Major in Anthropology (BA/BS)
As the study of humankind, anthropology is part of the social sciences at Ball State University. It draws upon theory, methodology, and data from the humanities and biological sciences as well. Cultural anthropology is concerned with the ways people organize themselves socially in different types of groups. Archaeology is concerned with how human culture has evolved and changed through time. Biological anthropology examines the evolution and adaptation of the species, and explores variations among past and present living populations, the biological bases of human behavior, and primate studies. Linguistics, which is taught in the Ball State University Department of English, is concerned with the nature and history of language and its role in human culture. The department offers cultural field schools abroad, prehistoric and historic archaeological field schools, educational opportunities through Ball State’s Applied Anthropology Laboratory, and internship opportunities.
The anthropology major offers a core program designed to develop a foundation in all subfields of anthropology. The department also offers a minor in anthropology and the opportunity to earn departmental honors.
40 credits
Core requirements, 13 credits
| ANTH 101 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 103 | Archaeology and Culture | 3 |
| ANTH 105 | Introduction to Biological Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 208 | Professionalization in Anthropology | 1 |
| ANTH 316 | Theory in Anthropology | 3 |
No individual course may be counted for both the methods requirement and the directed elective requirement in any area.
Methods A/B/C, 9 credits
One ANTH Methods course from Area A: Archaeology (3 credits)
One ANTH Methods course from Area B: Biological (3 credits)
One ANTH Methods course from Area C: Cultural (3 credits)
ANTH Electives, 15 credits
One ANTH Directed Elective course from Area A: Archaeology (3 credits)
One ANTH Directed Elective course from Area B: Biological (3 credits)
One ANTH Directed Elective course from Area C: Cultural (3 credits)
Two ANTH Elective courses from any area (6 credits)
ANTH 414 UCC Tier 3 Capstone, 3 credits
Complete 9 credits methods, 3 from each Area
Area A: Archaeology
| ANTH 313 | Fundamentals of Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTH 429 | Laboratory Methods in Material Culture | 3 |
| ANTH 445 | Archaeological Field School | 3-6 |
| ANTH 457 | Applied Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTH 463 | Theory and Method in Historical Archaeology | 3 |
Area B: Biological
Area C: Cultural
ANTH Electives, 9 credits, at least 3 from each Area
Area A: Archaeology
| ANTH 310 | Topics in Old World Prehistory | 3 TO 6 |
| ANTH 343 | Historical Archaeology of Eastern United States | 3 |
| ANTH 364 | Prehistory of Eurasia | 3 |
| ANTH 420 | Topics in New World Archaeology | 3 TO 6 |
| ANTH 429 | Laboratory Methods in Material Culture | 3 |
| ANTH 434 | Midwestern Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTH 457 | Applied Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTH 463 | Theory and Method in Historical Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTH 361 | Special Topics in Archaeology | 3-6 |
Area B: Biological
| ANTH 207 | Introduction to Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 315 | Evolution and Human Behavior | 3 |
| ANTH 362 | Special Topics in Biological Anthropology | 3-6 |
| ANTH 402 | Anthropology of Drug Use | 3 |
| ANTH 405 | Human Biological Variation | 3 |
| ANTH 406 | Life History Theory of Growth, Maintenance, and Reproduction | 3 |
| ANTH 416 | Human Osteology | 3 |
| ANTH 417 | Forensic Anthropology | 3 |
Area C: Cultural
| ANTH 231 | Cannibals, Warriors, and Princesses: Native Americans in Popular Culture | 3 |
| ANTH 241 | Gender, Sex, and Sexuality | 3 |
| ANTH 242 | Folklore and Folklife | 3 |
| ANTH 308 | Introduction to Anthropological Linguistics | 3 |
| ANTH 311 | Ethnicity and Race | 3 |
| ANTH 312 | Ecological Dimensions of Culture | 3 |
| ANTH 314 | Applied Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 342 | Anthropology of the United States | 3 |
| ANTH 363 | Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology | 3-6 |
| ANTH 409 | Digital Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 432 | Native Americans of the Eastern Woodlands, 16th-20th Century | 3 |
| ANTH 451 | Witchcraft, Magic, and Religion | 3 |
| ANTH 471 | Methods and Theories of Ethnohistory | 3 |
Complete 6 additional credits of ANTH electives from area A, B, or C or from the list below