Anthropology Major

Students interested in receiving B.S. degrees in anthropology must satisfy all of the requirements for B.A. degrees in anthropology, and they also must earn credits for two courses in mathematics and statistics: including (A) one calculus course, MATH 1210 or an equivalent; and (B) one statistics course, MATH 1230, or a higher-level class in statistics; and/or (C) ANTH 6010: Quantitative Methods in Anthropology, or an equivalent.

Ten courses (excluding writing practica) totaling no fewer than 30 credits of approved course work are required for a major in anthropology. All anthropology majors must take an approved capstone course in anthropology, and a list of approved capstone courses may be found on the anthropology department web site and in the anthropology majors handbook. In addition, there is a general distribution requirement within the major; at least one course above the 1000-level must be taken in each of the four major subdivisions of anthropology: social/cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and physical anthropology. Students may take additional 1000-level courses in anthropology to apply towards the 120 credits necessary for graduation from Newcomb-Tulane College, but only two 1000-level courses can be counted towards the 30 credits required for B.A. and B.S. degrees in anthropology.

Given the diversity of topics of interest to anthropologists, anthropology majors are encouraged to take a variety of courses in the different anthropological subfields and in related disciplines, and they are encouraged to integrate anthropology coursework within preprofessional programs of study. Upon consultation with anthropology faculty advisors, students may count up to six credits (two courses) as electives towards the anthropology major from approved courses in other departments.

The subject matter of anthropology is such that most of the curriculum is not an explicitly ordered sequence. Few anthropology courses at Tulane have specific prerequisites (exceptions, mostly linguistic courses, are noted in the catalog), and anthropology majors are expected to choose their courses from among all those with numbers less than 7000. The 6000-level courses are specifically designed for undergraduate as well as graduate students, and all junior and senior majors should choose freely from among these offerings.

Anthropology majors are eligible to apply for the 4+1 program in anthropology, based on consultation with advisors and other mentors. Students in the 4+1 program can earn B.A. or B.S. degrees in anthropology within four years, and M.A. degrees in anthropology based on an additional year of graduate coursework in anthropology taken during their fourth and fifth years. Requirements for this program are outlined on the departmental web site and in the anthropology majors handbook.

The anthropology department administers the Kenneth J. Opat Fund in Anthropology, reserved for the support of undergraduate research in anthropology. Students majoring in anthropology are encouraged to seek further information from their anthropology advisors about the use of this research fund.