Anthropology Major

Students complete a 13-course program (12 courses in anthropology and 1 in formal studies) for a major in anthropology. At the 200 level, courses provide background in the four major subfields of anthropology. At the 300 level, students expand both the breadth and depth of their studies, examining the philosophical and historical roots of the discipline. A research class (ANTHRO 322-0 Introduction to Archaeology Research Design & Methods, ANTHRO 361-0 Talk as Social Action, ANTHRO 386-0 Methods in Human Biology Research, or ANTHRO 389-0 Ethnographic Methods and Analysis) provides an opportunity to learn research skills and gain valuable analytical, critical thinking, and writing skills. ANTHRO 370-0 Anthropology in Historical Perspective provides an overview of the history of the field. Six additional 300-level courses include concentration courses from a subfield and from across the department.

Students must also complete the Undergraduate Registration Requirement and the degree requirements of their home school.

NOTE: This Catalog describes Weinberg College BA requirements that pertain to students who matriculated at Northwestern after spring quarter 2023. Refer to the Archives if you are following BA requirements described in the 2018-2019 through 2022-2023 editions.

Course Title
Department Courses (12 units)
5 core courses:
Culture & Society
Human Origins
Archaeology: Unearthing History
The Study of Culture through Language
Anthropology in Historical Perspective
1 research course selected from the following:
Introduction to Archaeology Research Design & Methods
Talk as Social Action
Methods in Human Biology Research
Ethnographic Methods and Analysis
3 300-level courses selected from a subfield:
3 additional 300-level courses selected from any concentration or research course 1
Related Course (1 unit)
1 formal studies course 2,3,4
1

For the joint Anthropology/MMSS major, MMSS 300-0 double-counts as a 300-level anthropology course (for triple major limitations see MMSS Adjunct Major).

2

For the biological anthropology and human biology concentrations, the formal studies course must be fulfilled by STAT 202-0, STAT 210-0, PSYCH 201-0, ECON 281-0, SESP 210-0, or equivalent.

3

For the archaeology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology concentrations, statistics or another formal studies course can fulfill this requirement; a course designated for Distribution Area II and/or Foundational Discipline Empirical and Deductive Reasoning (FD-EDR).

4

For the joint Anthropology/MMSS major, MATH 385-0 counts as the formal methods related course requirement for anthropology.

Subfields

Archaeology

Course Title
ANTHRO 318-0Material Worlds of the Middle Ages
ANTHRO 319-0Material Life & Culture in Europe, 1500-1800
ANTHRO 321-0Archaeological Field Methods
ANTHRO 324-0Archaeological Survey Methods
ANTHRO 325-0Archaeological Methods Laboratory
ANTHRO 327-0Historical Archaeology
ANTHRO 328-0The Maya
ANTHRO 343-0Anthropology of Race
ANTHRO 383-0Environmental Anthropology
ANTHRO 390-0Topics In Anthropology
ANTHRO 398-0Senior Seminar

Biological Anthropology

Course Title
ANTHRO 306-0Evolution of Life Histories
ANTHRO 309-0Human Osteology
ANTHRO 312-0Human Population Biology
ANTHRO 313-0Evolutionary Medicine
ANTHRO 314-0Human Growth & Development
ANTHRO 316-0Forensic Anthropology
ANTHRO 317-0Human Evolution
ANTHRO 359-0The Human Microbiome and Health
ANTHRO 362-0Advanced Methods in Quantitative Analysis
ANTHRO 390-0Topics In Anthropology
ANTHRO 398-0Senior Seminar

Cultural Anthropology

Course Title
ANTHRO 307-0Anthropology of Peace
ANTHRO 315-0Medical Anthropology
ANTHRO 320-0Peoples of Africa
ANTHRO 330-0Peoples of the World
ANTHRO 332-0The Anthropology of Reproduction
ANTHRO 334-0The Anthropology of HIV/AIDS: Ethnographies
ANTHRO 339-0Material Culture
ANTHRO 340-0Visual Anthropology of Africa
ANTHRO 341-0Economic Anthropology
ANTHRO 350-0Anthropology of Religion
ANTHRO 351-0Hope and Futurity
ANTHRO 353-0Shady Business: Informal Economies in Contemporary Capitalism
ANTHRO 354-0Gender and Anthropology
ANTHRO 355-0Sexualities
ANTHRO 368-0Latina and Latino Ethnography
ANTHRO 369-0Contemporary Immigration to the U.S.
ANTHRO 373-0Power and Culture in American Cities
ANTHRO 377-0Psychological Anthropology
ANTHRO 378-0Law and Culture
ANTHRO 384-0Traveling While Muslim: Islam, Mobility, and Security after 9/11
ANTHRO 390-0Topics In Anthropology
ANTHRO 398-0Senior Seminar

Human Biology

See Concentration in Human Biology for requirements.

Linguistic Anthropology

Course Title
ANTHRO 360-0Language and Culture
ANTHRO 365-0Language, Race, & Ethnicity in the U.S.
ANTHRO 378-0Law and Culture
ANTHRO 390-0Topics In Anthropology
ANTHRO 398-0Senior Seminar

Concentration in Human Biology

The human biology concentration is a good option for students interested in pursuing careers in the health sciences or graduate work in the biological sciences. The concentration combines a core foundation in basic science with an integrative perspective on the human organism, drawing on both the biological and the social sciences. Coursework emphasizes the study of human biology and health from a comparative and evolutionary perspective.

In their first and second years students complete the introductory (200-level) anthropology requirements as well as foundational courses (which are also premedical school requirements). Junior- and senior-year coursework includes 300-level courses in biological anthropology/human biology and related courses from other departments.

Course Title
Department Courses (12 units)
5 core courses:
Culture & Society
Human Origins
Archaeology: Unearthing History
The Study of Culture through Language
Anthropology in Historical Perspective
1 research course:
Methods in Human Biology Research
3 concentration courses chosen from:
Evolution of Life Histories
Human Osteology
Human Population Biology
Evolutionary Medicine
Human Growth & Development
Forensic Anthropology
Human Evolution
The Human Microbiome and Health
Advanced Methods in Quantitative Analysis
Topics In Anthropology
Senior Seminar
3 additional 300-level courses selected from any concentration or research course
Related Courses 1
Molecular Biology
Cell Biology
Genetics and Evolution
Molecular and Cellular Processes Laboratory (0.34 units)
Genetics and Molecular Processes Laboratory (0.34 units)
Investigative Laboratory (0.34 units)
Principles of Biochemistry
Quantitative Problem Solving in Chemistry
and Fundamentals of Chemistry I
and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory I
and Fundamentals of Chemistry II
and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory II
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
and General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
Advanced General Inorganic Chemistry
and Advanced General Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
and Advanced General Physical Chemistry
and Advanced General Physical Chemistry Laboratory
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Lab I
and Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Lab II
Students completing the chemistry major organic sequence CHEM 212-1,2,3 (old numbers) CHEM 217-1, CHEM 217-2, and CHEM 217-3 (new numbers) with labs may use these courses instead of CHEM 215-1, 215-2 with labs.
Single-Variable Differential Calculus
and Single-Variable Integral Calculus
Single-Variable Calculus with Precalculus
and Single-Variable Calculus with Precalculus
and Single-Variable Calculus with Precalculus
College Physics
and College Physics
and College Physics
and General Physics Laboratory
and General Physics Laboratory
and General Physics Laboratory
General Physics
and General Physics
and General Physics
and General Physics Laboratory
and General Physics Laboratory
and General Physics Laboratory
Fundamentals of Physics
and Fundamentals of Physics
and Fundamentals of Physics
and General Physics Laboratory
and General Physics Laboratory
and General Physics Laboratory
1 course chosen from:
Introduction to Statistics and Data Science
Introduction to Probability and Statistics
Statistical Methods in Psychology
Introduction to Applied Econometrics
Econometrics
Introduction to Statistics and Research Methodology
or equivalent statistical methods course approved by the department
1

Units depend on chemistry and mathematics sequences taken. Most are also premedical school requirements.

Relevant Courses in the Bienen School of Music

Course Title
MUSICOL 323-0Topics in Ethnomusicology

Summer Field Schools

Archaeology Field School: Courses may include the following, some of which are also offered on the Evanston campus.

Course Title
ANTHRO 321-0Archaeological Field Methods
ANTHRO 322-0Introduction to Archaeology Research Design & Methods
ANTHRO 325-0Archaeological Methods Laboratory

For additional information, contact the Department of Anthropology.

Honors in Anthropology

Majors with strong academic records and an interest in pursuing original research in anthropology during their senior year are encouraged to submit an application to the honors coordinator by spring of junior year to write a senior honors thesis. The thesis requires completing ANTHRO 399-0 Independent Study in the fall quarter and ANTHRO 398-0 Senior Seminar in the winter quarter of senior year. ANTHRO 398-0 Senior Seminar (but not ANTHRO 399-0 Independent Study) may be counted toward the 300-level requirements for the major.

Students whose theses and grades meet department criteria are recommended to the college for graduation with honors. For additional information review the department website, consult the honors coordinator, and see Honors in the Major.