Guide to Undergraduate Programs

The Major

The Department of Anthropology is one of the largest in New England with 20 full-time faculty members, about 150 undergraduate majors, and 65 graduate students. Four subfields of anthropology – archaeological, biological, cultural, and linguistic – are represented in the faculty and in their research and course offerings. The department offers more than 50 courses for undergraduates, comprising a full complement for each of the subdisciplines.

Majors have a flexible set of requirements, reflecting the broad scope of the field. Students develop depth and breadth, and select specific concentrations of study to suit their individual interests, aspirations, and departmental requirements: Medical Anthropology and Global Health, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, Evolutionary Anthropology, and Cultural Anthropology. Students may also work with the Undergraduate Program Director or Chief Undergraduate Advisor to declare an Individually Designed Focus. The advising system encourages students to consult frequently with their faculty advisors about their course selections and their educational and career goals. Undergraduate majors are organized as the Anthropology Club, and sponsor social and educational events during the year.

The department has large research and study collections in archaeology and biological anthropology, video recording equipment, an extensive collection of anthropological films, and several laboratories for biological anthropology, archaeology, and engaged ethnographic research. Field work opportunities are provided by the annual departmental Field Schools in Archaeology, by the intermeittent field schools in cultural anthropology, and through student participation in other ongoing research through coursework, independent studies, and research assistant opportunities. Extensive opportunities exist for internships, study abroad, and community service learning.

Access to the major in anthropology is not restricted, but students must meet with the Undergraduate Program Director or the Chief Undergraduate Advisor to be admitted to the major. Details of the major and minor requirements are spelled out on the Anthropology Department website. The Guide also provides information about the departmental Honors track, individual faculty interests, careers in the field, and special programs. The department publishes a regular online newsletter for majors, and updates a blog AnthroCentral and social media with news of meetings, lectures, and research and career opportunities.

The following requirements apply to students entering the University of Massachusetts Amherst in fall of 2018 or later. For requirements for earlier entry years see archived Guies to Undergraduate Programs. The Anthropology major requires a minimum of 42 credits in anthropology. This includes a minimum of two foundation courses, four core concentation courses, a resarch methods sequence, 364 Problems in Anthropology (Junior Year Writing), an Integrated Experience course, and a 9-credit International/Intercultural Requirement. For full details, see the Anthropology Department website.