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2024-2025 General Catalog
Anthropology - BA, BS
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 Return to: Academic Programs Listed Alphabetically
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice
About This Degree
Anthropology is the study of all cultures across time and space. Through comparative studies, anthropologists determine how people of the world are similar and different. They engage in issues relating to modern society, such as health care, human rights, law, urban development, and global population. The program focuses on the subdiscipline areas of cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, linguistics, and archaeology.
Students studying anthropology at Utah State University are prepared for careers in numerous fields through the skills and knowledge they gain in both the liberal arts and natural sciences. Graduates of USU’s anthropology program are in-depth thinkers with effective reading and writing skills and the ability to solve problems across the humanities and natural sciences.
The program is cross-disciplinary and gives students the chance to participate in state-of-the-art research and hands-on learning through high-tech labs and real-world fieldwork experience. Class sizes are generally small, which enables students to receive extensive individualized attention. Designed to give students a full range of experience, this unique program helps undergraduates gain skills and expertise usually available to graduate students.
Bachelor of Science Degree
Students desiring a (BS) Bachelor of Science degree must complete all requirements listed in the core requirements below.
Bachelor of Arts Degree
In addition to completing the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree requirements, students desiring a (BA) Bachelor of Arts degree must complete the language proficiency requirements in one of the following ways:
- Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent) OR
- Demonstration of proficiency in American Sign Language by successful completion of American Sign Language IV (COMD 4920 ) and Socio-Cultural Aspects of Deafness (COMD 4780 ), and by passing an exit interview OR
- Demonstration of proficiency in two foreign languages by successful completion of the 1020 course level in one language and the 2010 course level in the second language (or its equivalent) OR
- Completion of an upper-division (3000-level or higher) foreign language grammar or literature course requiring the 2020 course level (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite. Conversation courses cannot be considered for satisfying this requirement.
For nonnative English-speaking students only, the following options are available:
- Successful completion of the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) program for international students OR
- TOEFL, Michigan, or IELI placement scores high enough to meet the University admission criteria.
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Minimum University Requirements
Admission Requirements For This Program
- New freshmen must be admitted to USU in Good Standing.
- Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU must have a 2.50 GPA.
Major Requirements
Minimum GPA for Graduation: 2.5 for major requirements, including BS and BA required courses; 2.0 USU GPA, 2.0 Career GPA
Minimum Grade Accepted: C in major requirements, including BS and BA required courses
Number of Required Credits: 40-43
Students majoring in Anthropology must maintain a minimum 2.5 overall GPA in Anthropology courses.
- Students planning to receive a BS degree must complete STAT 1040 - Introduction to Statistics (QL) , STAT 1045 - Introduction to Statistics with Elements of Algebra (QL) , STAT 1080 - Foundations of Data Science (QL) , or another approved statistics course; and two courses selected from a list of courses approved by the Anthropology program (see below).
- A Bachelor of Arts degree requires foreign language training or demonstration of proficiency in one language, which may be satisfied in a number of ways, including successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent) or demonstration of proficiency in American Sign Language or demonstration of proficiency in two foreign languages by successful completion of the 1020 course level in one language and the 2010 course level in the second language (or its equivalent). For further information, see the General Catalog discussion of Undergraduate Academic Credential Requirements .
- A total of 40 credits are required for General Anthropology majors as well as for majors choosing the Biological; Cultural; or Environmental Change, Community Engagement, and Wellness Anthropology tracks. A total of 43 credits are required for majors choosing the Archaeology/CRM track. See below for details.
- Residence: A minimum of 21 credits of the Anthropology course credits counting toward the major must be Utah State University courses. Credits from distance and residence center courses are subject to departmental approval for application toward the Anthropology major, with the exception of those listed below.
- Methods Component: Majors must complete one “Methods” course (3 credits) in Anthropology. The course chosen to meet this requirement may also count toward other Anthropology major requirements.
- Credit Totals and Distribution: A minimum of 40 credits is required for the Anthropology major (43 credits for the archaeology track). All students are required to take the five core courses below (see required courses section) for a total of 13 credits. Additionally, students take 27-30 credits of structured electives as outlined in the “Anthropology Tracks and General Anthropology Options” section below.
Courses Required of All Anthropology Majors (12 credits)
Each student is required to take a set of five core courses, which introduce them to USU’s Anthropology program resources, the subfields of Anthropology, and the history and theories of Anthropology.
Anthropology Tracks and General Anthropology Options (27-30 credits)
General Anthropology (27 credits)
Students are encouraged (but not required) to select a track from among the four subspecialties in Anthropology (Cultural/Applied Anthropology; Biological Anthropology; Environmental Change, Community Engagement, and Wellness Anthropology; or Archaeology/CRM—listed below). Students who choose the “General Anthropology” option (e.g., those students who do not wish to specialize in any of the three listed tracks) complete 27 credits from any of the courses listed in 1-4 below.
Cultural Track (27 credits)
Students who choose to complete the track option in Cultural Anthropology are required to obtain broad knowledge outside their track as well as a depth of knowledge within their track. To do this, they must successfully complete a minimum of six courses equally distributed from the Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, and Cultural Anthropology tracks (listed in 1-3 below for a total of 18 credits) as well as thee additional courses from the Cultural Track (listed in 1 below, for a total of 9 credits).
1. Cultural/Applied Track
Biological Track (27 credits)
Students who choose to complete the track option in Biological Anthropology are required to obtain broad knowledge outside their track as well as a depth of knowledge within their track. To do this, they must successfully complete a minimum of six courses equally distributed from the Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, and Cultural Anthropology tracks (listed in 1-3 below for a total of 18 credits) as well as two additional courses from the Biological Track (listed in 2 below, for a total of 6 credits). Also recommended: BIOL 1610 , BIOL 1620 , BIOL 2320 , BIOL 2420 . A Biological track-specific capstone (3 credits) completes the required 27 credits. Capstone courses may not be offered every year, so students should schedule their coursework accordingly.
2. Biological Anthropology
Biological Anthropology Capstone
Archaeology Track (30 credits)
Students who choose to complete the track option in Archaeology are required to obtain broad knowledge outside their track as well as a depth of knowledge within their track. To do this, they must successfully complete a minimum of two courses each from Biological and Cultural Anthropology (12 credits), plus a required Archaeology core (12 credits). Additionally, students complete Archaeology-Structured Electives (6 credits) for a total of 30 credits.
3. Archaeology/Cultural Resource Management
Archaeology Track Required Core (12 credits)
Archaeology Track Required Electives (6 credits)
Choose six credits from the following:
Archaeology Electives for Non-Archaeology Tracks
(Applied as archaeology elective for General, Biological or Cultural track students)
Environmental Change, Community Engagement, and Wellness Track (27 credits)
Students who choose to complete the track option in Environmental Change, Community Engagement, and Wellness are required to obtain broad knowledge of multiple disciplines. To do this, they must successfully complete a minimum of two courses from all three course categories included in the track (for a total of 18 credits) as well as 9 additional credits of track electives.
4. Anthropology of Environmental Change, Community Engagement, and Wellness
Students must complete all required courses, six credits in each area, and nine credits of track electives.
Environmental Change (6 credits)
Choose six credits from the following:
Heritage Studies and Community Engagement (6 credits)
Choose six credits from the following:
Wellness (6 credits)
Choose six credits from the following:
Track Electives (9 credits)
Choose nine credits from the following:
Non-Track Specific Electives
These do not count toward minor requirements. Some ANTH 4800 courses count toward track credits as noted above. Some methods courses require permission of instructor.
Approved Science Courses for Anthropology BS
In addition to STAT 1040 or STAT 1045 or STAT 1080 , select two courses from the following list:
Additional Information
- The University Honors Program offers an unparalleled opportunity to enrich and deepen undergraduate education. Space is limited, and admission is competitive. Honors students enjoy many benefits, including personalized advising, exclusive access to research and study abroad funding, enhanced classroom experiences that also satisfy USU’s General Education requirements, priority registration, and membership in a vibrant campus community of students and faculty. For more information about application requirements and deadlines, please visit the Honors website at honors.usu.edu, or speak with the Anthropology Honors Advisor, Professor Jacob Freeman.
- The course subdiscipline within Anthropology is identified by the second digit in the four-digit course number. Cultural Anthropology courses use a 1 (e.g., ANTH 3160 - Anthropology of Religion (DSS) ), Biological Anthropology courses use a 2 (e.g., ANTH 3200 - Perspectives on Race (CI/DSS) ), and Archaeology courses use a 3 (e.g., ANTH 3300 - Archaeology in North America (DSS) ).
Open Electives
Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your Academic Advisor for details.
Suggested Degree Map - Anthropology BA, BS
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