Anthropology

Department Overview

M32 Denny

Anthropology is the study of human beings in all their cultural diversity. It includes the study of human evolution, the archaeological record, language and culture, the relationship between humans and their environment, and cultural modes of being as these differ in time and space. In studying anthropology, students can better understand how to find ways to live together in today's world, respecting cultural diversity while building upon common human values.

The study of anthropology at the University of Washington is comprised of three sub-disciplines:

• Archaeology is the study of the human past through investigation of material remains (artifacts, food remains, features, structures, etc.) and their relationships in space and time.
• Biocultural anthropology focuses on understanding human variation through the study of the ecological, demographic, genetic, developmental, and epidemiological dimensions of modern human adaptation and its evolutionary basis.
• Sociocultural anthropology is the study of human societies from the perspective of culture as a comparative frame.

Undergraduate Program

Adviser
247 Denny, Box 353100
(206) 543-7772

The Department of Anthropology offers the following undergraduate programs:

• The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in anthropology
• The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in anthropology, with an option in medical anthropology and global health (MAGH), anthropology of globalization (AG), or in archaeological sciences (ASc)
• A minor in anthropology

Bachelor of Arts

Suggested First- and Second-Year College Courses: ARCHY 205; BIO A 201; any additional 200-level ANTH course; and one from CS&SS 221/SOC 221/STAT 221, STAT 220, STAT 311, Q SCI 381, or ARCHY 495.

Department Admission Requirements

1. Minimum 15 ANTH/ARCHY/BIO A credits.
2. Minimum cumulative 2.50 GPA for ANTH/ARCHY/BIO A credits, with at least a 2.0 grade in each course.
3. Minimum 2.50 GPA for all prior college work, including transfer credits.
4. Transfer students must be admitted to the UW before they can apply.

Additional requirements for students applying to medical anthropology and global health (MAGH) or anthropology of globalization (AG) options.

Admission to the MAGH or AG options is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements for admission to the major does not guarantee admission to either option. Applications are available on the department website on the first day of the quarter. Application deadline is the second Friday of autumn, winter, or spring quarters. Students are notified of the admission decision by the end of week five of the quarter in which they apply.

See department advising office for additional requirements.

Admission to the archaeological sciences (ASc) option is not competitive and is open to all students accepted into the anthropology major. A passing grade in ARCHY 205 is required for admission to the archaeological sciences (ASc) option.

Major Requirements

55 credits as follows:

1. Core courses (20 credits): ARCHY 205, BIO A 201; any 200-level ANTH course; and one of the following: CS&SS 221/SOC 221/STAT 221, STAT 220, STAT 311, Q SCI 381, or ARCHY 495
2. 35 additional ANTH, ARCHY, and BIO A credits distributed across the subfields or concentrated as suits the interests of the student. 20 of these credits must be in upper-division (300- or 400-level) courses. Students may count one 100-level ANTH, ARCHY, or BIO A course toward the major, but are not required to do so.
   1. The following AIS courses may apply toward this requirement:  AIS 201, AIS 202, AIS 203, AIS 240, AIS 311, AIS 312, AIS 316, AIS 317, AIS 330, AIS 335, AIS 340, AIS 443. There is no limit on the number of AIS course that may apply to this requirement.
   2. Maximum 12 credits (18 credits for departmental honors students) from ANTH 499, ARCHY 499, and BIO A 499 combined can be counted toward the major.
3. Additional major requirements:
   1. Courses with a grade of 1.9 or lower do not count toward the major.
   2. At least 25 credits in the major must be completed with a minimum grade of 2.5.
   3. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 15 upper-division credits in anthropology at the UW.
4. Students may pursue either the general anthropology major or one of the three options shown below.

Medical Anthropology and Global Health (MAGH) Option: Requirements for the general anthropology major, as shown above, to include ANTH 215 and 15 credits from ANTH and BIO A courses approved for the MAGH option. A list of approved courses available at the department advising office (247 Denny) or on the department website.

Anthropology of Globalization (AG) Option: Requirements for the general anthropology major, as shown above, to include 20 credits from courses in ANTH, ARCHY, and BIO A approved for the AG option. A list of approved courses is available at the department advising office (247 Denny) or on the department website.

Archaeological Sciences (ASc) Option: Requirements for the general anthropology major, as shown above, to include 15 credits from ARCHY 480, ARCHY 481, ARCHY 482, ARCHY 483, ARCHY 484, ARCHY 495, and at least 15 credits from courses approved for the ASc option. The list of approved courses is available on the department website or at the department advising office (247 Denny).

Minor

Minor Requirements: 30 credits (at least 15 credits at upper-division level) from courses with the following prefixes: ANTH, ARCHY, BIO A. ANTH 100 may be applied to the minor but is not required.  (Certain AIS courses may apply toward this requirement. See departmental adviser for list.) Minimum grade of 2.0 required in each course.

Student Outcomes and Opportunities

• Learning Objectives and Expected Outcomes: The study of anthropology develops skills in critical thinking, research, and writing, as well as technical skills specific to the different subfields (ethnographic field techniques, interpretation of data, statistical analysis, archaeological methods of data collection and interpretation). An undergraduate degree prepares students for many positions that involve working with people, as well as for academic studies in a variety of fields. Careers in anthropology can be developed through employment with government agencies, museums, teaching and research, private consulting firms, and nongovernmental organizations.
• Instructional and Research Facilities: Undergraduate students have access to the following facilities for classroom training in laboratory methods and for research experiences subject to faculty approval and supervision: the Burke Museum (ethnological, archaeological, natural history, and archival collection), Quaternary Research Center, Biodemography Lab, Luminescence Dating Laboratory, Electron Microscope Laboratory Cooperative, Geoarchaeology Lab, Digital Imaging and Microscopy Lab, Geographical Information System (GIS) Computer Lab. In addition, the department co-sponsors with the Department of Geography a writing center offering undergraduate writing support for anthropology classes.
• Honors Options Available: With College Honors (Completion of Honors Core Curriculum and Departmental Honors); With Honors (Completion of Departmental Honors requirements in the major). See adviser for requirements.
• Research, Internships, and Service Learning: The Department of Anthropology supports students who undertake community-based internships under faculty supervision.
• Department Scholarships:
  • The Brett E Baldwin Scholarship, for approximately $1,000, is awarded to an outstanding graduate or undergraduate majoring in anthropology.
  • The Wienker Prize for Best Undergraduate Essay. Four awards are given each year, one in each subdiscipline for the best essay in an undergraduate anthropology class, and one for the best senior honors thesis.
• Student Organizations/Associations: The Anthropology Club is run by and for students in the department.

Graduate Program

Graduate Program Coordinator
M31 Denny Hall, Box 353100
(206) 685-1562

The department recognizes three principal subfields of anthropology within its faculty, programs, and curriculum: archaeology, biocultural anthropology, and sociocultural anthropology (including linguistic anthropology). The department offers three distinct PhD programs within the sub-disciplines. Additionally, the department has an informal program in environmental anthropology which applicants may pursue within one of the traditional PhD track programs. A concurrent degree program with Health Services offers an MPH/PhD. A PhD program in sociocultural anthropology with emphasis in ethnomusicology is offered in cooperation with the School of Music. The MA degree may be earned within the PhD programs. Graduate students are admitted to, and specialize in, their chosen subfields from the beginning of their graduate studies.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are admitted to begin study only during autumn quarter and are advised to have their application materials completed by the beginning of the prior January. A complete application file includes the online application to the Graduate School, official transcripts, the supplementary application to anthropology, three recommendations, a statement of purpose, and scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). International students are required to take the TOEFL exam as well as the GRE.

Program Requirements

For each of the respective graduate programs, completion of the core requirements and a reading knowledge of one foreign language are required. Under the guidance of a Supervisory Committee selected from the appropriate subfield, the student shapes an individual program. The major areas emphasized in the faculty and curriculum are the United States, Mexico, Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, China, Oceania, Middle East, and the post-Soviet states. The MA degree usually requires two years of graduate study; the PhD programs usually require at least three years beyond the master's level, including a year of independent field research and a year to organize field materials and write a doctoral dissertation. The MA degree can be earned only within the PhD programs as a thesis or non-thesis degree.

Financial Aid

Two multi-year recruitment fellowships are awarded to outstanding entering students. A limited number of teaching and research assistantships and hourly positions are offered primarily to advanced students. Applicants should apply for Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowships if qualified. Work-study positions may also be available for eligible graduate students.