Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

Anthropology, Bachelor of Arts (608)


Program Coordinator

Kathryn A. Hudepohl, kate.hudepohl@wku.edu, (270) 745-6549

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. 
 
Required Core Courses:
ANTH 120Introduction to Cultural Anthropology3
ANTH 125Introduction to Biological Anthropology3
ANTH 130Introduction to Archaeology3
ANTH 135Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology3
ANTH 399Field Methods in Ethnography3
ANTH 499Senior Seminar1
Total Hours16

Applied Anthropology

Concentration Requirements
ANTH 360Applied Anthropology – Understanding and Addressing Contemporary Human Problems3
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 advisor6
Total Hours15

Archaeology Concentration

Concentration Requirements
ANTH 316The Archaeology of Environmental Change3
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 432Field Course in Archaeology (at least three hours)3
ANTH 438Archaeological Lab Methods3
Electives
For students completing one concentration, select 6 hours from anthropology offerings in consultation with advisor6
Total Hours15

Biological Anthropology Concentration

Concentration Requirements
ANTH 300Forensic Anthropology3
ANTH 305Paleoanthropology: Human Origins and Evolution3
ANTH 452Bioarchaeology3
Electives
For students completing one concentration, select 6 hours from anthropology offerings in consultation with advisor6
Total Hours15

Cultural Anthropology Concentration

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 course3
Electives
For students completing one concentration, select 6 hours from anthropology offerings in consultation with anthropology advisor6
Total Hours15

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 

Applied Anthropology Concentration

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 1303ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 1353
Second major or minor course3Second major or minor course3
ENG 100 or COMM 1453ENG 100 or COMM 1453
HIST 101 or HIST 1023MATH 1093
Colonnade - Arts & Humanities3Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab3-4
 15 15-16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 1303ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 1353
Second major or minor course3Applied Anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course3
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ no lab3Second major or minor course3
ENG 200 (or other Colonnade - Literary Studies course)3General Elective3
First-level world language requirement or general elective3Second-level world language course or general elective course3
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Applied Anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course3Applied Anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course3
Second major or minor course3ANTH 3993
Second major or minor course3Second major or minor course3
Colonnade - Connections course3Second major or minor course or general elective3
Colonnade - Connections course3ENG 3003
General Elective2 
 17 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Applied Anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course3Applied Anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course3
Second major or minor course or general elective3Second major or minor course or general elective3
Second major or minor course or general elective3Second major or minor course or general elective3
Colonnade - Connections Course3ANTH 4991
Upper-level general elective course3Upper-level general elective course3
 15 13
Total Hours 120-121

Archaeology Concentration

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 1303ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 1353 
Second major or minor course3Second major or minor course3 
ENG 100 or COMM 1453ENG 100 or COMM 1453 
HIST 101 or HIST 1023MATH 1093 
Colonnade - Arts & Humanities3Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab3-4 
 15 15-16 
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 1303ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 1353 
Second major or minor course3Archaeology concentration course or anthropology elective course3 
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/o Lab3-4Second major or minor course3 
ENG 200 (or other Colonnade - Literary Studies course)3General Elective3 
First-level world language requirement or general elective3Second-level world language course or general elective course3 
 15-16 15 
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
Archaeology concentration course or anthropology elective course3ANTH 3993ANTH 4323
Second major or minor course3Second major or minor course3 
Second major or minor course3Second major or minor course or general elective3 
Colonnade - Connections course3ENG 3003 
General Elective (not needed if two 4-hour courses completed in prior years)0-2Colonnade - Connections course3 
 12-14 15 3
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
Archaeology concentration course or anthropology elective course3Archaeology concentration course or anthropology elective course3 
Second major or minor course or general elective3Second major or minor course or general elective3 
Second major or minor course or general elective3Second major or minor course or general elective3 
Colonnade - Connections Course3Upper-level general elective course3 
Upper-level general elective course3ANTH 4991 
 15 13 
Total Hours 118-122

Biological Anthropology Concentration

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 1303ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 1353
Second major or minor course3Second major or minor course3
ENG 100 or COMM 1453ENG 100 or COMM 1453
HIST 101 or HIST 1023MATH 1093
Colonnade - Arts & Humanities3Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/o lab3
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 1303ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 1353
Second major or minor course3Biological concentration course or anthropology elective course3
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab3-4Second major or minor course3
ENG 200 (or other Colonnade - Literary Studies course)3General Elective3
First-level world language requirement or general elective3Second-level world language course or general elective course3
 15-16 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Biological concentration course or anthropology elective course3Biological anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course3
Second major or minor course3ANTH 3993
Second major or minor course3Second major or minor course3
Colonnade - Connections3Second major or minor course or general elective3
Colonnade - Connections3ENG 3003
General Elective (not needed if two 4-hour courses completed in prior years)0-2 
 15-17 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Biological concentration course or anthropology elective course3Biological concentration course or anthropology elective course3
Second major or minor course or general elective3Second major or minor course or general elective3
Second major or minor course or general elective3Second major or minor course or general elective3
Upper-level general elective course3ANTH 4991
Colonnade - Connections3Upper-level general elective course3
 15 13
Total Hours 118-121

Cultural Anthropology Concentration

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 1303ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 1353
Second major or minor course3Second major or minor course3
ENG 100 or COMM 1453ENG 100 or COMM 1453
HIST 101 or HIST 1023MATH 1093
Colonnade - Arts & Humanities3Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/o lab3
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Second major or minor course3ANTH 120, ANTH 130, or ANTH 1353
ANTH 120, ANTH 125, or ANTH 1303Cultural anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course3
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab3-4Second major or minor course3
ENG 200 (or other Colonnade - Literary Studies course)3General Elective3
First-level world language requirement or general elective3Second-level world language course or general elective course3
 15-16 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Cultural anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course3Cultural anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course3
Second major or minor course3ANTH 3993
Second major or minor course3Second major or minor course3
Colonnade - Connections3Second major or minor course or general elective3
Colonnade - Connections3ENG 3003
General Elective (not needed if two 4-hour courses completed in prior years)0-2 
 15-17 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Cultural anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course3Cultural anthropology concentration course or anthropology elective course3
Second major or minor course or general elective3Second major or minor course or general elective3
Second major or minor course or general elective3Second major or minor course or general elective3
Colonnade - Connections3ANTH 4991
Upper-level general elective course3Upper-level general elective course3
 15 13
Total Hours 118-121