Anthropology is the scientific and humanistic study of human culture and biology in the past and present and anywhere in the world. WKU's Anthropology Program offers students a cohesive program of study to enrich their understanding of interactions between human culture and biology in contemporary societies and in the archaeological and evolutionary past, to develop their cross-cultural perspectives, and to prepare them for a variety of careers. Delivered by four full-time faculty members, the anthropology curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning in the classroom, in the laboratory, and in the field; extracurricular opportunities and events; and a broad, four-field approach including cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and archaeology. Through major and minor programs and courses designed for students of all disciplines, we encourage students to step outside their biocultural bubbles to explore the rich diversity of human experiences in their own communities and around the globe.

A major in anthropology (reference number 608) requires a minimum of 30 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. At least half of the total semester hours must be in upper-division (300- or 400- level) courses. Requirements of the major include five core courses, three courses in a concentration, and two electives. Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all core courses of the anthropology major. Students must complete a second major or a minor.

Core Courses: All students complete the five-course (15-hour) core curriculum consisting of ANTH 120, 125, 130, 135, and 399. Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all core courses of the anthropology major.

Concentrations: Each student completes at least one of four three-course (nine-hour) concentrations in Cultural Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Archaeology, and/or Cultural Resource Management, each concentration having its own required courses.

Electives: Students choosing to complete only one concentration must complete six hours of elective courses, to be selected from anthropology offerings in consultation with the anthropology advisor.

Cultural Anthropology

Cultural anthropology is the study of present-day human cultures anywhere in the world. Cultural anthropologists use participant observation, interviewing, photography, videography, questionnaires, archival research, and other methods to document, describe, and explain human culture, including technology, subsistence, settlement, exchange, ethnicity, kinship, social organization, cosmology, religion, art, health care, and culture contact.

Biological Anthropology

Biological anthropology is the study of humans as biological organisms on the molecular, individual, population, and species levels. Biological anthropologists study a variety of topics, including non-human primates, human origins and evolution, modern human biological variation, demography, health and disease, growth and development, diet and nutrition, and forensic anthropology.

Archaeology

Archaeology is the study of past human cultures anywhere in the world based on their material remains. Historic archaeologists are interested in past cultures with written documents, while prehistorians study past cultures lacking written documents.

Cultural Resource Management

Cultural resource management (CRM) involves the identification, assessment, documentation, management, preservation, and interpretation of cultural resources important to our human heritage. Cultural resources include archaeological sites, shipwrecks, cemeteries and burial grounds, standing structures, historic districts, historic landscapes, traditional crafts, traditional cultural practices, and museum collections.