Archaeology Spotlight
Students can choose to focus their studies on archaeology. We provide many opportunities inside and outside the classroom for student to engage in archaeology.
Underwater Archaeology Spotlight
We offer several opportunities to study underwater archaeology.
The Anthropology Major
Anthropology, the broadest of the social science disciplines, is the study of human culture and social experience through space and time—from early hominid ancestors to postindustrial societies. The major consists of a four-field approach: cultural anthropology and the study of historic and contemporary societies (ethnography, ethnology, and ethnohistory), archaeology and the study of material culture (prehistoric, historic, and underwater archaeology), biological anthropology (biology, human evolution, and forensics), and linguistic anthropology (language and culture). Course offerings address topical areas that include applied anthropology, Chesapeake archaeology, ecological and economic anthropology, kinship and social organization, food, media, myth, ritual, and symbolism.Many courses address issues of gender, ethnicity, and globalization.
Affiliations with Historic St. Mary's City and nearby Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum/ Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory provide adjunct faculty and generate rich opportunities for majors to engage in internships, independent studies, St. Mary's Projects, hands-on professional research, and laboratory and field work. Several study tour and exchange programs offer exciting possibilities for study and research abroad, including the Gambia program sponsored by anthropology faculty.
A degree in anthropology prepares students for graduate work in the social sciences and professions, and provides an excellent liberal arts foundation for a wide range of career options— working in educational institutions, museums, business, private industry, or government.
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Degree Requirements for Major
1. General College Requirements (see “Curriculum” section), including the following requirements to satisfy the major:
2. Forty semester-hours of coursework carrying anthropology credit and distributed as follows:
Required Core Courses (8 semester hours):- ANTH 101: Introduction to Anthropology
- ANTH 201: Anthropology Toolkit
Three courses chosen from the following to incorporate three subfield anthropology courses (12 semester hours):
- ANTH 230 Sociocultural Anthropology
- ANTH 243 Biological Anthropology
- ANTH 250 Language and Culture
- ANTH 281 Archaeology and Prehistory
- ANTH 349: Anthropological Theory
- ANTH 385: Anthropological Research Methods
- Three elective courses in anthropology at the 300- or 400-level (12 semesterhours)
3. In their senior year, majors may elect to complete a St. Mary's Project (8 semesterhours, ANTH 493/494), or complete the Anthropology Senior Tutorial(ANTH 490) and one additional course in anthropology at the 300- or 400-level (4 semester-hours).
4. The 48 semester-hours of major requirements may include field experience and independent study as approved by the department chair.
5. All courses presented for the major must have a grade of at least C-.
To earn a minor in anthropology a student must satisfy the following requirements:
1. Completion of Core Curriculum requirements.
2. At least 24 semester-hours in anthropology:
Required Courses (8 credits)- ANTH 101 Introduction to Anthropology
- ANTH 201 Anthropology Toolkit
- ANTH 230 Cultural Anthropology
- ANTH 243 Biological Anthropology
- ANTH 250 Language and Culture
- ANTH 281 Archaeology and Prehistory
Two 4-credit anthropology courses at the 300 or 400 level.
3. All courses presented for the minor must have a grade of at least a C-
