Anthropology, B.A. Program (120 units)
Program Description
Anthropology is the multifaceted study of humanity from an evolutionary, historical, and global perspective. Students in anthropology learn about their own culture as well as those of other peoples as they are shaped by biological evolution, ecological constraints, political history, and sociological conditioning. The Department of Anthropology, Geography, and Environmental Studies offers ethnographic, theoretical and methodological courses in five sub-disciplines: biological anthropology, prehistory and archaeology, linguistic anthropology, sociocultural anthropology, and applied anthropology. Regional courses on major populations of the world, especially the heritage cultures of North and South America, and Asia, form an important component of the curriculum. The B.A. degree program bridges the sciences, social sciences, and humanities, preparing students for multidimensional careers. Fundamentally, the study of anthropology cultivates an appreciation of what all humans share, as well as how humans differ across time and space.
At the undergraduate level, students in the B.A. degree program may choose to focus on special interests in two combined sub-disciplines:
- Archaeology and Biological Anthropology emphasize the study of human biology, variation, evolution, and the reconstruction of past ways of life and cultural systems from material remains.
- Socio-Cultural and Applied Anthropology emphasize the study of social and cultural systems of more recent historical and contemporary populations, and the application of anthropological insights into present-day problems.
Other combinations are possible upon consultation with, and approval by, the faculty.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a B.A. in Anthropology from Cal State East Bay will be able to:
- identify, summarize and sequence the basic schools of anthropological thought in all four academic sub-fields of the discipline;
- apply basic qualitative and quantitative sociocultural (ethnographic), archaeological, or osteological research methods and skills;
- describe, compare and relate human cultures across different regions of the globe;
- examine human diversity holistically and scientifically, discriminating among and analyzing conceptions and misconceptions of ethnicity, “race,” and human biological variation;
- identify pragmatic uses of anthropological methods and perspectives in approaching real-world solutions, and identify instances of and opportunities for applications of anthropological tools and ideas in employment and community development, both locally and globally; and
- communicate information clearly in written and oral forms.
Career Opportunities
Anthropologist • Archaeologist • Artifacts Conservator • Curator • Ethnologist • Foreign Service Officer • Immigration Service Official • International Aid Agencies Official • International Business Employee • Multicultural Education Instructor • Park Ranger • Park Service Official • *Professor/Teacher • Refugee Worker • Researcher • Social Science Teacher* • Social Worker • Travel Consultant • Urban Planner.
Note: *Teaching may require additional training beyond the B.A.
Features
The Department administers the Clarence E. Smith Museum of Anthropology, located on the fourth floor of Meiklejohn Hall. The museum houses a sizable collection of archaeological artifacts recovered in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, as well as ethnographic specimens from cultural groups throughout the world. The museum is an instructional facility for museum curating, research, design, and exhibits. Museum exhibits and special events are open to the public free of charge. For information, call (510) 885-3104.
Degree Requirements Unit-Outline
- A baccalaureate of arts degree requires a total of 120 units:
- The major requirements consists of 42 units;
- General Education (GE) & Graduation Requirements (GR) consists of 57 units;
- Free Electives may consists of 21 units (actual number of free elective units may depend on GE/GR units).
Note: It may be possible to double-count units within the graduation requirements or that a course may satisfy both a graduation requirement and a major requirement. Students should contact their program and AACE advisors for information.
