Interdisciplinary Studies - Anthropology, B.A.

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Interdisciplinary Studies recognize that academic disciplines do not exist in a vacuum, that to fully understand a subject one must move beyond the silos of the individual disciplines and integrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are to be found in related, complementary academic subjects. Thus the student will study at least two different subjects in the Interdisciplinary program, looking for connections between them.

About the Concentration

The guiding purpose of UMF’s program in Anthropology is to facilitate learning environments that are dynamic, intellectually stimulating, and attentive to the educational and professional goals of students. In choosing our program, students join a group of peers and faculty who, together, are engaged in the satisfying and challenging study of the social, cultural, and biological diversity of humans across the globe and through time, with an emphasis on examining structures of power and inequality, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior.

There are a wide range of courses offered in our program, spanning topics such as globalization, gender and development, health and healing, food and culture, human origins, archaeology, society and climate change, and performance studies, among many others. A further advantage, both intellectually and practically, is that our program emphasizes the close connections that we have with other disciplines and is at the forefront of UMF’s commitment to project-driven, experiential learning.

Our program is meant to be a springboard for an engaged life after college. We aim to promote active citizenship by providing opportunities for students to engage in fieldwork and research experiences locally, regionally and abroad, depending on one’s interest. The knowledge and experience gained through our program prepares students for further academic study in Anthropology, or related disciplines, and for pursuing careers in social services, public health, government/public policy, education, archeology and cultural resource management, cultural interpretation, social justice advocacy, urban planning, non-profit organizing, community/ international development, and museum curation, among many other possibilities.

Total Major Requirements 36 Credits

Students are required to complete at least 36 credit hours for a major in Anthropology. We highly recommend that students become proficient in a language other than English, particularly if they are going to pursue an advanced degree in Anthropology.

REQUIRED Courses 15 Credits

ANT 101 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Credits: 3
ANT 103 - Human Origins Credits: 3
ANT 340 - Anthropological Theory Credits: 3
ANT 360 - Social Science Research Methods Credits: 3
ANT 480 - Senior Seminar/Capstone in Anthropology Credits: 3

ELECTIVES 21 Credits

Choice of electives in Anthropology Credits: 12

Choice of electives outside of Anthropology at 200 level or higher Credits: 9

Other Requirements

General Education Requirements

For specific information about general education requirements and expectations, see the General Education Requirements in the Academic Programs section of this catalog.

Graduation Requirements

Completion of at least 120 credits and all requirements for this specific program, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000.

Minimum Total Credits for The Degree: 120

Learning Goals and Assessment

Learning Goals:

Successful students will want to demonstrate their:

Solid knowledge base of the field of anthropology and how it interfaces with other disciplines;
Understanding of, and practical experience with, concepts and modes of inquiry essential to examining and explaining human behavior;
Knowledge of cultural practices (both those of one’s own and others’) and their respect for human diversity;
Ability to apply socio-cultural concepts and analyses across a range of contexts and to engage as active citizens locally, regionally, and globally;
Meaningful engagement with their educational experience by conceptualizing and carrying out a purposeful, coherent course of study consistent with their educational and professional goals;
Awareness of ethical concerns in socio-cultural research and engagement;
Capacity to develop and effectively express ideas and arguments across a spectrum of communicative styles and genres.

Assessment Criteria:

Student accomplishment in our program will be evaluated according to one’s ability to:

Integrate socio-cultural concepts and analyses into class discussions, exercises, and various assignments;
Identify, understand, and critique academic scholarship;
Design and implement an original research project that explores meanings that guide human behavior; and
Write and give oral presentations more clearly and effectively than when one entered the program.