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Contact the Department of Anthropology

Email:
anthropology​@nau.edu
Call:
928-523-3180

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  • Undergrad Student Resources
awe lab artefact Current Research in Archaeology cultural medical anthro analysis lab Current Research in Sociocultural Anthropology


Anthropology, Bachelor of Arts

A degree in Anthropology provides opportunities to study and understand human social, cultural, biological, prehistoric, and language systems. The program features a holistic cross-cultural approach that includes research, fieldwork, and service. Students round out their studies with four terms of language (or via CLEP-demonstrated proficiency).

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Requirements Accordion Open

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the general studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's general studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

Overview Accordion Closed

In addition to University Requirements:

  • 51 units of major requirements.
  • 16 units of language requirements.
  • Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy General Studies Requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.
  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion120
Major GPAC
Highest Mathematics RequiredSTA 270
Foreign LanguageRequired
Fieldwork Experience/InternshipOptional
ResearchOptional
University Honors ProgramOptional
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-ARecommended
Progression Plan LinkView Progression Plan

Purpose Statement

Anthropology integrates scientific and humanistic approaches to the study of people and culture to inform our two goals:

  1. To support global citizenship through information, skills, and perspectives that build cross-cultural awareness and increase the ability to identify our own cultural assumptions, and
  2. To promote an engaged anthropology that addresses the contemporary challenges of our local and global communities.

The scope of the program encompasses past, present, and future perspectives on the human condition, within the subfields of socio-cultural, linguistic, and biological anthropology, and archaeology.

The content focuses on the range of human cultural and biological diversity through Anthropology's core concepts, theories, methods, and major debates. Skills developed include; critical thinking, research methods and analysis, effective writing, and constructive dialogue.

Student-focused learning experiences include innovative coursework, research opportunities, community engagement, laboratory and field training, and internships.

The program prepares students for a range of professional careers in government, private sector, - not-for-profit, and community-based organizations in addition to graduate and professional degree

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Use the anthropological perspective (non-ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, cross-cultural emphasis, diachronic approach, and holism). 
    • Define, summarize, and analyze Anthropology's core concepts, theories, methods, challenges, and major debates as they are articulated in archaeology, linguistic anthropology, biological anthropology, and sociocultural anthropology.
    • Describe how each of the four fields of Anthropology contributes to a greater understanding of the range of human cultural and biological diversity.
    • Compare various anthropological approaches common to each of the four sub fields within Anthropology.
    • Identify past and present ethical issues in Anthropology, summarize the ethical guidelines provided by the major professional Anthropological organizations, and apply these guidelines in their education and research.
    • Identify their own cultural assumptions and evaluate the ways in which these assumptions affect their beliefs, behaviors, and their own education.
    • Describe and discuss the complexities of contemporary global challenges, such as sustainability and ethnic diversity, and evaluate how focused research and action using the anthropological perspective are addressing these challenges.

Details Accordion Closed

Major Requirements
  • This major requires 67 units distributed as follows:

    • Anthropology Course Requirements: 51 units
    • Foreign Language Requirement: 16 units

    Take the following 67 units:
    The following coursework must be completed with a Grade of 'C' or better in each course.
  • Anthropology Course Requirements (51 units)

    • ANT 101, ANT 102, ANT 103, ANT 104, ANT 265, ANT 309, ANT 329, ANT 349W, ANT 359, ANT 379, ANT 407C (33 units)
    • Select from the following (3 units):
      • STA 270
      • SOC 365
    • Additional ANT coursework (15 units)* 
    • 100- to 200-level ANT courses (6 units) 
    • 300- to 400 level ANT courses (9 units)
    • *You may, with faculty advisor approval, take up to 6 units of ANT 299, ANT 399, ANT 408, ANT 485, ANT 497, or ANT 499 in addition to (or instead of) other ANT elective courses.

Foreign Language Requirement
  • You must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English that is equivalent to four terms of university coursework in the same language. You may satisfy this requirement by taking language courses or through credit by exam. (16 units)

General Electives
  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

    You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or General Studies Requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information
  • Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

Availability Accordion Closed

  • Flagstaff

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Jaime Jose Awe
Professor
Department of Anthropology
Part-Time Faculty
Center for International Education (CIE)
Jaime.Awe@nau.edu
+1 928 523-1434
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Chrissina C Burke
Teaching Professor
Department of Anthropology
Chrissina.Burke@nau.edu
+1 928 523-7245
Bilby Research Center , room 140
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Emily Dale
Assistant Professor
Department of Anthropology
Emily.Dale@nau.edu
+1 928 523-1272
Raul H. Castro Social and Behavioral Sciences , room 230
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Emery Rose Eaves
Chair, Anthropology; Associate Professor, Anthropology
Department of Anthropology
Emery.Eaves@nau.edu
+1 928 523-6281
Raul H. Castro Social and Behavioral Sciences , room 232
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Lisa Jane Hardy
Professor
Department of Anthropology
Part-Time Temp Employees
Institute for Human Development (IHD)
Lisa.Hardy@nau.edu
+1 928 523-0735
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Gavin Alexander Healey
Assistant Professor
Department of Anthropology
Gavin.A.Healey@nau.edu
+1 928 523-2686
Raul H. Castro Social and Behavioral Sciences , room 316
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Clinton Dean Humphrey
Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Anthropology
Clinton.Humphrey@nau.edu
+1 928 523-1477
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Corina M Kellner
Professor
Department of Anthropology
Corina.Kellner@nau.edu
+1 928 523-6574
Raul H. Castro Social and Behavioral Sciences , room 235
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Melissa Ann Liebert
Associate Professor
Department of Anthropology
Melissa.Liebert@nau.edu
+1 928 523-2994
Raul H. Castro Social and Behavioral Sciences , room 234
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Ora Marek-Martinez
Associate Vice President, Office of Native American Initiatives; Assistant Professor, Anthropology
Native American Initiatives
Ora.Marek-Martinez@nau.edu
+1 928 523-8532
Native American Cultural Center
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Sharon Kay Moses
Professor
Department of Anthropology
Sharon.Moses@nau.edu
+1 928 523-1249
Raul H. Castro Social and Behavioral Sciences , room 339
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Leah Miriam Mundell
Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Anthropology
Leah.Mundell@nau.edu
+1 928 523-1570
Social Behavioral Sciences (West) , room 280
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Michelle Anne Parsons
Associate Professor
Department of Anthropology
Michelle.Parsons@nau.edu
+1 928 523-7067
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Susan Gregg Smiley
Teaching Professor
Department of Anthropology
Susan.Smiley@nau.edu
+1 928 523-6496
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Kerry Frances Thompson
Associate Vice Provost, Curriculum and Assessment; Professor, Anthropology
Vice Provost for Academic and Workforce Alliances
Kerry.Thompson@nau.edu
+1 928 523-0712
Babbitt Administrative Center , room 101B
 
Department of Anthropology
Location
Room 228 Building 065
SBS - Raul H. Castro
5 E. McConnell Drive
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5200
Mailing Address
PO Box: 15200
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5200
Email
anthropology@nau.edu
Phone
928-523-3180
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