As an anthropology major at Michigan State University, you can choose to pursue either a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree. Both programs provide a strong liberal arts education with exposure to all subfields of anthropology while permitting you sufficient freedom to pursue secondary areas of study.
For either degree, you complete the standard University requirements and College of Social Science requirements in addition to a minimum of 30 credits in Anthropology Coursework. You begin by taking three introductory-level classes, one introduction to cultural anthropology, one introduction to archaeology, and one introduction to physical anthropology, and one methods course (chosen from ANP 429, ANP 441, ANP 463, or ANP 464). In addition, you must also take one culture-area course and one thematic or analytical course. Four additional courses are electives, but three of them must be at the 300-level or above. To complete the major, you must take the anthropology capstone course, which also satisfies the University’s Tier II writing requirement.
In addition to required coursework, the undergraduate anthropology major allows you approximately 30 credits of elective coursework. You can use these credits to pursue supplemental programs, such as an additional major in another department, a minor a second language, a thematic area, or a specialization.
View the list of courses on the MSU Office of the Registrar's website.
The anthropology major can prepare you for a wide variety of occupations. Our graduates have found jobs in government, in health care delivery, with museums, with non-governmental organizations, and with industry as social analysts, translators, journalists, teachers, and community and resource use planners, both in the United States and abroad. In addition, the major serves as excellent preparation for advanced professional study in areas such as law or business, as well as in anthropology.
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