Anthropology is the comparative study of humanity, focusing on people in all places and throughout history and prehistory. Courses engage students in the analysis of beliefs, values, and practices from a perspective that understands societies on their own terms. This perspective includes comparing the similarities and differences among different groups and appreciating and valuing different ways of living. Students study other cultures in order to learn more about their own. This curriculum affords students the opportunity to see the interaction between “what we know” and “what we do” that lies at the heart of the study of humanity.
Our curriculum combines the best parts of a critical, creative, liberal arts education with practical, professional preparation. The major courses direct the student toward the subfields of archaeology, biological anthropology cultural anthropology, and linguistics, with a focus on applied research in these sub-fields. As part of the major, students engage in several research projects, including those that expose them to the application of anthropological knowledge for non-academic audiences, and to archaeological field methods. Out-of-class research projects in the City of Chicago are integral components of several courses. Students graduate with an extensive knowledge of how anthropology is actually done. We bring students farther into this practical side of the discipline than any other BA program in the country.
Academic careers are attractive to some graduates, but well more than half of all professional anthropologists work outside of academic institutions. Some of these careers include research for public and private organizations; UX; administration and/or public policy on the local, regional, federal, or international level; research and work in museums; intercultural communication; advertising, marketing, and public relations; human resources; public health; health care; and law. Anthropologists also frequently work at non-governmental and international organizations. Within the context of administration or public policy, anthropologists are engaged in cultural resource management (CRM), monitoring the preservation of cultural resources for national parks, museums, and state or municipal cultural institutions (i.e., parks and historical societies). Anthropology enhances other career paths, such as modern languages, international studies, international relations, cultural studies, and international business. Students will have attained transferable skills through real world experience during their education that will prepare them for direct entry into many fields of employment.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Liberal Studies Requirements | 80 |
| Major Requirements | 54 |
| Open Electives | 58 |
| Total hours required | 192 |
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Explain core concepts of anthropology, such as cultural relativism, the value of global and deep-time perspectives, and the necessity of collaboration with local and descendant communities.
- Incorporate qualitative and quantitative methods in addressing specific anthropological research questions.
- Use anthropological perspectives to analyze contemporary global issues.
- Apply skills and knowledge learned in classes to community-based projects.
College Core Requirements
Study in the Major Field
The student’s course of study in the College consists of three parts: Liberal Studies, the major field, and electives. Together these three parts contribute to the liberal education of the student which is the common purpose of all study in the College. By “liberal education” the College understands not only a deep and thorough knowledge of a particular area of study but a knowledge of the diverse areas of study represented by criticism, history, the arts, the behavioral and social sciences, philosophy, religious studies, the natural science, and mathematics.
The major field program generally is built upon a set of core courses and a specialized “concentration.” The number of courses required for a major varies by department. Most students go beyond the minimum requirements, electing additional courses which both broaden and deepen their understanding of their chosen discipline.
Because no academic major program is built in isolation, students are required to pursue a number of electives of the student’s choice. The inherent flexibility of this curriculum demands that the student consult an academic advisor at each stage in the total program and at least once prior to each registration.
Students will be prompted to visit the College Office for their official graduation check early in their senior year.
Declaration of Major, Minor and Concentration
All students in the College are required to declare a major field prior to beginning their junior year. The student will then be assigned a faculty advisor in the major field department or program and should make an appointment to see that advisor at his or her earliest convenience.
Students must declare or change majors, minors, and concentrations, via Campus Connection. However, for the purpose of exploring the possibility of changing a major field, the student should consult an academic advisor in the Office for Academic Advising Support.
The Modern Language Requirement (MLR)
All students will be required to demonstrate competence in a modern language (i.e., a language other than English) equivalent to the proficiency attained from one year of college-level language study. This Modern Language Requirement (MLR) may be demonstrated by:
- placing into 104 or above on the DePaul language placement exam
- completing the last course or earning AP/IB credit for the last course in the first-year college sequence of any language (e.g. 103 for DePaul language classes)
- completing a college course or earning AP/IB credit for a college course beyond the first-year level in any language (e.g. 104 or above for DePaul language classes)
- completing the final course of a four-year sequence of the same modern language in high school*
- completing a proctored exam by BYU and passing the exam (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)
- completing a proctored Written Proficiency Test (WPT) by Language Testing International (LTI) and achieving a score of Beginner High or above (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)
*Students are strongly encouraged to take the DePaul language placement exam even if they have met the MLR via study of a language in high school. This will ensure continuation of language study at the proper level.
Please note: Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Requirement.
Students who complete an Inter-College Transfer (ICT) to the College will abide by the MLR in place on the effective date of the ICT, regardless of when they first matriculated at DePaul.
Students who have met the MLR and wish to pursue further work in the language may elect the “Modern Language Option” (see below).
Language for Liberal Studies Option
The Language for Liberal Studies Option is available to all BA students who wish to study a modern language beyond the level required by their College, and to all other undergraduate students without a modern language requirement who wish to study a language at any level.
Students selecting the Language for Liberal Studies Option may substitute a sequence of three courses in the same language for three domain courses.
The three Language for Liberal Studies Option substitutions must be made in three different domains, and any substitutions must be consistent with the principle that students complete at least one course in each learning domain.
Language for Liberal Studies Option substitutions may not be used to replace requirements in the Math & Computing, and Scientific Inquiry, domains.
Students majoring in one modern language may use the Language for Liberal Studies Option for study of a second language at the Intermediate level or above.
Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Language for Liberal Studies Option.
NOTE: Please contact your college/school regarding additional information and restrictions about the Language for Liberal Studies Option.
External Credit and Residency
A student who has been admitted to the College begins residency within the college as of the first day of classes of the term in which the student is registered. Students in residence, whether attending on a full-time or part-time basis, may not take courses away from DePaul University without the written permission of the college. Permission must be obtained in advance of registration to avoid loss of credit or residency in the college; see the LAS website for more information.
Liberal Studies Requirements
Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.
| First Year Program | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Quarter | ||
| LSP 110 or LSP 111 | DISCOVER CHICAGO or EXPLORE CHICAGO | 4 |
| Focal Point | ||
| LSP 112 | FOCAL POINT SEMINAR | 4 |
| Writing | ||
| WRD 103 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 | 4 |
| WRD 104 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 | 4 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| MAT 120 | QUANTITATIVE REASONING | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Race, Power, and Resistance | ||
| LSP 200 | SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE | 4 |
| Junior Year | ||
| Experiential Learning | ||
| Required 4 | 4 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Capstone | ||
| ANT 396 | SENIOR CAPSTONE SEMINAR 1,3 | 4 |
- 1
Students must earn a C- or better in this course.
- 2
Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. Students who complete MAT 120 and both a Computational Reasoning course and a Statistical Reasoning course in the Math and Computing Learning Domain take one less Learning Domain course. Students may not apply the course reduction to any Domain where only one course is required, and cannot be applied to the Scientific Inquiry Learning Domain. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam or it may be fulfilled by credit for advanced math coursework earned in-residence at DePaul (MAT 135, MAT 136, MAT 147, MAT 148, MAT 149, MAT 150, MAT 151, MAT 152 MAT 155, MAT 156, or equivalent) or earned externally either as transfer credit from another college/university or as test credit through AP, CLEP, IB, or International A and A/S Level exams. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfill any of the three QR/MCD requirements.
- 3
A student majoring in Anthropology (ANT) is required to complete the Capstone offered by the ANT Department. This is the case even if a student is double majoring (or pursuing a dual degree) and the secondary major (or degree) requires its own Capstone. An ANT major in the University Honors Program shall take the University Honors Capstone and the ANT Capstone.
- 4
Students majoring in Anthropology (ANT) are required to complete the Experiential Learning LSP requirement with ANT 322: Community-Based Applied Practice (6 credit hours). They must take an additional course (4 credit hours) in a Liberal Studies Learning Domain of their choice.
Learning Domains
Arts and Literature (AL)
- 3 Courses Required
Historical Inquiry (HI)
- 2 Courses Required
Math and Computing (MC)
- 2 Courses Required
[1 CR Course, and 1 SR Course]
Philosophical Inquiry (PI)
- 2 Courses Required
Religious Dimensions (RD)
- 2 Courses Required
Scientific Inquiry (SI)
- 2 Courses Required
[1 Lab Course, and 1 SWK Course]
Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)
- 1 Course Required
Notes
Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a general elective or the Experiential Learning requirement.
In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.
Major Requirements
Course Requirements
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | 16 | |
| FOUR FIELD ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
| ANTHROPOLOGICAL ETHICS | ||
| ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY | ||
| SENIOR CAPSTONE SEMINAR | ||
| Important Notes: Special Topics Courses (ANT 290, ANT 291, ANT 292, ANT 293, ANT 294, ANT 390) may be taken multiple times as long as the topic is different each time. Special topics courses may be used to fulfill different area requirements based on the content and instructor. Special Topics with an "A" suffix count for Archaeology "B" for Biological Anthropology, and "C" for Cultural Anthropology. Those with no specific designation may count for any area requirement. Independent learning opportunities (ANT 380, ANT 397, and ANT 399) may also be applied to any of these area requirements as determined by the supervising instructor, and approved by the Department Chair. | ||
| Archaeology (Choose 1) | 4 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY | ||
| SCIENCE OF ARCHAEOLOGY | ||
| SCIENCE AND PSEUDOSCIENCE IN ARCHAEOLOGY | ||
| WORLD PREHISTORY | ||
| MATERIAL CULTURE OF MODERN AMERICA | ||
| MATERIAL CULTURE AND DOMESTIC LIFE | ||
| MUSEUMS AND MATERIAL CULTURE | ||
| ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK | ||
| ARCHEOLOGY OF CITIES | ||
| ANTHROPOLOGY AND MUSEUMS | ||
| MUSEUM EDUCATION | ||
| HERITAGE DISPLAYS AND MUSEUMS | ||
| ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS | ||
| Biological Anthropology (Choose 1) | 4 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
| HUMAN EVOLUTION | ||
| FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
| HUMAN VARIATION | ||
| GLOBAL HISTORY OF HEALTH | ||
| Cultural Anthropology (Choose 1) | 4 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
| ANTHROPOLOGY THROUGH FILM | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
| THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF BUSINESS | ||
| ANTHROPOLOGY OF FOOD AND FOODWAYS | ||
| ANT 114 ANTHROPOLOGY OF GENDER | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
| ANTHROPOLOGY OF GENDER | ||
| LANGUAGE, POWER AND IDENTITY | ||
| ANTHROPOLOGY OF FOOD MOVEMENTS AND PRACTICES | ||
| Methods (Choose 1) | 4 | |
| ETHNOGRAPHIC METHODS AND PRACTICE | ||
| ARCHAEOLOGICAL METHODS AND PRACTICE | ||
| CULTURAL ANALYSIS | ||
| Applied Experiential Learning Course | 6 | |
| COMMUNITY-BASED APPLIED PRACTICE | ||
| Major Electives | 16 | |
Select any four 200-300 level ANT electives | ||
| Total Hours | 54 | |
Experiential Learning and Capstone
Majors in anthropology are expected to fulfill their Experiential Learning (EL) and Capstone requirements with ANT 322 and ANT 396 respectively. Both of these courses are recognized by the Liberal Studies Council as fulfilling these requirements. Students may take other Experiential Learning and Capstone courses, but are still required to take these two courses (or designated alternatives) to fulfill the major with the permission of the Department Chair. When students take ANT 322 to fulfill the EL requirement they must take an additional course in a Liberal Studies Learning Domain of their choice.
Open Electives
Open elective credit also is required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.