Anthropology

University of California, Berkeley

About the Program

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The Anthropology major is designed to serve two purposes: to provide a general education in anthropology for students who are pursuing a liberal arts education and to provide preparation for graduate work for students who wish to become professional anthropologists. For both groups of students, anthropology provides communication skills, analytic approaches to human lifeways, and understanding of diversity. Students should select a combination of courses to form a unified plan of study that meets their intellectual interests and fulfills the requirements below.

Declaring the Major

Before you are eligible to declare the major, you must have completed or be in the progress of completing two of the three prerequisite courses and enrolled in the third, with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher in all courses intended for the major. For more details regarding the prerequisites, please see the Major Requirements tab on this page.

To declare the major, you will need to complete these three steps:

  1. Reach out to the Anthropology Academic Undergraduate Advisor in 215 Kroeber Hall, during office hours or by email at: anthropology@berkeley.edu and address it to the Undergrad Advisor.
  2. Bring or attach to your email, photocopies of transcripts, (unofficial will suffice), showing courses satisfying the major prerequisites that you took anywhere other than Berkeley along  with the grades you earned.
  3. To prepare, review the description of the program, and the requirements for the major to be prepared to identify how you might fulfill them. And please acquaint yourself with the faculty pages. 

Declare the major as soon as you are eligible. You should declare the major no later than the end of your first semester of junior year. If you are a transfer student, this means you should declare the major during your first semester at UC Berkeley.

Honors Program

The honors thesis in Anthropology is the result of an independently-pursued course of research undertaken by qualified students under the mentorship of a faculty thesis advisor. An overall GPA of 3.5 and a GPA of 3.65 in the major in courses completed at UC Berkeley is required to qualify for the program. The program requires the sponsorship of an anthropology professor as an adviser. This advisor should be identified by the end of the junior year. A second reader must also be identified, in consultation with the thesis advisor. If students want to apply for research funding for summer between junior and senior years, they will benefit by having secured an advisor by January of the junior year. The year-long senior thesis course normally begins in the fall of senior year, but can begin in spring of senior year if justified. The honors courses, ANTHRO H195A and ANTHRO H195B, count as two of the five elective requirements for the major and are four unit courses each.

Minor Program

The Department of Anthropology offers an undergraduate minor in anthropology. In order to declare the minor, you will need to complete these three steps:

  1. Consult the Undergraduate Advisor in 215 Kroeber about your intentions and interests.  The advisor will assist you in identifying courses that fulfill the minor requirements. Send email to anthropology@berkeley.edu and request the Undergrad Advisor.
  2. Bring or attach to your email the photocopies of any transcripts showing any lower division Intro to Anthropology, Anthro 1, 2, or 3 courses, that satisfy lower division minor requirements taken anywhere other than Berkeley, with the grades you earned. Two of the three courses and five Anthro Upper Division courses satisfy the Anthropology Minor.
  3. Submit the L&S "Completion of the L&S Minor" form by the end of the semester prior to graduation. See L&S Advising website for details.

Visit Department Website

Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.

General Guidelines

  1. All courses taken to fulfill the major requirements below must be taken for graded credit, other than courses listed which are offered on a Pass/No Pass basis only. Other exceptions to this requirement are noted as applicable.
  2. No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs, with the exception of minors offered outside of the College of Letters & Science.
  3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in both upper and lower division courses used to fulfill the major requirements.

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

Lower Division Prerequisites

 
There are three prerequisites, which may be taken in any order. Majors must take Anthro 1: Introduction to Biological Anthropology; Anthro 2: Introduction to Archaeology, or Anthro 2AC: Introduction to Archaeology (American Cultures); and Anthro 3: Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology, or Anthro 3AC: Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology (American Cultures).  Students should take the prerequisite course before attempting the corresponding upper division courses in Biological, Archaeology, or Sociocultural Anthropology.  Students should take prerequisite courses before attempting the corresponding upper division courses
 
ANTHRO 1Introduction to Biological Anthropology4
ANTHRO 2Introduction to Archaeology4
or ANTHRO 2AC Introduction to Archaeology
ANTHRO 3Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology4
or ANTHRO 3AC Introduction to Social/Cultural Anthropology (American Cultures)

Upper Division Major Requirements 

The nine required upper division courses must include at least one area course and one method course. Nine upper division Anthropology courses are required for the major. This includes a core of four classes, including Anthro 114: History of Anthropological Thought, and one upper division archaeology, one upper division biological anthropology, and one upper division sociocultural anthropology course. In addition to the core, five elective courses in Anthropology complete the nine courses. These courses must include at least one area course and one method course. For a list of courses that fulfill each requirement (upper division biological anthropology, upper division archaeology, upper division sociocultural anthropology, area and method), please see below.  For a list of courses that fulfill the area and method requirements, please see below. 

ANTHRO 114History of Anthropological Thought4
Select one course in biological anthropology from the following:
Primate Evolution [4]
Primate Behavior [4]
Evolution of the Human Brain [4]
Theory and Method in Physical Anthropology [4]
Evolution of Human Behavior [4]
Special Topics in Biological Anthropology [4]
Bioarchaeology: Introduction to Skeletal Biology and Bioarchaeology [4]
Bioarchaeology: Reconstruction of Life in Bioarchaeology [4]
Select one course in archaeology from the following:
Historical Archaeology: American Material Culture [4]
American Material Culture [4]
Historical Archaeology: Theoretical Approaches in American Historical Archaeology [4]
Historical Archaeology: Historical Artifact Identification and Analysis [4]
Archaeology of the Americas: Archaeology of North America [4]
Culture Contact in North America [4]
Archaeology of the Americas: Archaeology of Central America [4]
Archaeology of the Americas: World of Ancient Maya [4]
Archaeology of the Americas: Andean Archaeology: People of the Andes [4]
Archaeology of the Americas: California Archaeology [4]
Archaeology of the Americas: Archaeology of the American Southwest [4]
Old World Prehistory [4]
Old World Cultures: Archaeology of Africa [4]
Old World Cultures: Archaeology of Europe [4]
Old World Cultures: Mediterranean Archaeology [4]
Pacific Cultures: Archaeology of the South Pacific [4]
Hawaiian Ethnohistory [4]
Archaeology of East Asia [4]
Archaeology and Japanese Identities [4]
Special Topics in Archaeology [4]
Special Topics in Archaeology/Area [4]
Special Topics in Archaeology/Method [4]
Topical Areas in Archaeology: Prehistoric Art [4]
Topical Areas in Archaeology: Archaeology of Hunter-Gatherers [4]
Topical Areas in Archaeology: Household Archeology [4]
The Archaeology of Health and Disease [4]
History and Theory of Archaeology [4]
Analysis of Archaeological Materials: Ceramics [4]
Analysis of the Archaeological Record [4]
Field Course in Archaeological Methods [6]
Paleoethnobotany: Archaeological Methods and Laboratory Techniques [4]
Environmental Archaeology [4]
Museum Exhibit Curation and Design [4]
Introduction to Museum Methods [4]
Cultural Policy: Cultural Heritage and Cultural Diplomacy [4]
California Historical Anthropology [4]
Select one course in social/cultural anthropology from the following:
Introduction to Medical Anthropology [4]
Special Topics in Medical Anthropology [4]
History and Theory of Ethnographic Film [4]
Field Production of Ethnographic Film [5]
The Anthropology of Food [4]
Comparative Society [4]
ANTHRO 146Cities of the Global South4
Anthropology of Gender [4]
Sexuality, Culture, and Colonialism [4]
Anthropology of the Environment [4]
Psychological Anthropology [4]
Utopia: Art and Power in Modern Times [4]
Modernity [4]
Anthropology of the Contemporary [4]
Politics and Anthropology [4]
Culture and Power [4]
Anthropology of Law [4]
Religion and Anthropology [4]
Forms of Folklore [4]
Topics in Folklore [4]
Language, Culture, and Society [4]
Data Analysis and Computational Methods [4]
Research Theory and Methods in Socio-Cultural Anthropology [5]
Research Theory and Methods in Linguistic Anthropology [4]
China [4]
Japan [4]
Ethnography of the Maya [4]
European Society [4]
Themes in the Anthropology of the Middle East and Islam [4]
Topics in the Anthropological Study of Africa [4]
South Asia [4]
Special Topics in Social/Cultural Anthropology [4]
Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology/Area [4]
Area Courses
ANTHRO 121AHistorical Archaeology: American Material Culture4
ANTHRO 121ACAmerican Material Culture4
ANTHRO 121BHistorical Archaeology: Theoretical Approaches in American Historical Archaeology4
ANTHRO 121CHistorical Archaeology: Historical Artifact Identification and Analysis4
ANTHRO 122AArchaeology of the Americas: Archaeology of North America4
ANTHRO 122BCulture Contact in North America4
ANTHRO 122CArchaeology of the Americas: Archaeology of Central America4
ANTHRO 122DArchaeology of the Americas: World of Ancient Maya4
ANTHRO 122EArchaeology of the Americas: Andean Archaeology: People of the Andes4
ANTHRO 122FArchaeology of the Americas: California Archaeology4
ANTHRO 122GArchaeology of the Americas: Archaeology of the American Southwest4
ANTHRO 123AOld World Prehistory4
ANTHRO 123BOld World Cultures: Archaeology of Africa4
ANTHRO 123COld World Cultures: Archaeology of Europe4
ANTHRO 123EOld World Cultures: Mediterranean Archaeology4
ANTHRO 124APacific Cultures: Archaeology of the South Pacific4
ANTHRO 124BHawaiian Ethnohistory4
ANTHRO C125AArchaeology of East Asia4
ANTHRO C125BArchaeology and Japanese Identities4
ANTHRO 128ASpecial Topics in Archaeology/Area4
ANTHRO C147BSexuality, Culture, and Colonialism4
ANTHRO 170China4
ANTHRO 171Japan4
ANTHRO 174ACCalifornia Historical Anthropology4
ANTHRO 179Ethnography of the Maya4
ANTHRO 180European Society4
ANTHRO 181Themes in the Anthropology of the Middle East and Islam4
ANTHRO 183Topics in the Anthropological Study of Africa4
ANTHRO 184South Asia4
ANTHRO 189ASpecial Topics in Cultural Anthropology/Area4
Method Courses
ANTHRO 121CHistorical Archaeology: Historical Artifact Identification and Analysis4
ANTHRO 127ABioarchaeology: Introduction to Skeletal Biology and Bioarchaeology4
ANTHRO 128MSpecial Topics in Archaeology/Method4
ANTHRO 132AAnalysis of Archaeological Materials: Ceramics4
ANTHRO 134Analysis of the Archaeological Record4
ANTHRO 134AField Course in Archaeological Methods6
ANTHRO 135Paleoethnobotany: Archaeological Methods and Laboratory Techniques4
ANTHRO 135BEnvironmental Archaeology4
ANTHRO 136AMuseum Exhibit Curation and Design4
ANTHRO 136BIntroduction to Museum Methods4
ANTHRO 136GCultural Policy: Cultural Heritage and Cultural Diplomacy4
ANTHRO 138BField Production of Ethnographic Film5
ANTHRO 160ACForms of Folklore4
ANTHRO 169AData Analysis and Computational Methods4
ANTHRO 169BResearch Theory and Methods in Socio-Cultural Anthropology5

Minor Requirements

Students who have a strong interest in an area of study outside their major often decide to complete a minor program. These programs have set requirements.

General Guidelines

  1. All minors must be declared before the first day of classes in your Expected Graduation Term (EGT). For summer graduates, minors must be declared prior to the first day of Summer Session A. 

  2. All upper-division courses must be taken for a letter grade. 

  3. A minimum of three of the upper-division courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be completed at UC Berkeley.

  4. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required in the upper-division courses to fulfill the minor requirements.

  5. Courses used to fulfill the minor requirements may be applied toward the Seven-Course Breadth requirement, for Letters & Science students.

  6. No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs.

  7. All minor requirements must be completed prior to the last day of finals during the semester in which the student plans to graduate. If students cannot finish all courses required for the minor by that time, they should see a College of Letters & Science adviser.

  8. All minor requirements must be completed within the unit ceiling. (For further information regarding the unit ceiling, please see the College Requirements tab.)

 Requirements

Lower Division8
Select two of the following:
Introduction to Biological Anthropology [4]
Introduction to Archaeology [4]
Introduction to Archaeology
Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology [4]
Introduction to Social/Cultural Anthropology (American Cultures)
Upper Division20
Select any five anthropology courses

College Requirements

Undergraduate students must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by their major program.

For a detailed lists of L&S requirements, please see Overview tab to the right in this guide or visit the L&S Degree Requirements webpage. For College advising appointments, please visit the L&S Advising Pages. 

University of California Requirements

Entry Level Writing

All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley and must be taken for a letter grade. 

American History and American Institutions

The American History and American Institutions requirements are based on the principle that all U.S. residents who have graduated from an American university should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.

Berkeley Campus Requirement

American Cultures

All undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass this campus requirement course in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses are plentiful and offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.

College of Letters & Science Essential Skills Requirements

Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in math, statistics, or computer/data science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course taken for a letter grade.

Foreign Language

The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, and conversation in a foreign language equivalent to the second semester college level, either by passing an exam or by completing approved course work taken for a letter grade.

Reading and Composition

In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College of Letters and Science requires two semesters of lower division work in composition in sequence. Students must complete parts A & B reading and composition courses in sequential order by the end of their fourth semester for a letter grade.

College of Letters & Science 7 Course Breadth Requirements

Breadth Requirements

The undergraduate breadth requirements provide Berkeley students with a rich and varied educational experience outside of their major program. As the foundation of a liberal arts education, breadth courses give students a view into the intellectual life of the University while introducing them to a multitude of perspectives and approaches to research and scholarship. Engaging students in new disciplines and with peers from other majors, the breadth experience strengthens interdisciplinary connections and context that prepares Berkeley graduates to understand and solve the complex issues of their day.

Unit Requirements

  • 120 total units

  • Of the 120 units, 36 must be upper division units

  • Of the 36 upper division units, 6 must be taken in courses offered outside your major department
Residence Requirements

For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Letters & Science. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes at Cal for four years, or two years for transfer students. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you graduate early, go abroad for a semester or year, or want to take courses at another institution or through UC Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to meet an L&S College adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.

Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.

Senior Residence Requirement

After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your B.A. degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 6 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, EAP, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) units are excluded.

You may use a Berkeley Summer Session to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence requirement, provided that you successfully complete 6 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the college.

Modified Senior Residence Requirement

Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or the UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC) may meet a Modified Senior Residence requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.

Upper Division Residence Requirement

You must complete in residence a minimum of 18 units of upper division courses (excluding UCEAP units), 12 of which must satisfy the requirements for your major.

Student Learning Goals

Learning Goals for the Major

  1. Learning About Anthropology
    • Understand core concepts in contemporary biological anthropology.
    • Understand core concepts in contemporary anthropological archaeology.
    • Understand core concepts in contemporary sociocultural anthropology, including medical anthropology.
    • Develop understanding of the history of anthropological thought.
    • Gain experience in fieldwork and the application of theory and methodology.
    • Develop understanding of the anthropological analysis of visual media and language.
  2. Critical Thinking, Communication, and Analytical Goals
    • Encourage critical abilities in the analysis of evolutionary, historical, and contemporary situations.
    • Develop the ability to analyze comprehensively and critically scholarly articles and monographs.
    • Develop facility in conveying anthropological concepts and debates to public audiences.
    • Formulate well-organized written and oral arguments supported by evidence.
  3. Learning About the World
    • Understand the structure and transformation of society and culture past and present.
    • Analyze regional and cultural diversity in the organization of human societies and the impact of cultural contacts and globalization.
    • Integrate biological and cultural perspectives on human behavior, social organization, and the environment.
    • Utilize anthropological concepts and methods to understand the history and forms of diversity in US society.

Major Map

Major maps are experience maps that help undergraduates plan their Berkeley journey based on intended major or field of interest. Featuring student opportunities and resources from your college and department as well as across campus, each map includes curated suggestions for planning your studies, engaging outside the classroom, and pursuing your career goals in a timeline format.

Use the major map below to explore potential paths and design your own unique undergraduate experience:

View the Anthropology major map.

 

Courses

Anthropology

Contact Information

Department of Anthropology

232 Anthropology and Art Practice Building

Phone: 510-642-3392

Fax: 510-643-8557

Visit Department Website

Department Chair

Sabrina Agarwal

232 Anthropology & Art Practice Building

agarwal@berkeley.edu

Graduate Student Affairs Officer

Tabea Mastel

213 Anthropology & Art Practice Building

Phone: 510-642-3406

tmastel@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Academic Affairs Officer

Frances Bright

215 Anthropology & Art Practice Building

Phone: 510-642-3616

f.bright@berkeley.edu

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