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Anthropology

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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Overview

The ISU program in Anthropology is housed in the Department of World Languages and Cultures (http://catalog.iastate.edu/collegeofliberalartsandsciences/worldlanguagesandcultures/).

Anthropology students develop a well-rounded professional education in cultural anthropology, archaeology, and biological anthropology. An undergraduate major in Anthropology can serve as the nucleus for a general liberal education, or as the prerequisite for graduate training qualifying a person for positions in (1) college and university teaching, (2) research, and (3) administrative and applied positions in government, development organizations, museums, and private businesses or corporations.

Anthropology majors may choose either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree, both of which require 33 credits in anthropology. A bachelor of arts degree is obtained by fulfilling the college general education requirements plus 6 additional credits in Area I (Arts and Humanities) or III (Social Sciences) or a combination of both. A bachelor of science degree is obtained by fulfilling the college general education requirements plus 6 additional credits in Area IIA (Mathematics) or IIB (Natural Sciences) or a combination of both. All students must also complete a minor or a second major as part of their degree requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the major in anthropology, students will be able to:

1. Explain what it means to be human through the study of culture and society, the biology and evolution of humans and other primates, and through the study of past human communities and material culture; 
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the important historical and contemporary issues in the subdisciplines of archaeological, biological, and cultural anthropology; 
3. Describe and evaluate local and global issues from an anthropological perspective; 
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the value of cultural diversity.

Degree Requirements

Undergraduate students with majors in anthropology are required to take the following anthropology core courses:

ANTHR 201Introduction to Cultural Anthropology3
ANTHR 202Human Origins3
ANTHR 306Culture and Interpretation3
ANTHR 307Biological Anthropology3
ANTHR 308Archaeology3
ANTHR 450Approaches in Anthropology3
One of the following methods courses is required:3
Skeletal Biology
Archaeological Discovery and Analysis
Ethnographic Methods
In addition to the above, 15 ANTHR choice credits are required.15

Communication Proficiency requirement: According to the university-wide Communication Proficiency Grade Requirement, students must demonstrate their communication proficiency by earning a grade of C or better in ENGL 250.

ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
or ENGL 250H Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition: Honors
Additionally, the Anthropology Program requires a grade of C or better in one of the following courses:
Business Communication
Proposal and Report Writing
Technical Communication

The principal sub-disciplines of anthropology are represented by the following:

1. Cultural anthropology:

ANTHR 201Introduction to Cultural Anthropology3
ANTHR 230Globalization and the Human Condition3
ANTHR 306Culture and Interpretation3
ANTHR 309Introduction to Culture and Language3
ANTHR 310Environmental Anthropology3
ANTHR 313Kinship and Marriage in a Global Perspective3
ANTHR 322Peoples and Cultures of Native North America3
ANTHR 323Topics in Latin American Anthropology3
ANTHR 332Current Issues in Native North America3
ANTHR 336Culture and Capitalism3
ANTHR 340Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion3
ANTHR 342Culture, Sex, and Gender3
ANTHR 354War and the Politics of Humanitarianism3
ANTHR 355Understanding Sub-Saharan Africa3
ANTHR 411Anthropology for Global Professionals3
ANTHR 431Ethnographic Methods3
ANTHR 434BInternship: Cultural Anthropology2-6
ANTHR 434DInternship: Linguistic Anthropology2-6
ANTHR 450Approaches in Anthropology3
ANTHR 451BPracticum in Anthropology: Cultural Anthropology1-3
ANTHR 451DPracticum in Anthropology: Linguistic Anthropology1-3
ANTHR 490BIndependent Study: Cultural Anthropology1-5
ANTHR 490DIndependent Study: Linguistic Anthropology1-5

2. Archaeology:

ANTHR 202Human Origins3
ANTHR 308Archaeology3
ANTHR 315Archaeology of North America3
ANTHR 320Great Plains Archaeology3
ANTHR 321World Prehistory3
ANTHR 328Archaeological Discovery and Analysis3
ANTHR 429Topics in Archaeological Laboratory Methods and Techniques: Archaeological Field School4-6
ANTHR 434AInternship: Archaeology1-6
ANTHR 450Approaches in Anthropology3
ANTHR 451APracticum in Anthropology: Archaeology1-3
ANTHR 490AIndependent Study: Archaeology1-5

3. Biological Anthropology:

ANTHR 202Human Origins3
ANTHR 307Biological Anthropology3
ANTHR 317Primate Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution3
ANTHR 319Skeletal Biology3
ANTHR 424Forensic Anthropology3
ANTHR 434CInternship: Biological Anthropology1-6
ANTHR 445Biological Field School4-6
ANTHR 451CPracticum in Anthropology: Biological Anthropology1-3
ANTHR 490CIndependent Study: Biological Anthropology1-5

As majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Anthropology students must meet College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University-wide requirements for graduation in addition to those stated above for the major.

LAS majors require a minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 300/400 level. You must also complete the LAS world language requirement and career proficiency requirement.

Students in all ISU majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. diversity and a three-credit course in international perspectives. Check (http://www.registrar.iastate.edu/courses/div-ip-guide.html) for a list of approved courses.

Students in Anthropology have the option of pursuing a B.S. or a B.A. A B.S requires six additional group requirement credits in natural science or mathematics disciplines. A B.A. requires six additional group requirement credits in social or humanities disciplines.

Anthropology B.S., B.A.

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 1503ANTHR 2023
LIB 1601Minor choice3
ANTHR 2013Social science choice3
Elective3Natural science choice3
Arts & Humanities choice3Arts & Humanities choice3
Social science choice3 
 16 15
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ANTHR 3083ANTHR 3063
World Languages and Cultures/International Perspective4World Languages and Cultures/International Perspective4
Humanities choice3ANTHR 300 choice3
ENGL 2503Minor choice3
ANTHR 300 choice3Natural science choice3
LAS 2031 
 17 16
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ANTHR 4251ANTHR 3073
STAT 1014ENGL 300-level3
Arts & Humanities choice3ANTHR 3003
ANTHR 300 choice3Minor choice3
Natural science choice3Additional Area requirement3
 Summer: It is highly recommended that students complete a field school, internship, or study abroad experience during the summer between their junior and senior years however, this is not required for graduation.  
 14 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ANTHR 4503ANTHR 300 choice3
Minor choice3Minor choice3
ANTHR 300 choice3Elective3
Additional Area requirement3Elective3
Electives3 
 15 12

Minor

A minor in anthropology consists of at least 15 credits. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement.

ANTHR 201Introduction to Cultural Anthropology3
ANTHR 202Human Origins3
One of the following in cultural anthropology:3
Culture and Interpretation
Introduction to Culture and Language
Peoples and Cultures of Native North America
Topics in Latin American Anthropology
Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion
One of the following in archaeology or biological anthroplogy:3
Biological Anthropology
Archaeology
Archaeology of North America
Skeletal Biology
World Prehistory
Topics in Biological Anthropology
Three additional credits in ANTHR at the 300+ level3

Graduate Programs

The department offers a mas­ter of arts degree with a major in anthropology. Graduate courses are offered in the areas of archaeology, biological anthropology, and cultural anthropol­ogy. Competence in statistics or a methodology relevant to the student's program of study must be demonstrated. Students are required to do original field, archival, or laboratory research that will result in a scholarly thesis.