Requirements for Major

  1. Required of all: A minimum of nine semester courses in anthropology, to include ANTH 1a, ANTH 5a and ANTH 83a (or ANTH 1a, 83a, 186b and LING 100a for students on the linguistic anthropology track).
  2. Honors candidates are required to take ANTH 99a (Fall) and 99b (Spring). One semester course credit from this yearlong, two-semester course may be counted toward the above nine courses.
  3. A student may petition to have a course taken in another department replace one anthropology course requirement, provided that course is clearly related to the student's program. An approved internship in anthropology, completed for credit, may be counted as fulfilling one course requirement for the major in place of a course taken in another department.
  4. A minimum of five of the nine courses required for the major must be taken from Brandeis anthropology faculty.
  5. No course with a final grade below C-minus can count toward fulfilling the requirements for the major in anthropology.

Linguistic Anthropology Track

The following alternative track is recommended to anthropology majors with a special interest in linguistics. The purpose of this program is to introduce major issues and ideas in the study of language, sociocultural systems and relations among language, society and culture. Students interested in linguistic anthropology should arrange their programs in consultation with the Undergraduate Chair.

Major requirements for students who choose this track are as follows:

  • ANTH 1a and ANTH 83a
  • ANTH 186b and LING 100a
  • A minimum of one other linguistics course from the LING listing (selection to be approved by the student’s faculty adviser in anthropology)
  • A minimum of four other anthropology courses chosen from those listed in the departmental offerings
  • Candidates for a degree with honors must enroll in ANTH 99a and 99b during the senior year

Archaeology Track

Basic course requirements for the archaeological track are the same as those described under Requirements for the Major, and include ANTH 1a, ANTH 5a and ANTH 83a.

Of the remaining courses required for the anthropology major, it is recommended (but not necessary) that students following the archaeology track include as many as possible of the following in their program:

  • ANTH 60a
  • ANTH 60b
  • ANTH 110a
  • ANTH 116a
  • ANTH 123a
  • ANTH 136a
  • ANTH 141b
  • ANTH 147b
  • ANTH 149a
  • ANTH 153a
  • ANTH 187a
  • ANTH 188b

Candidates for a degree with honors must enroll in ANTH 99a and 99b during the senior year.