Mar 03, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Anthropology (B.A.)

Program: B.A.
Department of Anthropology and Sociology
College of Liberal Arts

Kettler Hall G11 ~ 260-481-6272

Courses in anthropology provide an understanding of the nature of cultures and help you assess various explanations of human behavior. They also assist in the development of analytical and critical abilities. The curriculum is structured to include studies in the history and theory of anthropology in four anthropological fields: ethnology, archaeology, bioanthropology, and linguistics; in at least two different world ethnographic areas; and in topical specializations. This program helps you prepare for graduate study, for teaching, and for careers in which the understanding of cultures is an asset.

Although pursuing a double-major, minor, or semester abroad are not required to earn the Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, these additional programs are all available at Purdue Fort Wayne, and are strongly recommended.

The Anthropology Program feels that a semester spent studying abroad can be an extraordinary addition to your education at PFW for several reasons, including cultural exposure, new academic opportunities, personal growth, resume enhancement, and memorable life experiences. Fluency in a foreign language is not required for most programs and the cost of many programs is comparable to the cost of attending PFW. We recommend speaking with the Director of the Study Abroad Office and the Department Chair at least one year prior to the semester in which you wish to study abroad in order to identify program availability and choose courses that will apply toward major requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this degree, students will:

Achieve familiarity with different cultures in at least two regions of the world
Know the major anthropological approaches to understanding the human condition
Be able to explain societies in a holistic manner
Achieve competency in writing
Demonstrate critical thinking
Acquire quantitative skills for analysis
Demonstrate a willingness to engage learning and scholarship as a life-long endeavor

Program Delivery:

This program is available on-campus.

Declaring this Major:

Declare this major within the Department of Anthropology and Sociology

General Requirements:

College Scorecard

The U.S. Department of Education has created a scorecard for each university and its programs. The scorecard shows data for the university such as graduation rate, average annual cost, and median earnings. Then, when certain minimum standards have been met, data are available for a specific program. That data could include median earnings, median total debt, and number of graduates. The link below will help you learn more:

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?151102-Purdue-University-Fort-Wayne&fos_code=4502&fos_credential=3

Program Requirements:

Anthropology (B.A.) 4-Year Plan

Anthropology (B.A.) 4-Year Plan with Semester Study Abroad

Anthropology (B.A.) 3-Year Plan

Anthropology (B.A.) 3-Year Plan (when ICC Certificate completed)

A grade of C- or higher in all department courses required for the major and an overall GPA of 2.00 or higher for all courses required in the major.
ENGL 20201 does not satisfy the writing requirement for the BA in Anthropology.
New courses approved and added to the Anthropology program curriculum in future Catalogs may satisfy the Group A, B, or C requirements in the Anthropology major core, as specified.
If pursuing a Study Abroad opportunity, contact the Director of the Study Abroad Program and the Department Chair at least one year prior to the semester in which you prefer to study in order to check program availability and choose courses that will apply toward major requirements.

Anthropology (B.A.) Articulation with Ivy Tech Community College, Requirements & 2-Yr Plan

Anthropology (B.A.) with Cultural Resource Management Certificate Articulation with Ivy Tech Community College, Requirements & 2-Yr Plan

To earn the B.A. with a major in Anthropology, you must fulfill the following requirements in addition to the General Requirements noted above:

General Education: Credits 30

Effective Fall 2025, the General Education program at PFW requires 30 credits to be completed, such that students pass each course listed below with a grade of C- or better:

Category A. Foundational Intellectual Skills (Foundational Intellectual Skills Course Lists)
- One course in A1. Written Communication Cr. 3.
- One course in A2. Speaking and Listening Cr. 3.
- One course in A3. Quantitative Reasoning Cr. 3.
Category B. Ways of Knowing (Ways of Knowing Course Lists)
- One course in B4. Scientific Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B5. Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B6. Humanistic Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B7. Artistic Ways or Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B8. Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
Six additional credits from any Foundational Skills (A1-A3) or Ways of Knowing (B4-B8) categories
At least one Ways of Knowing course that is designated as having a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or global awareness

Some programs recommend courses and/or require a specific course as part of the major that may also be used to fulfill General Education requirements. Please see below or your Academic Advisor for courses that fulfill both purposes. You can familiarize yourself with other program regulations at General Education Requirements .

College of Liberal Arts Course Requirements

Click on the PFW College of Liberal Arts link above for detailed information on college requirements.

Introduction to the Liberal Arts: Credits 3

IDIS 10605 - Introduction To The Liberal Arts Cr. 3.

Second Semester Writing, Research, and Methods Class: Credits 3

ENGL 23301 - Intermediate Expository Writing Cr. 3.
or choose one of the following equivalent courses:
HIST 21700 - Historical Methods Cr. 3.
ILCS 30000 - Methods Of Research And Criticism Cr. 3.
POL 20700 - Elements Of Political Analysis Cr. 3.
WOST 23000 - Writing For Social Change Cr. 3.

International Language: Credits 12

You must complete two courses at the first-year level and two courses at the second-year level in a single international language or demonstrate equivalent proficiency. Click on the PFW College of Liberal Arts link above for more details.

Thematic Requirements: Credits 15

Students will take one course in each of these five areas to ensure that they have an opportunity to deepen their traditional liberal arts education while also preparing for a culturally diverse, technologically advanced, and increasingly globalized and complex world:

Gender, Sexuality, Race, and/or Ethnicity: Credits 3
Conflict and Cooperation: Credits 3
Institutions and Behavior: Credits 3
Regional/Geographic Study: Credits 3
Digital Humanities/Public Humanities: Credits 3

List of Courses and Stipulations for the COLA Thematic Requirements

Core and Concentration (Major) Courses:

Required Courses: Credits 19

ANTH 10005 - Anthropology And Sociology Student Success Seminar Cr. 1.
ANTH 10501 - Culture And Society Cr. 3.
ANTH 20001 - Bioanthropology Cr. 3.
ANTH 20002 - Language And Culture Cr. 3.
ANTH 20003 - Introduction To Prehistoric Archaeology Cr. 3.
ANTH 44501 - History And Theory Of Anthropology Cr. 3.
Choose one course from the following list:
CRIM 30000 - Statistical Techniques Cr. 3.
POL 39500 - Quantitative Political Analysis Cr. 3.
PSY 20100 - Introduction To Statistics In Psychology Cr. 3.
SOC 35100 - Social Statistics Cr. 3.
STAT 30100 - Elementary Statistical Methods Cr. 3.
any STAT course level 24000 or higher Cr. 3.

NOTE: Contact your advisor to discuss pre-reqs for these courses that may also count in Gen Ed

Group A: Regional Ethnography Credits: 6

Choose two courses from the following list:

ANTH 35001 - European Ethnography Cr. 3.
ANTH 35600 - Polynesian Cultures Cr. 3.
ANTH 39800 - Peoples And Cultures Of Central Asia Cr. 3.
SOC 21001 - Modern Japanese Society Cr. 3.

Group B: Topics in Anthropology Credits: 6

Choose two courses from the following list:

ANTH 20402 - Ritual In Human Life Cr. 3.
ANTH 20700 - Introduction To Museum Studies Cr. 3.
ANTH 31300 - Archaeology Of North America Cr. 3.
ANTH 34500 - Internship In Anthropology Cr. 3.
ANTH 37500 - Cultural Psychiatry Cr. 3.
ANTH 37600 - Archaeology Of Death Cr. 3.
ANTH 38501 - Topics In Anthropology Cr. 3.
ANTH 40200 - Gender In Cross-Cultural Perspective Cr. 3.
ANTH 40600 - Visual Anthropology Cr. 3.
ANTH 41700 - State Of The World: Social Theory And Human Crisis In The Twenty-First Century Cr. 3.
ANTH 42100 - Moche Archaeology Seminar Cr. 3.
ANTH 43000 - Archaeology Of Violence And Conflict Cr. 3.
ANTH 44500 - Medical Anthropology Cr. 3.
ANTH 45500 - Anthropology Of Religion Cr. 3.
ANTH 45700 - Ethnic Identity Cr. 3.
ANTH 47000 - Psychological Anthropology Cr. 3.
ANTH 49500 - Individual Readings In Anthropology Cr. 1-4.
LING 46000 - Language In Society Cr. 3.

Group C: Research Methods & Field Study in Anthropology Credits 3

Choose one course from the following list:

ANTH 40002 - Archaeological Methods And Techniques Cr. 3.
ANTH 40500 - Ethnographic Methods Cr. 3.
ANTH 40501 - Fieldwork In Archaeology Cr. 1-8.
ANTH 40502 - Fieldwork In Bioanthropology Cr. 1-8.
ANTH 42600 - Human Osteology Cr. 3.
ANTH 49600 - Field Study In Anthropology Cr. 3-8.

Anthropology Elective: Credits 3

Choose one additional course from the Group A, B, or C lists above.

General Electives

Sufficient additional credits to bring the total to 120

Total Credits: 120 minimum

Student Responsibility

You are responsible for ensuring that you satisfy all graduation requirements specified for each selected program. Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career. If you cannot complete all program requirements by your stated graduation date but fail to remove those from your plan of study, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with your academic advisor will remove unmet pursuits from your plan of study. Changing curricular records during the graduation term of application may affect state or federal financial aid awards. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean.