Anthropology, Bachelor of Arts (608)
Program Coordinator
Darlene A. Applegate, darlene.applegate@wku.edu, (270) 745-5295
Anthropology is the scientific and humanistic study of human culture and biology in the past and present and anywhere in the world. The anthropology major offers students a cohesive program of study to enrich their understanding of interactions between human culture and biology in contemporary societies and in the archaeological and evolutionary past, to develop their cross-cultural perspectives, and to prepare them for a variety of careers. Delivered by full-time faculty members, the anthropology curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning in the classroom, in the laboratory, and in the field; extracurricular opportunities and events; and a broad, four-field approach including cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and archaeology. The anthropology major encourages students to step outside their biocultural bubbles to explore the rich diversity of human experiences in their own communities and around the globe.
Concentrations
- Applied Anthropology (ANAP)
- Archaeology (ANAR)
- Biological Anthropology (ANBA)
- Cultural Anthropology (ANCA)
Program Requirements (31 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
A major in anthropology (reference number 608) requires a minimum of 31 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. At least half of the total semester hours in the major must be in upper-division (300, 400) courses. Requirements of the major include core courses, concentration courses, and electives. All students complete the six-course (16-hour) core curriculum consisting of ANTH 120, ANTH 125, ANTH 130, ANTH 135, ANTH 399, and ANTH 499. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all core courses. Each student completes at least one of four, three-course (9-hour) concentrations in applied anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, or cultural anthropology, each concentration having its own required courses. Students choosing to complete only one concentration must complete 6 hours of electives to be selected from anthropology offerings in consultation with the advisor. Students choosing to complete more than one concentration do not need to complete elective courses, and they may count a maximum of one course in multiple concentrations. Students must complete a second major or a minor or certificate.
Concentrations in the anthropology major give students opportunities to complete cohesive sets of upper-level courses in preparation for careers or graduate programs. Applied anthropology is the use of anthropological knowledge and methods to address contemporary human problems such as poverty and the human dimensions of global environmental change. Archaeology is the study of past human cultures based on material remains such as tools, monuments, and ritual objects. Biological anthropology is the study of the biological traits of past and present humans, as well as non-human primates. Cultural anthropology is the study of the beliefs, practices, and institutions of contemporary human societies.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses: | ||
| ANTH 120 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 125 | Introduction to Biological Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 130 | Introduction to Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTH 135 | Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 399 | Field Methods in Ethnography | 3 |
| ANTH 499 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
Applied Anthropology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| ANTH 360 | Applied Anthropology – Understanding and Addressing Contemporary Human Problems | 3 |
| Select two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Forensic Anthropology | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| Graveyard Archaeology | ||
| Applied Archaeology | ||
| Ecological and Economic Anthropology | ||
| Ethnographic Video Production | ||
| Electives | ||
| For student's completing one concentration, select 6 hours from anthropology offerings in consultation with anthropology advisor | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Archaeology Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| ANTH 316 | The Archaeology of Environmental Change | 3 |
| or ANTH 318 | The Archaeologist Looks at Death | |
| or ANTH 333 | The Archaeology of Ancient China | |
| or ANTH 335 | Old World Prehistory | |
| or ANTH 336 | New World Prehistory | |
| ANTH 432 | Field Course in Archaeology (at least three hours) | 3 |
| ANTH 438 | Archaeological Lab Methods | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| For students completing one concentration, select 6 hours from anthropology offerings in consultation with advisor | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Biological Anthropology Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| ANTH 300 | Forensic Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 305 | Paleoanthropology: Human Origins and Evolution | 3 |
| ANTH 452 | Bioarchaeology | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| For students completing one concentration, select 6 hours from anthropology offerings in consultation with advisor | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Cultural Anthropology Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Peoples and Cultures of Latin America | ||
| Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean | ||
| Peoples and Cultures of Native North America | ||
| Peoples and Cultures of Africa | ||
| Southern Appalachian Folklife | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Anthropology of Gender | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| Foodways | ||
| Ethnomusicology | ||
| African-American Music | ||
| Ecological and Economic Anthropology | ||
| Anthropology of Religion | ||
| Visual Anthropology | ||
| Ethnographic Video Production | ||
| Select one additional area or topics course | 3 | |
| Electives | ||
| For students completing one concentration, select 6 hours from anthropology offerings in consultation with anthropology advisor | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
For students completing one concentration; students may count a maximum of three credit hours in ANTH 395 Lab Practicum, ANTH 493 Archaeology Stewardship, and ANTH 495 Directed Study in the first 31 hours of the major.
Finish in Four Plans
On This Page
Applied Anthropology Concentration
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 130 | 3 | ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 135 | 3 |
| Second major or minor course | 3 | Second major or minor course | 3 |
| ENG 100 or COMM 145 | 3 | ENG 100 or COMM 145 | 3 |
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | MATH 109 | 3 |
| Colonnade - Arts & Humanities | 3 | Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab | 3-4 |
| 15 | 15-16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 130 | 3 | ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 135 | 3 |
| Second major or minor course | 3 | Applied Anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 |
| Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ no lab | 3 | Second major or minor course | 3 |
| ENG 200 (or other Colonnade - Literary Studies course) | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| First-level world language requirement or general elective | 3 | Second-level world language course or general elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Applied Anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 | Applied Anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 |
| Second major or minor course | 3 | ANTH 399 | 3 |
| Second major or minor course | 3 | Second major or minor course | 3 |
| Colonnade - Connections course | 3 | Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 |
| Colonnade - Connections course | 3 | ENG 300 | 3 |
| General Elective | 2 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Applied Anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 | Applied Anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 |
| Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 | Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 |
| Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 | Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 |
| Colonnade - Connections Course | 3 | ANTH 499 | 1 |
| Upper-level general elective course | 3 | Upper-level general elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total Hours 120-121 | |||
Archaeology Concentration
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 130 | 3 | ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 135 | 3 | ||
| Second major or minor course | 3 | Second major or minor course | 3 | ||
| ENG 100 or COMM 145 | 3 | ENG 100 or COMM 145 | 3 | ||
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | MATH 109 | 3 | ||
| Colonnade - Arts & Humanities | 3 | Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab | 3-4 | ||
| 15 | 15-16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 130 | 3 | ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 135 | 3 | ||
| Second major or minor course | 3 | Archaeology concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 | ||
| Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/o Lab | 3-4 | Second major or minor course | 3 | ||
| ENG 200 (or other Colonnade - Literary Studies course) | 3 | General Elective | 3 | ||
| First-level world language requirement or general elective | 3 | Second-level world language course or general elective course | 3 | ||
| 15-16 | 15 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| Archaeology concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 | ANTH 399 | 3 | ANTH 432 | 3 |
| Second major or minor course | 3 | Second major or minor course | 3 | ||
| Second major or minor course | 3 | Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 | ||
| Colonnade - Connections course | 3 | ENG 300 | 3 | ||
| General Elective (not needed if two 4-hour courses completed in prior years) | 0-2 | Colonnade - Connections course | 3 | ||
| 12-14 | 15 | 3 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| Archaeology concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 | Archaeology concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 | ||
| Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 | Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 | ||
| Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 | Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 | ||
| Colonnade - Connections Course | 3 | Upper-level general elective course | 3 | ||
| Upper-level general elective course | 3 | ANTH 499 | 1 | ||
| 15 | 13 | ||||
| Total Hours 118-122 | |||||
Biological Anthropology Concentration
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 130 | 3 | ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 135 | 3 |
| Second major or minor course | 3 | Second major or minor course | 3 |
| ENG 100 or COMM 145 | 3 | ENG 100 or COMM 145 | 3 |
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | MATH 109 | 3 |
| Colonnade - Arts & Humanities | 3 | Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/o lab | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 130 | 3 | ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 135 | 3 |
| Second major or minor course | 3 | Biological concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 |
| Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab | 3-4 | Second major or minor course | 3 |
| ENG 200 (or other Colonnade - Literary Studies course) | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| First-level world language requirement or general elective | 3 | Second-level world language course or general elective course | 3 |
| 15-16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Biological concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 | Biological anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 |
| Second major or minor course | 3 | ANTH 399 | 3 |
| Second major or minor course | 3 | Second major or minor course | 3 |
| Colonnade - Connections | 3 | Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 |
| Colonnade - Connections | 3 | ENG 300 | 3 |
| General Elective (not needed if two 4-hour courses completed in prior years) | 0-2 | ||
| 15-17 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Biological concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 | Biological concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 |
| Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 | Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 |
| Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 | Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 |
| Upper-level general elective course | 3 | ANTH 499 | 1 |
| Colonnade - Connections | 3 | Upper-level general elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total Hours 118-121 | |||
Cultural Anthropology Concentration
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 130 | 3 | ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 135 | 3 |
| Second major or minor course | 3 | Second major or minor course | 3 |
| ENG 100 or COMM 145 | 3 | ENG 100 or COMM 145 | 3 |
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | MATH 109 | 3 |
| Colonnade - Arts & Humanities | 3 | Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/o lab | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Second major or minor course | 3 | ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 135 | 3 |
| ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 130 | 3 | Cultural anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 |
| Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab | 3-4 | Second major or minor course | 3 |
| ENG 200 (or other Colonnade - Literary Studies course) | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| First-level world language requirement or general elective | 3 | Second-level world language course or general elective course | 3 |
| 15-16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Cultural anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 | Cultural anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 |
| Second major or minor course | 3 | ANTH 399 | 3 |
| Second major or minor course | 3 | Second major or minor course | 3 |
| Colonnade - Connections | 3 | Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 |
| Colonnade - Connections | 3 | ENG 300 | 3 |
| General Elective (not needed if two 4-hour courses completed in prior years) | 0-2 | ||
| 15-17 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Cultural anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 | Cultural anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course | 3 |
| Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 | Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 |
| Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 | Second major or minor course or general elective | 3 |
| Colonnade - Connections | 3 | ANTH 499 | 1 |
| Upper-level general elective course | 3 | Upper-level general elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total Hours 118-121 | |||