Anthropology is a social science that seeks to understand and explain human cultural, behavioral, and biological variation through time and space. This gives anthropology a wide reach and has resulted in the formation of three subdisciplines: cultural anthropology, archaeology, and biological anthropology. Cultural anthropology concentrates on modern human culture and behavior. Archaeology examines cultural and behavioral variation over time through the material culture of past people. Biological anthropology studies the biological evidence for human evolution, encompassing everything from the study of modern non-human primates to the earliest stages of mammalian fossil evolution. The objective of the Anthropology major is to train the student in all three subdisciplines while allowing the student to concentrate in a specific subdiscipline.
Students with a degree in anthropology take several postgraduate paths. Some continue their anthropology training in graduate schools, many at the finest graduate schools in the country. Others pursue, for example, medical school or conservation studies.
The undergraduate program introduces the student to the general field of anthropology, its branches, its theories and methods, and its relation to the other social sciences, the humanities, and the natural sciences. The curriculum emphasizes the fields of cultural anthropology, archaeology, and biological anthropology. Students often have the opportunity to pursue coursework in any of the three fields in different cultural settings. Interested students should contact the director of under-graduate studies for details.
Requirements for the Major in Anthropology (ANT)
The major in Anthropology leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. The Anthropology program offers four specializations that allow students to tailor their advanced coursework to specific intellectual interests, training objectives, and career goals. Completion of the major entails 21 credits of foundational courses, plus completion of one of the four specializations. At least 18 credits must be in upper-division courses (300 level or higher). ANP/ANT 475, 476, and 488 DO NOT count toward the major requirements. All major courses (including transfer credits) must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher.
A. Foundational coursework required for all Anthropology majors, regardless of specialization
I. Introductory courses:
Students must take an introductory course in all three subfields offered in the major.
II. Subfield courses:
III. One 400-level seminar chosen from ANP 401, ANP 403, ANP 404, ANP 405, ANP 406, ANP 407, ANP 410, ANT 401, ANT 402, ANT 405, ANT 410, ANT 415, ANT 417, ANT 418, ANT 419, EBH 401, EBH 404, or EBH 405.
IV. Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Students should consult with the department advisor to ensure that their plan for completing the Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent with university graduation requirements for General Education. Students completing the Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) must complete a course that satisfies the "Write Effectively within One's Discipline" (WRTD) learning objective to graduate. The Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent in most cases with the SBC learning outcomes for WRTD. To complete the Writing Requirement in Anthropology, students must register for the 0-credit ANT 459, and submit one or more papers completed during a 300-level or higher “Writing Intensive” ANP/ANT/EBH course (selected from the subfield courses listed below or ANT 410) with an evaluation of S (Satisfactory). Detailed information on criteria and procedures for fulfilling the Writing Requirement in Anthropology is available from the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
B. Specializations of advanced study
Students must complete one of the four following specializations. Learning goals, advanced requirements (in addition to the baseline requirements listed above), and credit totals are listed for each specialization.
Specialization in contemporary approaches to anthropology
Learning goals: Anthropology is a discipline that embraces a holistic approach to examining the question “What makes us human?” This specialization offers students flexibility to take courses in a variety of anthropological subfields, exploring this question from morphological, behavioral, archaeological, and cultural standpoints. Students gain knowledge and methodological skills from courses covering both scientific and humanistic approaches to anthropology.
Advanced coursework requirements: Five elective courses (15 credits) at the 200-level or higher in Anthropology or Human Evolutionary Biology. Any 200+ course on the subfield lists may qualify, as well as ANP 202, ANP 401, ANT 215, ANT 410, ANP/ANT 447 (max 3 credits each), and ANP/ANT 487 (max 3 credits each). The Director of Undergraduate Studies may approve substitution of one course with anthropologically-relevant content from another department.
Credit total: 21 baseline coursework credits + 15 advanced specialization credits = 36 credits
Specialization in interdisciplinary anthropology
Learning goals: Anthropological research often bears on, or is shaped by, findings in sister disciplines, and successful application of anthropological knowledge in public service and private enterprise careers may depend on expertise in disciplines outside of anthropology. The Interdisciplinary specialization offers students the opportunity to partner their anthropology coursework with complementary learning in a minor field of study.
Advanced coursework requirements: Five elective courses (15 credits) at the 200-level or higher in Anthropology or Human Evolutionary Biology. Any 200+ course on the subfield lists may qualify, as well as ANP 202, ANP 401, ANT 215, ANT 410, ANP/ANT 447 (max 3 credits each), and ANP/ANT 487 (max 3 credits each). The Director of Undergraduate Studies may approve substitution of one course with anthropologically-relevant content from another department.
Students must also complete a minor in a related field approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. On declaring the Interdisciplinary specialization, the student must also declare their minor field of study.
Credit total: 21 baseline coursework credits + 15 advanced specialization credits = 36 credits, plus the credit requirements of related minor
Specialization in anthropological field methods
Learning goals: Fieldwork is a core element of many anthropological research endeavors. Although study abroad field schools are available to any student majoring in Anthropology regardless of their chosen specialization, the Field Methods specialization gives special emphasis to field-based programs so students may gain recognition for this advanced skill set.
Advanced coursework requirements: Seven elective courses (21 credits) at the 200-level or higher in Anthropology or Human Evolutionary Biology. Any 200+ course on the subfield lists may qualify, as well as ANP 202, ANP 401, ANT 215, ANT 410, ANP/ANT 447 (max 3 credits each), and ANP/ANT 487 (max 3 credits each). The Director of Undergraduate Studies may approve substitution of one course with anthropologically-relevant content from another department.
At least three of these courses (9 credits) must come from field training coursework that takes place off campus (i.e. at the Turkana Basin Institute, the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments, or another field-based education program approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies).
Credit total: 21 baseline coursework credits + 21 advanced specialization credits = 42 credits
Specialization in anthropological research and analysis
Learning goals: Preparing for an academic career in anthropology entails hands-on experience in laboratory methods and advanced training in critical thinking and research design. The Research & Analysis specialization pushes students to transition from “consumers” to “producers” of anthropological knowledge by giving heavy emphasis to seminars, lab courses, and independent research projects.
Advanced coursework requirements: Students may apply for this specialization once they have attained U3 standing. To qualify, they must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 in Anthropology. They must complete five 3-credit elective courses at the 200-level or higher in Anthropology or Human Evolutionary Biology. Any 200+ course on the subfield lists may qualify, as well as ANP 202, ANP 401, ANT 215, ANT 410, ANP/ANT 447 (max 3 credits), and ANP/ANT 487 (max 3 credits). The Director of Undergraduate Studies may approve substitution of one course with anthropologically-relevant content from another department.
In addition, students must complete 9 more credits in seminars, lab courses, and/or independent research. Eligible courses include ANP 387, ANP 399, ANP 401, ANP 403, ANP 404, ANP 405, ANP 406, ANP 407, ANP 410, ANP 487 (3 credits max), ANP 495, ANP 496, ANT 387, ANT 399, ANT 401, ANT 402, ANT 405, ANT 410, ANT 415, ANT 417, ANT 418, ANT 419, , ANT 487 (3 credits max), ANT 495, ANT 496, EBH 401, EBH 404, or EBH 405.
Credit total: 21 baseline coursework credits + 24 advanced specialization credits = 45 credits
Subfields of Study
The following courses qualify for the Biological Anthropology subfield:
The following courses qualify for the Archaeology subfield:
The following courses qualify for the Cultural Anthropology subfield:
Honors Program in Anthropology
The honors program is designed for students preparing to enter a graduate program in anthropology. It is open to Anthropology majors in their junior or beginning senior year who have an excellent academic record (3.00 g.p.a. overall) and a g.p.a. of 3.50 or higher in anthropology courses. The program entails writing a thesis of 20 pages or more. Qualified students are eligible to enroll in the Anthropology honors program at, but preferably before, the beginning of their senior year.
The student, after asking a faculty member to be a sponsor, must submit a proposal indicating the topic and procedure of the planned research to the Departmental honors committee through the director of undergraduate studies. The supervising faculty member must also submit a statement supporting the student's proposal and indicating the merit of the planned research. This must ordinarily be done in the semester prior to the beginning of the student's senior year.
Students register for ANT 495 or ANP 495 in the first semester of their senior year and conduct research for the project. They register for ANT 496 or ANP 496 during the second semester of their senior year. These two courses must be taken in addition to the total credits required for the major unless the student is completing the specialization in anthropological research and analysis, in which case ANP/T 495/6 may count toward the advanced credits. Students must submit a draft of their thesis to their faculty sponsor by April 1 for May graduation or November 1 for December graduation. They must submit an honors thesis of 20 pages or more of fully referenced material to the director of undergraduate studies no later than Monday of the final week of classes (excluding final examination week). Each thesis is read by three faculty members, two of whom must be members of the Department of Anthropology. If the paper is judged to be of sufficient merit and the student's record warrants such a determination, the department recommends honors. The program consists of:
Requirements for the Minor in Anthropology (ANT)
The minor in Anthropology is designed for students majoring in other fields who wish to take anthropology courses relevant to their interests. The student must choose two introductory courses, two subfield, and three elective courses.
At least nine credits must be in upper-division courses. All courses offered for the minor must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher. No transfer credits with a grade lower than C may be applied to the minor requirements. ANP/ANT 475, 476, and 488 DO NOT count toward the minor requirements. No more than one directed readings (ANP/ANT 447) or research course (ANP/ANT 487) may be used (maximum of 3 credits).
Completion of the ANT minor requires 21 credits. Students majoring in Human Evolutionary Biology (EBH) may have a maximum of nine credits of overlap between EBH major coursework and ANT minor coursework; thus, completion of the Anthropology minor requires an additional 12 credits of coursework beyond the EBH major.
Two additional courses must be chosen from two different subfields. (See “Subfields of Study” above for lists for Biological Anthropology, Archaeology, and Cultural Anthropology courses.)
Elective courses (at the 200-level or higher) may be drawn from any of the 200+ subfield courses listed above, plus ANP 202, ANP 401, ANT 215, ANT 410, ANP/ANT 447 (max 3 credits each), and ANP/ANT 487 (max 3 credits each).
| FRESHMAN |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| First Year Seminar 101 | 1 |
| WRT 101 | 3 |
| ANT 102 | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| First Year Seminar 102 | 1 |
| WRT 102 | 3 |
| ANP 120 | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| SOPHOMORE |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| Subfield course 1 | 3 |
| Subfield course 2 | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| ANT 104 | 3 |
| Subfield course 3 | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| JUNIOR |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| ANT 417 | 3 |
| ANP 201 | 3 |
| ANT 371 | 3 |
| Upper-division elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| ANT 357 | 3 |
| ANP 300 | 4 |
| ANT 381 | 3 |
| Upper-division elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| SENIOR |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| Upper-division elective | 3 |
| Upper-division elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC
|
3 |
| Total | 15 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| Upper-division elective | 3 |
| Upper-division elective | 3 |
| Upper-division elective | 3 |
| Upper-division elective | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
Major and Minor in Anthropology
Department of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences
Chair: Andreas Koenig
Director of Undergraduate Studies: Catherine Markham
Email: AnthropologyDUS@stonybrook.edu
Assistant to the Chair: Megan Alberti
Email: Megan.Alberti@stonybrook.edu
Office: S-501 Social and Behavioral Sciences
Phone: (631) 632-7620
Website: http://www.stonybrook.edu/anthro
Minors of particular interest to students majoring in Anthropology: China Studies (CNS), History (HIS), Japanese Studies (JNH), Judaic Studies (JDS), Korean Studies (KOR)