Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology
Curriculum
Program Requirements
Required Courses
Majors must take the following five courses (16 credits):
- APG 200 Language and Culture: A cross-cultural survey of the interaction between cultural patterns and language (A2, C3)
- APG 201 Human Origins and Evolution: The biocultural evolution of humans (A1, C3)
- APG 202 Introduction to Archaeology: Archaeological perspectives on the major developments in humanity’s past (A2, C2)
- APG 203 Cultural Anthropology: An introduction to the study of culture illustrated by examples from around the world (A2)
- APG 427 Senior Seminar: Unity of Anthropology: Capstone course for anthropology program, with emphasis on all four subfields (D1, 4-credits)
In addition, majors must take an additional 15 credits of their choice. Note that students who started prior to Fall 2024 must complete at least one course designated as “theory” and at least one designated as “methods.” Majors may specialize by choosing all or many of their electives from within one of our tracks. Course offerings taught each academic year vary and, as a result, students might take electives from multiple tracks to complete their major. Note that many of these courses also count towards a Minor in Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx Studies (LAX) and/or Minor in Social Justice and Civic Responsibilities (SJCR).
Archaeology Track
- APG 303 Archaeology of the Americas (LAX)
- APG 304 Coastal Archaeology
- APG 325G An American Dilemma: Who Owns Native America?
- APG/HIS 392G The URI Campus: A Walk through Time
- APG/HIS 396 Archaeology Field School
- APG 411 Paleoanthropology (Methods)
- APG 417 Archaeological Method & Theory (Methods or Theory, but not both)
- APG/ART 465 Seminar in Cultural Heritage
- APG/HIS 490 Underwater Historical Archaeology
Biocultural Evolution & Global Health Track
- APG/BIO 282G Sapiens: The Changing Nature of Human Evolution (A1, C2, G)
- APG 310 (Topics) Human Evolution in the USA
- APG 310 (Topics) Teaching Human Evolution
- APG 345 Introduction to Medical Anthropology (online)
- APG 399 Sex and Reproduction in our Species (Theory)
- APG 411 Paleoanthropology (Methods)
- APG 412 Primatology (Methods, A2, 6 credits)
- APG/SOC/GWS 475 Global Reproduction and Health
Coastal Anthropology, Ecology and Environment Track
- APG/BIO 282G Sapiens: The Changing Nature of Human Evolution (A1, C2, G)
- APG 304 Coastal Archaeology
- APG/GWS/SOC 308 Sustainable Agriculture and Food Cultures (SJCR)
- APG 319 Cultural Behavior and Environment
- APG 370 Decolonial Ecologies
- APG 412 Primatology (Methods)
- APG/MAF 413 Peoples of the Sea
- APG/MAF 471 Critical Island Studies
- APG/MAF 472 Critical Studies of Tourism and Ecotourism
Indigenous Studies Track
- APG 303 Archaeology of the Americas (LAX)
- APG 325G An American Dilemma: Who Owns Native America?
- APG 311 Native North Americans
- APG 316 U.S. Latinas/Latinos/Latinxs: Anthropological Approaches (LAX, SJCR)
- APG/SOC 329 Contemporary Mexican Society (LAX, SJCR)
- APG 370 Decolonial Ecologies
- APG/SOC 415 Migration in the Americas (LAX, SJCR)
Language, Culture & Social Analysis Track
- APG 302 Methods of Anthropological Inquiry (Methods)
- APG 325G An American Dilemma: Who Owns Native America?
- APG 320 Sociolinguistics (Methods)
- APG 328 Gender and Culture (SJCR)
- APG 401 Anthropological Theory & Practice (Theory)
- APG 414 Culture and Cognition (Methods)
The following courses count as electives and may be used with any Track:
- APG 470 Directed Research in Anthropology (may be repeated for a total of 6 credits)
- APG 477 Internship
It is strongly recommended that anthropology majors take at least one course in inferential statistics (e.g., STA 308 or 409), complete a foreign language through the intermediate level, and gain computer proficiency. Early in the junior year, majors who plan to go to graduate school should meet with their advisor for curricular counseling.