Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology

Explore the ways in which people understand and adapt to living in a variety of settings across time with the Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology in the College of Liberal Arts at Temple University. The Anthropology Major focuses on the study of human diversity and cultural relativism, helping you cultivate an appreciation for the world and its people.  

The ways in which culture is created and recorded—through art, communication, literature and music—have greatly evolved over time. By uncovering and analyzing historical artifacts, you’ll develop a deep understanding of global cultures and societies, and in turn better understand specific aspects of your own society. As a result, you’ll be well prepared for careers that require cultural sensitivity and an understanding of cultural differences. 

The 123-credit multidisciplinary Anthropology BA curriculum emphasizes two themes designed to integrate courses in archaeology, biological anthropology, sociocultural anthropology and linguistic anthropology. By taking courses related to one of the two themes—Mobility and Global Inequity or Evolution and Human Environments—students develop their research, analytical and writing skills. They also form key skill sets necessary for success in their postgraduate life and an understanding of the following concepts.

  • How humans relate to the natural world.
  • How humans construct and manipulate their cultural environment.
  • How class, gender, geographical location, race and sexuality influence access to power.
  • How theory relates to the collection and interpretation of data.
  • Human cultural and biological differences and how they relate to human interactions.

Minor in Anthropology

The Anthropology Minor is designed for any undergraduate student at Temple who wants to learn about general anthropology, but cannot commit to a full academic major. Students in the Anthropology Minor gain a well-rounded education and form writing and research skills, as well as a capacity to speak about human communities and social change in complex and informed ways, that help them stand out in the job market. 

Contact

Charles Weitz is the program contact for for this minor.
Emailweitz@temple.edu

Professor instructing a class at Temple University.

Classes & Curriculum

Students begin their coursework in the Anthropology Major by taking an introductory course in each of our two themes: Evolution and Human Environments and Mobility and Global Inequality. Students also must take a methods course. There are four methods courses to choose from, one in each of the following subfields.

  • Fieldwork and Ethnographic Methods
  • Methods in the Study of Environmental Archaeology
  • Methods in the Study of Evolution
  • Research Methods in Culture and Communication

Graduating seniors take a capstone course (either Evolution and Human Environments Capstone or Mobility and Global Inequality Capstone) that seeks to integrate all information, theories and methods that they have learned in their previous classes.

In addition to these four required courses, students can use the remaining seven elective courses to explore all fields of anthropology—or to specialize in a particular area of interest. Our faculty are available to help students navigate course choices, and our majors are encouraged to seek faculty advice to make sure they take the best mix of courses to suit their interests and goals for the future.

Learn more about the Anthropology Major required courses

Related Graduate Degrees

Related Graduate Certificates

*College of Science and Technology
**School of Theater, Film and Media Arts
*** Klein College of Media and Communication 

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, the Bachelor of Arts offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

These tuition costs apply to the 2023–2024 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $17,976.00 per year
Out-of-state: $32,376.00 per year

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