Declaring Anthropology As Your Major

The procedure for declaring your major as anthropology is a simple one. No specific course work is required for admission to the department. You will be required to complete certain courses (listed below) and maintain a minimum GPA in order to graduate with a degree in anthropology.

To declare your major you need to bring a copy of your records and a signed change of major form to the Anthropology Advising Office in Denny Hall rooms 245/247. If you are declaring a major for the first time, your records will be located in the Undergraduate Gateway Center, 171 Mary Gates Hall. If you have already declared a major, your current major will have your record.

If you are adding anthropology as a second major, request a copy of your records from your first major and obtain a change of major form signed by them. Bring the copy of your record and the change of major form to the Anthropology Advising Office.

Anthropology Major Requirements (55 credits)

Core Courses:

• BIO A 201: Principles of Biocultural Anthropology (5 credits)
• ANTH: Any 200 level ANTH course (5 credits)
• ARCHY 205: Principles of Archaeology (5 credits)
• One of the following: SOC 220, STAT 220, STAT 311, Q SCI 381. Occasionally other basic statistic courses may be accepted upon petition to the department.

Additional Requirements for the Major:

• 35 additional credits in anthropology (ANTH, BIO A, ARCHY) of which 20 credits must be at the 300 or 400 level. Certain AIS courses (AIS 201, 202, 203, 240, 311, 312, 316, 317, 330, 335, 340, AIS 443) may apply toward this requirement.
• At least 25 credits in the major must be completed with a minimum grade of 3.0.
• Students may count one 100-level ANTH, ARCHY, or BIO A course towards the major but are not required to do so.
• Courses with a grade of 1.9 or less do not count towards the major.
• Transfer students must complete a minimum of 15 upper division credits in anthropology at the UW.
• A maximum of 12 credits (18 credits for honors students) of any combination of ANTH 499, ARCHY 499, or BIO A 499 (undergraduate research) can be counted towards the major and the degree.

Petitions:

In unusual circumstances it may be necessary for you to petition for waiver of certain departmental or university rules and requirements. Petitions are available in the Anthropology Advising Office in Denny Hall rooms 245/247.

Graduation:

Three quarters prior to the quarter in which you plan to graduate, come to the Anthropology Advising Office in Denny Hall rooms 245/247 to apply for graduation. It is very important that you come in to apply early so that you will have plenty of time to complete any outstanding requirements.

Declaring a Minor

Students wishing to declare anthropology as a minor must also fill out a change of major form and have earned 90 credits before applying.

Minor Requirements (30 credits)

A minor in anthropology requires 30 credits from courses with the following prefixes: ANTH, ARCHY, BIO A. Certain AIS courses may apply toward this requirement (as listed above). See the departmental advisor for a list. At least 15 credits must be upper division. Only courses in which a minimum grade of 2.0 is received may be counted toward the 30 credits required for the minor. ANTH 100 can be applied but is not required.

Considering graduate or professional school?

Anthropology majors who intend to continue to the graduate level in anthropology or a related social science should plan their course-work carefully. It is strongly recommended that such students include as many of the upper-division and theoretically oriented courses as possible, as well as courses in research methods, data analysis, and appropriate courses outside the department. Study of a foreign language is essential. Qualified students should consider entering the Anthropology Honors Program.