Anthropology

What Is Anthropology ?

Anthropology is from the Greek anthropos (human) + logia (study). It is the science that studies human variation from its beginnings millions of years ago to the present day. To an anthropologist, diversity itself - seen in body shapes and sizes, blood types, different kinds of languages, customs, clothing, religion and ideas about the world - provides a frame of reference for understanding any single aspect of life.

Archaeologists study the things humans created, used, and left behind, to understand ancient societies and how they lived.

Biological anthropologists study our species and its close relatives, tracing their biological origins, development and genetic diversity to understand human evolutionary history.

Cultural anthropologists seek to describe how societies and their institutions are constituted to explain differences among them.

Success Factors

While each branch of anthropology carries its own special techniques and required skill sets, certain attributes common to all will help a student succeed:

• Open-mindedness and willingness to understand how other social and cultural systems work
• Intellectual curiosity about human similarities and differences
• Desire to find out how things actually are vs. how someone thinks they "should be"
• Analytic ability and, for some branches, some quantitative and statistical skills
• Verbal facility: ability to read carefully and write clearly and concisely
• Desire to cultivate a disciplined imagination

Career Possibilities

Graduates of the anthropology program receive broad training that enables them to pursue a wide range of exciting career options. This training includes courses in cultural and biological anthropology and archaeology, as well as numerous field and lab methods. Graduates may work in research, teaching, or administration, in industry, government, non-governmental organizations, and many other private and public institutions. Below are just a few examples of the range of jobs that anthropology graduates carry out:

• Museum Curator and Technician
• Community Outreach Manager
• Social Science Analyst
• Conservation Manager
• Forensic Technician
• Human Resource Managers
• Urban and Regional Planner
• Social Service Worker
• Lobbyist
• Community Organizer
• Legislative Aides
• Research Assistant
• Counselor
• Teacher

LOCAL JOBS

Numerous local organizations in the Cincinnati area hire anthropologists. Click here for a list of over 50 places where you could work or intern!

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about anthropology and its career options, you can browse the following websites:

American Anthropological Association

American Association of Museums

American Association of Physical Anthropologists

American Cultural Resources Association

American Society of Primatologists

Archaeological Institute of America

Central States Anthropological Society

Midwest Archaeological Conference

National Association for the Practice of Anthropology

National Association of Student Anthropologists

Paleoanthropology Society

Register of Professional Archaeologists

Society for American Archaeology

Society for Applied Anthropology

The Archaeology and CRM Professionals Resource

The Leakey Foundation

Additional career options are listed on the Career Development Center's Web site.

Major Details

Anthropology majors take 54 hours of anthropology courses distributed among cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, archaeology and linguistics. The first two years are usually spent developing a breadth of knowledge and skills, meeting UC McMicken College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) requirements and, of course, beginning the study of anthropology. The model schedule of minimum requirements is only a guide for planning and cannot be followed precisely by transfer, part-time, advanced placement or other students who depart from a four-year program.

McMicken College of Arts and Sciences offers flexible degree requirements that allow for and highly encourage students to pursue multiple areas of study. Free electives allow for enough credits for students to pursue a minor, certificate program or even complete a second major. Some of the most common pairings are listed below.

• Archaeology
• Biology
• Classics and Classical Civilization
• Environmental Studies
• Geography
• Geology
• Heritage Studies Certificate
• History
• Historic Preservation Certificate
• Latin American Studies
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Experiential Learning
Experiential learning is a large part of the anthropology undergraduate major. Students are strongly encouraged to conduct research and take unique courses such as this archaeology field course held at Shawnee Lookout. Watch the YouTube video.

Minor Details

Anthropology Minor Checklist

A minor in anthropology requires a minimum of 30 credit hours. Students must take at least two courses each in cultural anthropology, biological anthropology and archaeology. Students must also take at least two courses at the 300 level or above.

Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this major. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently enrolled at UC, you can audit your degree online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the course applicability system (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

Anthropology Major Checklist

College Requirements Checklist

This is a suggested plan to complete the program in four years. Students will take required courses at different times, depending upon their choice of options and the combination of the major with a minor or other program.

First Year	Course Number	Credits
*English Composition	ENGL 101, 102	3
*Elementary Probability & Statistics (recommended)	STAT 147, 148, 149 (QR)	9
*Foreign Language	see checklist	9-15
Cultural Anthropology	ANTH 101, 102, 103	9
Introduction to Archaeology	ANTH 107	3
*Humanities (HU)	see offerings	3
Free electives (recommended to count in a minor or other program)	see options	0-6
Total for first year		45

Second Year	Course Number	Credits
*Intermediate Composition	ENGL 289	3
Biological Anthropology (NS)	ANTH 104, 105, 106	9
World Prehistory	ANTH 108	3
*Foreign Language (if necessary)	see checklist	0-9
*Social Sciences (SS)	see offerings	3
*Historical Perspectives (HP)	see offerings	9
Free electives (recommended to count in a minor or other program)	see options	9-18
Total for second year		45

Third & Fourth Years	Course Number	Credits
Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology	ANTH 109	3
Courses in Anthropology at any level	see major checklist	18
Courses in Anthropology at 300 level or above	see major checklist	6
Anthropology Capstone (in senior year)	see major checklist	3
*Social Sciences (SS)	see offerings	6
*Literature (LT)	see offerings	3
*Humanities, Literature or Fine Arts (HU, LT or FA)	see offerings	3
*Social & Ethical Issues (if not already taken, SE)	see offerings	3
Free electives (recommended to count in a minor or other program)	see options	45
Total for third & fourth years		90
Total overall		Minimum 180

*Needed to fulfill A&S college requirements.

Special Opportunities

Students in McMicken College of Arts and Sciences enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-intensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, Tri-state location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

Special Programs

Majors get a solid grounding in all four branches of anthropology from an accessible faculty actively practicing, or "professing," their fields. There are opportunities to become involved in faculty research and fieldwork, and the program stresses training and practice in learning to think like an anthropologist - a skill highly transferable into fields that reward careful thinking and respect for data (law, medicine, investigation, etc.). The department is primarily an undergraduate department with good facilities, including a "hangout" area near the center.

A capstone activity or experience is required by the university general education program. Anthropology’s capstone activity is normally one of the regular courses that overlaps the four fields and may change from year to year. It is important to check with the department when planning the senior year.

Admission Requirements

Admission criteria for this program vary based on the relative strength of test scores, class rank and GPA. Please see the Freshman Class Profile for this major in the Quick Facts sidebar on this page for the range of academic credentials typically accepted into this program. Test scores in the lower range may be acceptable with higher class rank and/or GPA.

Freshmen applying to this program should also have completed the following state of Ohio articulation requirements with no more than two units missing:

• English (4 units)*
• College-preparatory mathematics (3 units)*
• Science (2 units)
• Social science (2 units)
• Foreign language (2 units)*
• Additional college-prep subjects (3 units) 

*A&S does not allow units missing from these areas.

Transfer Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was not in any of the UC colleges must apply through the Office of Admissions. Applicants in this category must submit transcripts for all secondary school and college-level work. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all college-level work is required for admission consideration. Admission to A&S is generally available for any off-campus applicants who have received an associate degree from an accredited college or university and whose cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher.

University transfer scholarships are available to those who meet specific requirements and ANY admitted A&S transfer student might qualify for an A&S transfer scholarship. Deadlines and eligibility criteria are online via the previous links.

Changing Major Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was as a degree student in one of UC’s other colleges can apply directly to the A&S college office. Admission to A&S is generally available for any on-campus students who have:

• at least a 2.0 GPA in all college-level courses (both at UC and at other institutions),
• successfully completed two quarters of English Composition or its equivalent, and
• gained credit for a college-level mathematics course.

A&S students must meet the college residency requirement of 45.0 hours which begins immediately upon matriculation in the college and consists of courses taught within McMicken College of Arts and Sciences.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate from McMicken College of Arts and Sciences, students must:

• Earn at least 180 credits. This can include transfer credit, AP credit, and free electives, but does not include preparatory coursework. Students who have met all other degree requirements must continue earning credit until the total number of their earned hours comes to at least 180.
• Attain a 2.0 grade point average for all courses taken at the University of Cincinnati.
• Be in good academic standing, that is, not on either academic probation or disciplinary probation or suspension.
• Complete the residency requirement by earning at least 45 credits after matriculating into the college. These minimum 45 credits must be taught within A&S (15), and also must be completed after gaining admission to the college.
• Complete all of the requirements of at least one major (see major requirements above).
• Complete the College Core Requirements.
• Submit an application for graduation to the registrar's office by their posted deadline.

Application Deadlines

UC operates on a quarter system, with 10-week grading periods beginning in late September, early January, late March and mid-June. While midyear admission is possible, fall quarter is generally the best time to enter the college, since many course sequences begin in that quarter. Applicants to McMicken College of Arts and Sciences who are enrolled or who were previously enrolled as degree-seeking students in A&S or in other UC colleges should apply for admission directly to A&S (in French West, 2nd Floor). All other applicants who wish to earn an undergraduate degree from A&S should apply through the Office of Admissions (3rd Floor, University Pavilion).