Anthropology Major

Required Units

Total number of units required for major, excluding any required intensive(s): 10

Required Intensive units, if any: 1

Total units required: 11

Total Number of Specific Courses Required

Distributional Content Area Units Required

Courses are required as described below. Coursework in three subfields of anthropology must be completed by the end of the junior year.

1. Subfield Requirement: 2 units

One course in each of two subfields outside of cultural anthropology, taken at the 100 or 200-level. This includes biological anthropology (mainly _20 course numbers), archaeological anthropology (mainly _30 numbers), and linguistic anthropology (mainly _50 numbers).

2. Intermediate Requirement: 2 units

Two additional 200-level ANTH courses (in addition to 201), at least one cultural locality is strongly recommended. Any regional ANTH course counts towards this, regardless of subfield.

3. Seminar Requirement: 1 unit

One additional 300-level ANTH course (in addition to ANTH 301 ) is required.

Intensives

One unit of ANTH intensives. Includes independent studies, CELs, senior projects, or senior theses.

Electives

Two additional units of ANTH – no restrictions.

NRO

One introductory course taken NRO may count towards the major if a letter grade is received. If a student receives a PA for an introductory course taken under the NRO option, that student must complete 12 courses for an Anthropology major. No other required courses for the major may be taken NRO.

Additional Information

Courses in two different regions or cultures are highly encouraged.
Only one unit from outside the Vassar Anthropology Department (including study abroad) can count toward the major’s requirements. Outside courses can be applied after approval by petition to the department faculty, explaining how the course developed or added to the student’s anthropological knowledge.
100-level Anthropology courses are not open to senior Anthropology majors.