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Columbia Campus    
2016-2017 Undergraduate Studies Bulletin (Archived Copy) 
    
 
  Mar 28, 2024
 
2016-2017 Undergraduate Studies Bulletin (Archived Copy) [Archived Catalog]

Anthropology, B.A.


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Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the four sub-fields of anthropology, and central themes in the sub-fields. These themes include: 1) the biological and cultural changes that occurred in human prehistory and history  2) cultural diversity worldwide and throughout time  3) relationships between aspects of human life, such as biology, cultural beliefs, material culture, and language  and 4) the dynamics at work in different components of cultural systems (e.g. kinship). 
  • Students will communicate in written form about anthropological themes and topics in a variety of different and appropriate writing styles including research papers, projects, reaction papers, and essay exams. In their writing, students will analyze human situations from an anthropological perspective, and will recognize and evaluate different theories and methods in anthropology. 
  • Students will demonstrate general techniques of anthropological research and recognize the importance of the principles of anthropological ethics in conducting research. This research will include basic library and internet research, and in some cases, will include data collection and analysis through “hands on” training.

Basic Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degrees (120 Hours)


Note: Bachelor of Arts degrees require 120 hours. Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees require additional hours; see Program of Study  for major requirements.

  1. Carolina Core Plus General Education Requirements
  2. Major
  3. Cognate or Minor Requirements (optional for BAIS majors)
  4. Electives

1. Carolina Core Plus General Education Requirements


Note: Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees follow General Education Requirements for the BA except where specified in Programs of Study for major requirements.

CMW: Carolina Core Effective, Engaged and Persuasive Communication: Writing (6 Hours)


  • Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

ARP: Carolina Core Analytical Reasoning and Problem-Solving (6-8 Hours)


SCI: Carolina Core Scientific Literacy (8 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

  • Two 4-credit hour laboratory science courses.

GFL: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Communicate Effectively in More than One Language (0-9 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

  • Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required for all baccalaureate degrees. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course.

It is strongly recommended that students continuing the study of a foreign language begin college-level study of that language in their first semester and continue in that language until their particular foreign language requirement is completed.

GHS: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (6 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

  • One Carolina Core GHS-approved course primarily focused on U.S. History: HIST 111, 112, 214, or another GHS-approved course determined by the College of Arts and Sciences to fit this geographic category and
  • One Carolina Core GHS-approved course primarily focused on non-U.S. History: HIST 101, 102, 104, 105, 106, 108, 109, GERM 280, FILM 300, or another GHS-approved course determined by the College of Arts and Sciences to fit this geographic category.

GSS: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (6 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

AIU: Carolina Core Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 Hours)


Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements:

  • Up to two of these requirements may be met in overlay courses. At least one of these requirements must be satisfied by a course not applied elsewhere in general education. (3-9 Hours)

CMS: Carolina Core Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Speech (3 Hours)


INF: Carolina Core Information Literacy (0-3 Hours)


VSR: Carolina Core Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility (3 Hours)


Other Required General Education Courses from the College of Arts and Sciences


Fine Arts and Humanities Requirements (9 Hours)


  • Bachelor of Arts degrees require 3 Hours in the fine arts. (May be taken as Carolina Core Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding.)
  • Bachelor of Arts degrees require an additional 9 Hours in the fine arts or humanities.

2. Anthropology Major (27-33 Hours)


A minimum grade of C is required in all major courses.

Major Prerequisites (6 Hours)


The following courses fulfill some of the general education requirements and must be completed for a major in anthropology:

Major Requirements


General Major (27 Hours)


  • Select 1 course from Biological Anthropology 
  • Select 1 course from Archeology 
  • Select 1 course from Linguistic Anthropology 
  • Select 1 course from Sociocultural Anthropology
  • Select 1 course from the ANTH 500-level
  • Select an additional 12 hours from ANTH

B.A. with Distinction (33 Hours)


Departmental Undergraduate Research Track/Intensive Major is available to students majoring in Anthropology who wish to participate in significant research activities in collaboration with, or under the supervision of, a faculty mentor.

  • Select 1 course from Biological Anthropology
  • Select 1 course from Archeology
  • Select 1 course from Linguistic Anthropology
  • Select 1 course from Sociocultural Anthropology
  • Select 2 courses from the ANTH 500-level
  • Select 1 Fieldschool, Laboratory, Practicum, Qualitative Methodology or Quantitative Methodology course
  • ANTH 201 - Anthropological Inquiry in Undergraduate Research or an additional 500-level course
  • Select an additional 6 hours from ANTH
  • ANTH 498 - Senior Thesis

Additional Requirements


  • A minimum major GPA of 3.50
  • A minimum cumulative GPA  of 3.30
  • Public presentation of the Senior Thesis in a venue approved by the faculty mentor, such as:
    • Annual meeting of the Southern Anthropological Society (or another annual meeting of the appropriate professional organization)
    • A regular or special session of the Department of Anthropology Colloquium Series
    • USC Discovery Day
    • Submission to a professional journal
  • A written sponsorship agreement from the faculty mentor to be placed on file in the Department of Anthropology office

3. Cognate or Minor Requirements (12-18 Hours) for B.A. Degrees


Cognate


The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve  (12) hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of but related to the major. The cognate may be taken in one or more departments or programs, depending on the interests of the student and the judgment of the advisor.

Courses offered by departments and programs that are acceptable for cognate credit are outlined in the section titled Courses Acceptable for Cognate Credit in Degree Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences .

For cognate course offerings in other colleges, consult the appropriate sections of this bulletin. Some major programs have specific cognate requirements.

It should be emphasized that the cognate is not a second set of elective courses to be chosen at random by the student. The cognate must be approved by the major advisor as being related to the major field of study. Students are urged to consult their major advisors for specific requirements in their major.

Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the cognate.

For Bachelor of Arts degrees, all cognate courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

Minor


In place of the cognate a student in the College of Arts and Sciences may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. (Some minors in the sciences require a minimum of 16 hours.) The subject area of the minor may be related to the major. Students pursuing interdisciplinary minors who wish to use courses in their major department for minor credit must petition the College Committee on Scholastic Standards and Petitions for permission to do so.

The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. It differs from the cognate inasmuch as the courses must be concentrated in one area and must follow a structured sequence. Interdisciplinary minors can be designed with the approval of the assistant dean for academic affairs and advising.

Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University.

A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z .

4. Electives for B.A. Degrees and B.F.A.


No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the College of Arts and Sciences.

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