Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of people in their cultural context and the examination of all aspects of patterned social behavior. The discipline is worldwide in scope and encompasses all aspects of human biological and social life from earliest times to the present. It is a broad, holistic field that seeks to understand human adaptation to natural and social environments.

Overview

Anthropology includes four subfields: cultural anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology and linguistics. Undergraduates may concentrate their studies in one of these four subfields or pursue a focus in an interdisciplinary track with another major or minor. A Bachelor of Arts is earned in anthropology rather than in any one subfield.

An undergraduate major in anthropology provides students with a broad-based liberal arts education and prepares students to work in an increasingly complex world. Anthropology majors learn about different groups of people, their prehistory and their biological and cultural diversity through disciplines that combine social science, natural science and the humanities. Many undergraduate anthropology majors go on to graduate school in the social sciences, while others use anthropology to prepare themselves for professional careers in other disciplines. In a world of increasing globalization and need for effective international relations and understanding, anthropology is a highly relevant liberal arts and sciences major for students interested in pursuing careers in education, government, health, business and law.

Coursework for the Major

The major requires a minimum of 34 semester hours in anthropology and all coursework must be completed with minimum grades of C. A minimum of 18 hours of anthropology coursework must be completed at UF.

Required Coursework

• ANT 2000 General Anthropology (ANT 2000 encouraged in the first year.)
• ANT 2410 Cultural Anthropology
• ANT 2140 Introduction to World Archaeology
• ANT 3514C Introduction to Biological Anthropology
• ANT 3620 Language and Culture
• Of the remaining 18 hours, 15 must be 3000 level and above.
• In addition to the 34 hours of anthropology coursework, majors are also required to earn a minimum grade of C in STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1.

There are no prerequisites for 2000-level courses. Students in the honors program may take honors sections of any offered anthropology class. Any student at the sophomore level and above with the appropriate prerequisites or permission of the instructor may enroll in graduate-level courses.

Overseas Studies

Students concentrating in any subfield, particularly cultural anthropology and/or archaeology, are also encouraged to complete either an ethnographic study abroad program or an archaeological field school before their senior year.

Relevant Minors and/or Certificates

The department encourages students to choose a minor or an interdisciplinary certificate option in African studies, Asian studies, environmental studies, Jewish studies, Latin American studies, linguistics or women's studies. Relevant courses in anthropology may be used to fulfill some requirements.  

Critical Tracking

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements. For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements — Structure of a CLAS Degree.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

• 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5

Semester 2

• Complete 1 anthropology course

Semester 3

• Complete 1 additional anthropology course or STA 2023

Semester 4

• Complete 1 additional anthropology course
• 2.5 critical-tracking GPA

Semester 5

• 2.5 critical-tracking GPA

Recommended Semester Plan

Students are expected to complete the writing and math requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are required to complete HUM 2305 The Good Life (GE-H) in semester 1 or 2. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).