Anthropology
The Anthropology degree at UNH offers a comprehensive exploration into what it means to be human from the inside out, across time, and in diverse cultures. Here you'll be able to engage in hands-on field and lab research based in archaeology, forensic, medical, and applied cultural anthropology, with opportunities to work alongside faculty focused on the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa--connecting us to the world.
With specialized and advanced courses emphasizing hands-on, faculty-mentored research and methods training in a wide range of areas, including unique experiences like archaeological excavations in Belize and assistance on forensic research in the pursuit of victim identification, the anthropology major prepares you for diverse careers in cultural resource management, museums, patient-oriented health care, education, criminal justice, user experience for business, and graduate studies in specialized fields.
*Number of courses and course credit hours may vary, please reach out to your academic advisor for exact requirements.
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What does it mean to be human? That’s the question you’ll try to answer while pursuing a degree in anthropology. You’ll study human beings and past and present societies around the world and gain a broad overview of diverse peoples and cultures. In anthropology, you’ll acquire skills in critical thinking, cultural competency, and using research methods and technologies that prepare you for today’s globalized world and job market.
You can take hands-on courses in areas like cultural, applied, medical, biological, and forensic anthropology and archaeology, and work with faculty on their academic and applied projects in Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and Americas. Local internships provide supervised practical experience in museum and community-based research, and a study-away program in Belize offers immersive archaeological field experience.
Anthropology equips learners with skills and theories that explain what makes us human culturally and biologically across time and space. Anthropology also encourages a global perspective on the human condition that educates about how and why human societies and culture changes, similarities and differences between humans and other species and beings, and how our communities, including those of New Hampshire, are connected to the wider globalized world. Further, anthropology fosters a deep view of human adaptation and behavior, from our evolutionary and historic past to the present, demonstrating our past pitfalls and successes as means to create a sustainable future world..
Students take a range of introductory to advanced courses courses involving hands-on and experiential learning in our main areas of focus: cultural and medical anthropology, biological and forensic anthropology, and archaeology. Advanced courses provide opportunities for students to pursue intensive studies and technical training in focused methods and topics, and we pride ourselves on close faculty-student contact in lab and seminar courses. We encourage students' exploration of complementary programs across UNH, world languages, travel through national and international study-away opportunities, and service learning and collaboration with community-based organizations. Our discipline is an intellectual home for students who have broad and diverse interests in what it means to be human.
All anthropology majors graduate with foundational skills in critical and creative thinking driven by curiosity, research design and analysis, and multicultural competency. Students also develop transferable skills that reflect their focus in our diverse discipline and can include: intercultural communication; user experience and design, market research, and patient-oriented services based in ethnography; and lab- and field-based forensic and archaeological research involving excavation, recovery and use of drone, surveying, and modelling technologies.
Anthropology offers a strong foundation for a wide range of careers. Our alumni find successful careers in a range of areas, including: public policy and local government, forensic investigation and identification, clinical and public health practice, business, public relations and marketing, K-12 and adult education, social work, research-driven advocacy, community development, cultural resource management, museum work, consulting, and more.
To declare a major in anthropology, students must have completed at least one introductory level anthropology course at the 400 or 500 level with a grade of C or better.
This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENGL 401 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
| ANTH 411 | Global Perspectives on the Human Condition: An Introduction to Anthropology | 4 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Language Course | 4 | |
| First Year Seminar | 1 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ANTH 412 or ANTH 415 | Broken Pots and Buried Cities: Introduction to World Archaeology or The Human Story: Evolution, Fossils and DNA | 4 |
| ANTH 500 or ANTH 501 | Peoples and Cultures of the World or World Archaeological Cultures | 4 |
| Language Course | 4 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ANTH 513 or ANTH 514 | Ethnographic Methods or Method and Theory in Archaeology | 4 |
| ANTH 500-level Course | 4 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ANTH 600-level Course | 4 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ANTH 611 | History of Anthropological Theory | 4 |
| ANTH 600-level or higher Course | 4 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ANTH 600-level or higher Course | 4 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ANTH 750 or ANTH 785 or ANTH 797 | or The Anthropology of Dreams and Dreaming or Advanced Topics | 4 |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ANTH 699 | Senior Thesis (optional) | 4 |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| Course selected in consultation with advisor 1 | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 129 | |
Students can explore a second major, minor or general electives.
All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.
Majors must complete a minimum of 40 credits in anthropology with grades of C or better and in accordance with the below requirements. The required minimum overall GPA in major coursework is 2.0.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ANTH 411 | Global Perspectives on the Human Condition: An Introduction to Anthropology | 4 |
| ANTH 412 | Broken Pots and Buried Cities: Introduction to World Archaeology | 4 |
| or ANTH 415 | The Human Story: Evolution, Fossils and DNA | |
| ANTH 500 | Peoples and Cultures of the World | 4 |
| or ANTH 501 | World Archaeological Cultures | |
| ANTH 513 | Ethnographic Methods | 4 |
| or ANTH 514 | Method and Theory in Archaeology | |
| ANTH 611 | History of Anthropological Theory | 4 |
| Electives | ||
| One additional course numbered 500 or above | 4 | |
| Three additional courses numbered 600 or above | 12 | |
| Capstone Requirement | ||
| ANTH 750 | 4 | |
| or ANTH 785 | The Anthropology of Dreams and Dreaming | |
| or ANTH 797 | Advanced Topics | |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
Additional Information
Students declaring the major in anthropology are expected to make steady progress toward fulfillment of major requirements. Typically, this means taking at least one ANTH course per semester until all of the requirements have been met. Very rarely, and only in specific circumstances such as a complex transfer of ANTH-related credits from another school, will an exception to this policy be made and only in student consultation with their advisor.
Candidates for any UNH degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program.
Discovery Program Requirements
Anthropology majors may use one major-required ANTH course to satisfy one Discovery category requirement. These only include: ANTH 411, ANTH 412, ANTH 415, ANTH 500, or ANTH 501.
Capstone Requirement
The Capstone Requirement for the anthropology major also fulfills the Discovery Capstone Requirement, and it must be fulfilled in a Seminar format in any one the following courses: ANTH 750, ANTH 785, or ANTH 797. Students may not substitute ANTH 700 or ANTH 795, ANTH 796 courses for their Capstone Requirement, although these can count as electives for the major.
Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement
Anthropology majors must also satisfy the UNH Bachelor of Arts Language requirement. Anthropology majors may take American Sign Language to satisfy the language requirement.
Interdisciplinary Dual Majors or Minors
Many anthropology majors choose to pursue interdisciplinary dual majors or minors at UNH that cross-list ANTH courses, including Justice Studies (JUST), Humanities (HUMA), Sustainability (SUST), International Affairs (IA), Global Studies (GS), and Forensics. Up to eight credits of ANTH courses (normally two courses) will be permitted to count toward both the anthropology major and the dual major program. Students must carefully plan ahead with their advisors in both majors. Up to one (1) course, internship, or experience not based in Anthropology may be counted as an elective for the Anthropology major, and only with the approval of the student's advisor and department chair.
Study Abroad
Students are also encouraged to explore study abroad options through the UNH Global Education Abroad office. Anthropology majors may acquire up to eight credits (normally two courses) toward their major requirements while studying abroad. Additional courses can be accepted for general credits at UNH. Majors must complete ANTH 513 or ANTH 514, ANTH 611, and their 700-level Senior Seminar on-campus. These cannot be completed on study abroad.
Internships
Internships (ANTH 700, 1-4 credits) and independent study courses (ANTH 795 / ANTH 796, 1-4 credits) are supervised primarily by a faculty member and are developed mutually between a student and faculty. Students should have previously taken at least one course with them, and unless faculty have a grant or an external funding partner, internships for credit that are primarily directly by faculty are not paid. To support their research and supplies related to internships or independent studies, students should seek out opportunities from the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research. Students are encouraged to meet with UNH Career and Professional Success (CaPS) to explore paid, pre-professional internships with organizations outside of UNH, such as local businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. Additionally, students should contact a faculty member to discuss the possibility of receiving academic credit or secondary supervision for their internship.
Honors-in-Major
An Honors-in-Major option is available and separate from the UNH Hamel Honors & Scholars College options. Honors-in-Major requires completion of ANTH 699H Honors Senior Thesis, as well as undertaking any two 600- or 700-level ANTH courses designated as Honors by instructor approval. Students complete ANTH 699H Honors Senior Thesis across two semesters for eight credits total. Students may also choose to pursue their research and complete a two semester, eight credit non-Honors senior thesis (ANTH 699 Senior Thesis). Exceptions to the eight credit-rule only pertain to a UNH Hamel College-related Honors Senior Thesis (also ANTH 699H Honors Senior Thesis) which is supervised by Anthropology faculty and may be taken by any UNH student but only taken once for four credits. Only four credits of any thesis will count as an ANTH 600-level major elective requirement toward the BA degree. Please consult with both your Anthropology advisor and the UNH Hamel Honors & Scholars College directors.
The Department of Anthropology offers students the option of completing a senior thesis. The senior thesis is not a task to be undertaken lightly. Generally, the thesis option is for those students who in the course of their undergraduate careers have developed a deep and sustained interest in a particular topic of anthropological interest. A thesis topic may be developed independently by the student or it may be linked to the on-going research project of a faculty member. It is assumed that a student undertaking a thesis already possesses a level of competence and independence well beyond that required for the completion of established courses. Of special importance is a student's ability to independently conduct library research in order to establish what has previously been written regarding their topic. It is also assumed that the student has given careful thought to choosing a thesis advisor based on knowledge of the areas of expertise and interest possessed by members of the faculty in the Department of Anthropology. Senior Thesis Planning should begin in the Junior Year.
