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Anthropology

Requirements for the Major

For the most up-to-date information regarding major requirements, consult Vanderbilt University's official Undergraduate Catalog HERE.

The major in anthropology requires completion of at least 30 credit hours of course work, as follows:

  1. 6 credit hours. Two 1000-level surveys selected from the subfields of anthropology: 1101 (Cultural Anthropology), 1201 (Archaeology), 1301 (Biological Anthropology), 1601 (Linguistic Anthropology). A course in a third subfield is strongly recommended (in consultation with the adviser).
  2. 3 credit hours. A seminar on anthropological theory (2101 or 2102). The seminar may not be used to count toward theme credit below.
  3. 3 credit hours. A course on anthropological methods; this class may not count towards the theme requirement. Courses that satisfy the methods requirement include 2211, 2603, 3120, 3150, 3260, 3261, 3262, 3372, 3866, 4373, 5112, 5604. Other anthropology courses can count in consultation with the adviser.
  4. 12 credit hours. Students take four upper-level courses from a predesigned theme or from a theme that they design in consultation with their adviser:
    • A. Environment, landscape, and place (2109, 2113, 2114, 2150, 2160, 2214, 2220, 2221, 2222, 2225, 2227, 3121, 3138, 3200, 3240, 3250, 4154, 4155)
    • B. Healing, medicine, and culture (2113/W, 2227, 2342, 2370, 3121, 3125, 3138, 3143, 3144, 3145, 3343, 3344, 3345, 3346, 3371, 3372, 4345, 4373)
    • C. Social politics and power (2105, 2106, 2108, 2109, 2110, 2130, 2242, 2342, 2375, 3121, 3122, 3125, 3130, 3132, 3133, 3134, 3135, 3138, 3161, 3162, 3241, 3232, 3243, 3250, 3343, 3345, 4152, 4153)
    • D. Identity, ethnicity, gender (2105, 2110, 2113W, 2160/W, 2227, 2375, 3144, 3145, 3343)
    • E. Biocultural foundations in health, genetics, forensics, and ethics (2227, 2342, 2370, 2371, 3138, 3141, 3143, 3344, 3345, 3446, 3371, 3372, 4345, 4373) 
    • F. Language, cognition, and culture (2601, 2602, 2603, 3140, 3150/W, 3243/W, 3620, 3622/W, 4155, 5614, 6614, 6615)
  5. 3 credit hours. One capstone experience in engaged anthropology. Students may fulfill this requirement by completing a capstone project in any 2000-level or higher anthropology course, or by completing an independent study. In consultation with their advisor, students will develop a capstone project focusing on hands-on experience in an applied or primary research context, and execute the project in consultation with the instructor for the course they choose to fulfill the requirement. Upon approval of the instructor, the capstone experience project may replace or supplement an assignment in the course chosen for the requirement. During the semester enrolled in their chosen capstone course, the student will submit a capstone experience form to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, informing them of the course number and title they are using to fulfill the requirement, including instances in which an independent study is chosen. The course chosen may only count toward the capstone experience and not toward a theme requirement.
  6. Minimum 3 credit hours of electives chosen from ANTH courses not already used to satisfy the requirements listed above, to total 30 credit hours toward the major.
  7. With the approval of the student’s major adviser, a maximum of 3 credit hours for a course taken in another department or program may be counted toward the major requirement. A variety of courses is possible, including but not limited to those listed below. In each case, the course must be relevant to the student’s program and the student must receive the approval of the director of undergraduate studies:

African American and Diaspora Studies 2178,3178; Biological Sciences 2205; History 1270,2490; History of Art 2210, 3240W; Human and Organizational Development 3200; Latin American Studies 2301, 2601; Latino/a Studies 2201; Mathematics 1010, 1011; Medicine, Health, and Society 1930, 3010, 3110, 2420, 2130, 2250, 3140, 3210, 3220, 3150, 2430, 2240, 3250; Music Literature 1100, 1105, 2100, 2110; Religious Studies 3079, 3178, 2472, 3142, 4554, 4837; Sociology 3001, 3313, 3311, 3314, 3221, 3231, 3232; Spanish 3330, 3360, 3370.