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Anthropology majors and minors at the Catholic University of America can be coordinated with majors and minors in other disciplines and variously tailored to individual interests in ancient societies and issues in the contemporary world.
The major is structured as a progression of 12 courses through
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four Foundational courses (101, 105, 108, 110) which survey the major subfields of socio-cultural anthropology, human evolution, archaeology, and linguistic anthropology
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two Core courses (200, 201) on perspectives in anthropology and anthropological research design & conduct
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five Major electives (202-450) on research areas that are specialties of the faculty, including at least one course on a region of the world (Ancient South America, Latin America, the contemporary USA, the Middle East and Muslim World).
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a Senior Capstone seminar, independent work with a professor, or off-campus internship/practicum that leads to a major paper or Senior thesis based on research you organize yourself.
Entry points for the major are survey courses on Socio-cultural Anthropology (101) and Archaeology (108), followed by a Sophomore-level course on Anthropological Perspectives (200) and Research Design & Conduct in Anthropology (201). These courses satisfy University distribution requirements for Social Sciences. Students who go on to major in Anthropology also take Human Evolution (105) and Anthropology of Language (110) before the Senior year, and one of three Capstone options in the senior year: a Senior Seminar on a current perspective in anthropology, individual research or directed readings with a faculty member, or an off-campus internship/practicum in a local service or research organization.
Major electives: students choose 5 courses on environmental anthropology, ancient societies, immigrants and refugees, the information society, and in political, medical, economic anthropology or ancient art & architecture, including at least one course focused on a region of the world. Courses that meet these requirements are listed on this website, along with the planned schedule for the next three years.
Courses in other departments that are acceptable as major electives for Anthropology concentrators:
POL 250 Politics of Latin America, POL 331 Globalization and Social Movements, POL 417 Politics of Development, POL 433 Politics of Food, MDIA 352 Museum Studies, MDIA 360 Popular Culture, MDIA 471 Food & Media.
For additional information, contact the department's Undergraduate Advising Coordinator, Dr. Anita Cook.
Mini-Programs: Minor Tracks in Anthropology
Anthropology minors consist of 6 courses, selected individually or one of the following MINI-PROGRAMS to fit special interests:
I. ARCHAEOLOGY
105 - Human Evolution
108 - Introduction to Archaeology
Plus 4 courses selected from:
215 - Archaeology of Bible Lands
254 - Ancient Cultures of South America
259 - Ancient Art & Architecture
322 - Lost Cities & Ancient Empires
334 - The Incas
354 - Settlements & Landscapes
506 - Applied Archaeology
590 - Ethnohistory
II. GREAT CIVILIZATIONS
101 - Cultural Anthropology
108 - Introduction to Archaeology
Plus 2 area courses chosen from:
215 - Archaeology of Bible Lands
254 - Ancient Cultures of South America
371 - Latin America in the New Millennium
390 - Politics & Religion in the Middle East
374 - Spain & Portugal
Plus 2 courses chosen from:
259 - Ancient Art & Architecture
310 - Islam in the Modern World
322 - Lost Cities & Ancient Empires
III. DEVELOPMENT AND ECOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
101 - Cultural Anthropology
315 - Globalization & the Culture of Capitalism
Plus 3 courses chosen from:
214 - The Anthropology of Food
218 - The End of Nature?
220 - Technology & Society
313 - Environment & Society
Plus one area course
505 - Applied Anthropology
371 - Latin America in the New Millennium
372 - Contemporary Change in Latin America
355 - Immigrants & Refugees
IV. MYTH, MIND AND SYMBOL
101 - Cultural Anthropology
110 - Speech & Experience: The Anthropology of Language
Plus 2 courses chosen from:
200 - Anthropological Perspectives
202 - Sex & Culture in the Modern World
240 - Ethnicity
250 - The New Political Anthropology
260 - Religion, Thought & Moral Imagination
270 - The Information Society
259 - Ancient Art & Architecture
Plus 2 area courses chosen from:
254 - Ancient Cultures of South America
310 - Islam in the Modern World
334 - The Incas
336 - Identity & Community in America
371 - Latin America in the New Millennium
390 - Politics & Religion in the Middle East
V. CULTURE & COMMUNICATION
101 - Cultural Anthropology
110 - Speech & Experience: The Anthropology of Language
Plus 2 courses chosen from:
200 - Anthropological Perspectives
202 - Sex & Culture in the Modern World
250 - The New Political Anthropology
259 - Ancient Art & Architecture
260 - Religion, Thought & Moral Imagination
270 - The Information Society
315 - Globalization and the Culture of Capitalism
Plus 2 area courses chosen from:
310 - Islam in the Modern World
336 - Identity & Community in America
355 - Latinos/Latinas in the USA
371 - Latin America in the New Millennium
VI. MIGRANTS & REFUGEES
101 - Cultural Anthropology
217 - Migrants, Refugees and the Homeless
Plus 2 courses chosen from:
214 - Anthropology of Food
240 - Ethnicity
250 - The New Political Anthropology
270 - The Information Society
315 - Globalization & the Culture of Capitalism
505 - Applied Anthropology
541 - Health, Society & Culture
Plus 2 area courses chosen from:
355 - Latinos/Latinas in the USA
336 - Identity & Community in America
371 - Latin America in the New Millennium
372 - Contemporary Change in Latin America
390 - Politics & Religion in the Middle East | 
