IL)
  • Oral Communication (OC)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
  • Science #1 (SCI)
  • Science #2 (SCI)
  • Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
  • Written Communication (WC)

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement:


The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry.

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

  • Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Earning a passing grade for one of these approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course)

For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.



Prerequisite Information:


For current pre-requisites for courses, click here.


Program Requirements


Fall 1st Year


15 Credits


Spring 1st Year


  • (CLA Core I: 3 of 6)
  • Oral Communication - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • World Language Level II – Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Science - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • CLA Core II: Social Diversity – Credit Hours: 3.00

15-16 Credits


Fall 2nd Year


  • Requirement B Anthropology Selective: Archaeology - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • World Language Level III – Credit Hours: 3.00
  • CLA Core I: 4 of 6 - Credit Hours 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 2nd Year


  • Requirement B Anthropology Selective: Biological - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Requirement B Anthropology Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • World Language Level IV (CLA Core III & CLA Core I: 5 of 6) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • CLA Core I: 6 of 6 - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Anthropology Optional Concentration Course - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


15 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


  • Requirement B Anthropology Selective: Methods - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Anthropology Optional Concentration Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Anthropology Optional Concentration Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Fall 4th Year


15 Credits


Spring 4th Year


  • Requirement B Anthropology Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Notes


  • Students must earn a “C-” or better in all required Anthropology courses.  The P/NP option is not available for this requirement.

  • 2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Arts degree.

  • 32 credit hours at 30000 level or higher required for Bachelor of Arts degree.

  • Liberal Arts offers a streamlined plan of study for students pursuing a second degree outside CLA. Contact the CLA Advising Office for more information.

  • Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student.

College of Liberal Arts Pass/No Pass Option Policy


  • P/NP cannot be used to satisfy Liberal Arts Core, Liberal Arts major, minor, or certificate requirements.

World Language Courses


World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor.

ASL-American Sign Language ARAB-Arabic CHNS-Chinese FR-French
GER-German GREK-Greek (Ancient) HEBR-Hebrew (Biblical) HEBR-Hebrew (modern)
ITAL-Italian JPNS-Japanese KOR-Korean LATN-Latin
PTGS-Portuguese RUSS-Russian SPAN-Spanish  

 

 
 
 

 

 

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical.

In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.  Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful.  These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program”. 

Disclaimer


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

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