Bachelor of Science Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Anthropology

General requirements across catalog years 23/24 & 24/25
For requirements for a specific or other year, see the Catalog. Current students, also see your DARS. 
Quick facts
  • In addition to the Anthropology major coursework herein, students must fulfill other degree requirements such as minimum units, GPA, residency, GEAR, etc... See the catalog for more information.
  • See the catalog for course descriptions
  • Each concentration has "advisor approved electives" as an option in the outside electives section - students may propose courses to fit interests and goals.
  • Consult with faculty on elective and minor courses and recommended experiences.
  • Check out this planning form

CORE (31-33 units)

Complete all core areas

Core: General Core Courses (21 units)

Complete the following courses:

  • ANTH 102 - Intro to the Anthropology of Language (3 units)
  • ANTH 103 - Biological Anthropology (3 units)
  • ANTH 104 - Cultural Anthropology (3 units)
  • ANTH 105 - Archaeology & World Prehistory (3 units)
  • ANTH 210 - Intro to the Anth Major (1 unit)
  • ANTH 310W - Critical Histories of Culture, Race & Science (4 units)
  • ANTH 410 - Anthropology Capstone (4 units)
Core: Methods Training (8 units)

Complete two courses chosen from the following:

  • ANTH 318 - Ethnography (4 units)
  • ANTH 330 - Method & Theory in Biological Anthropology (4 units)
  • ANTH 350 - Method & Theory in Archaeology (4 units)
Core: Applications / Applied Leadership Experience
Catalog Year 23/24: (2 units)

Complete one course chosen from the following:

  • ANTH 482 - Anthropology Internship (2 units)
  • ANTH 483 - Teaching & Leadership (2 units) *This class is no longer offered. Students may substitute ANTH 485
Catalog Year 24/25 (1 unit)

Complete one course chosen from the following:

  • ANTH 482 - Anthropology Internship (1 unit)
  • ANTH 485 - Senior Seminar (1 unit)
Core: Native American Studies (3 units)
**Catalog years beginning AY 24/25 (starting Fall 2024)

Complete one course, at least 3 units. If more than one course is taken, students should discuss with their advisor which may be advisor-approved concentration electives. Students that may live/work in California are strongly encouraged to take a CA-based NAS course (NAS 107, 304) in the core, concentration, or as an elective.  

  • NAS 101 - Traditional Ecological Knowledge & Place Based Learning (3 units)
  • NAS 104 - Introduction to Native American Studies (3 units)
  • NAS 107 - Introduction to California Indian Peoples and Places (3 units)
  • NAS 200 - Indigenous People in US History (3 units)
  • NAS 306 - Indigenous Peoples of the Americas (3 units)
  • NAS 361 - Tribal Sovereignty, Tribal Citizens (3 units)
  • NAS 480 - Selected Topics in Native American Studies (3-4 units)

CONCENTRATIONS (21-25 units)

Complete one of the following concentrations  

Archaeology Concentration (25 units)

Archaeology electives - Complete 9+ units from the following:

  • ANTH 307 - World Heritage & Archaeology (3 units)
  • ANTH 351 - Archaeological Materials Analysis (4 units)
  • ANTH 352 - Experimental Archaeology (4 units)
  • ANTH 353 - Archaeology of Warfare (4 units)
  • ANTH 354 - Cultural Resource Management (4 units)
  • ANTH 357 - Field Archaeology (1-6 units)
  • ANTH 358 - Archaeology Lab (1-3 units)
  • ANTH 359 - Special Topics in Archaeology (1-4 units)
  • ANTH 395 - Mesoamerican Archaeology (4 units)

Breadth electives - Complete 10+ units from the following:

  • One biological anthropology course (minimum 3 units): ANTH 305, 331, 332, 333, 334, or 339
  • One linguistic anthropology course (4 units): ANTH 340 or 341
  • One sociocultural anthropology course (minimum 3 units): ANTH 302, 314, 316, 317, 329, or 390

Outside electives - Complete 6+ units from the following:

  • ART 356 - Museum & Gallery Practices Units: 3
  • FIRE 123 - Fundamentals of Fuel & Fire Units: 2 
  • GEOL 109 - General Geology (4 units)
  • GEOL 300 - Geology of California (3 units) (Prereq: GEOL 109)
  • GEOL 306 - General Geomorphology (3 units) (Prereq: GEOL 109)
  • GSP 101 - Geospatial Concepts (3 units)
  • GSP 216 - Intro to Remote Sensing (3 units) (Prereq: GSP 101)
  • GSP 270 - Geographic Information Science (3 units) (Prereq: GSP 101)
  • HIST 383 - California History (4 units)
  • NAS 107 - Intro to California Indian Peoples and Places (3 units) **Catalog year 23/24
  • NAS 200 - Indigenous People in US History (3 units) **Catalog year 23/24
  • NAS 304 - Native Tribes of California (3 units) **Catalog year 24/25
  • NAS 308 - Indigenous Ethnobotany (3 units) **Catalog year 24/25
  • NAS 331 - Traditional Ecological Knowledges and Indigenous Natural Resource Management (3 units) *Catalog year 24/25
  • SOIL 260 - Intro to Soil Science (3 units) (Prereq: CHEM 107 or 109 or IA)
  • SOIL 360 - Origin and Classification of Soils (3 units) (Prereq: SOIL 260 or equivalent)
  • Advisor Approved Elective (other relevant course, field program, etc...)
Biological Anthropology Concentration (25 units)

Biological anthropology electives - Complete 9+ units from the following:

  • ANTH 305 - Human Evolutionary Health (3 units)
  • ANTH 331 - Paleoanthropology (4 units)
  • ANTH 332 - Skeletal Biology & Forensics (4 units)
  • ANTH 333 - Primate Adaptation & Evolution (4 units)
  • ANTH 334 - Anthropology, Ecology & Conservation (4 units)
  • ANTH 339 - Special Topics in Biological Anthropology (4 units)

Breadth electives - Complete 10+ units from the following:

  • One archaeology course (minimum 3 units): ANTH 307, 351, 352, 353, 354, 357, 358, 359, 395
  • One linguistic anthropology course (4 units): ANTH 340 or 341
  • One sociocultural anthropology course (minimum 3 units): ANTH 302, 314, 316, 317, 329, 390

Outside electives - Complete 6+ units from the following:

  • BIOL 105 - Principles of Biology (4 units) (Prereq: CHEM 107 or 109)
  • BOT 105 - General Botany (4 units)
  • CHEM 107 - Fundamentals of Chemistry (4 units)
  • CHEM 109 - General Chemistry I (5 units)
  • FOR 210 - Forest Measurements (3 units)
  • MATH 109 - Calculus I Units (4 units) (Prereq: MATH 101T or 102)
  • NAS 308 - Indigenous Ethnobotany (3 units) **Catalog year 24/25
  • NAS 332 - Environmental Justice (3 units) **Catalog year 24/25
  • NAS 374 - Native American Health (3 units) **Catalog year 24/25
  • PHYX 106 - College Physics: Mechanics & Heat (4 units) (Prereq: MATH 101T or 102)
  • PHYX 109 - General Physics A: Mechanics (4 units) (MATH 109)
  • STAT 108 - Elementary Statistics (3 units)
  • STAT 109 - Intro Biostatistics (4 units) (Prereq: MATH 101, 101I, or 102)
  • ZOOL 110 - Intro to Zoology (4 units) (Prereq: BIOL 105)
  • ZOOL 270 - Human Anatomy (4 units)
  • Advisor Approved Elective (other relevant course, field program, etc...)
Linguistic Anthropology Concentration (24-25 units)

Linguistic anthropology courses - Complete the following (8 units):

  • ANTH 340 - Language & Culture (4 units)
  • ANTH 341 - Anthropological Linguistics (4 units)

Cultural Area Electives - Complete one of the following (catalog year 23/24 specifies ANTH 390)

  • ANTH 387 - International Education Colloquium (1 unit)
  • ANTH 390 - World Regions Cultural Seminar (4 units)
  • FREN 300 - African Storytelling (3-4 units)
  • INTL 220 - Cultural Studies (3 units)
  • SPAN 305 - Hispanic Civilization: Regional Studies (3 units)
  • SPAN 401 - Hispanic Civilization: Spain (4 units)

Breadth electives - Complete one course from each of the following breadth areas (Catalog 23/24 requires 7+ units, one course from each area. Catalog 24/25 requires 9+ units with at least 3 units from each area)

  • One archaeology course: ANTH 307, 351, 352, 353, 354, 357, 358, 359, 395
  • One biological anthropology course: ANTH 305, 331, 332, 333, 334, or 339
  • One sociocultural anthropology course: ANTH 302, 314, 316, 317, 329

Outside electives - Complete 6+ units from the following:

  • ENGL 220 - Literature, Identity & Representation (4 units)
  • ENGL 225 - Linguistic Diversity & Language Analysis (4 units) (Prereq: ENGL 103, 104, or 104S)
  • ENGL 465 Multicultural Issues in Literature/Language (4 units) (Prereq: ENGL 103, 104, or 104S)
  • FREN 107 - French Level III (4 units)
  • GERM 107 - German Language & Culture III (4 units)
  • JMC 309 - Analyzing Media Messages (3 units)
  • LSEE 212 - Language & Literacy (4 units) (Prereq: LSEE 211)
  • NAS 301W - Native American Literature (3 units) **Catalog year 24/25
  • NAS 302W - Oral Literature & Oral Tradition (3 units)
  • NAS 340 - Language & Communication in Native American Communities (3 units)
  • NAS 345 - Native Languages of North America (3 units)
  • SPAN 107 - Spanish Language & Culture III (4 units)
  • SPAN 108 - Level III Heritage Speakers (4 units)
  • SPAN 435 - Spanish Applied Linguistics Units: 4 (Prereq: SPAN 311 or IA)
  • Advisor Approved Elective (other relevant course, field program, etc...)
Sociocultural Anthropology Concentration (25 units)

Sociocultural anthropology electives - Complete 9+ units from the following:

  • ANTH 302 - Anthropology of Religion (3 units)
  • ANTH 314 - Wicked Problems of the Anthropocene (4 units)
  • ANTH 316 - Anthropology & Development (4 units)
  • ANTH 317 - Gender & Development (4 units)
  • ANTH 329 - Selected Topics in Social Anthropology (1-4 units)
  • ANTH 390 - World Regions Cultural Seminar (4 units)
  • Advisor approved elective (e.g., ANTH 340 or ANTH 341 if both are taken in the breadth section)

Breadth electives - Complete 10+ units from the following:

  • One archaeology course (minimum 3 units): ANTH 307, 351, 352, 353, 354, 357, 358, 359, 395
  • One biological anthropology course (minimum 3 units): ANTH 305, 331, 332, 333, 334, or 339
  • One linguistic anthropology course (4 units): ANTH 340 or 341

Outside electives - Complete 6+ units from the following:

  • CRGS 313 - Community Activism (3 units)
  • ECON 470S - Sustainable Rural Economic Development (4 units)
  • ENGR 305 - Appropriate Technology (3 units) (Prereq: PHYX 106 or 109 or ENST 123)
  • ESM 305 - Environmental Conflict Resolution (3 units)
  • FILM 362 - Social Change Digital Production (4 units)
  • GEOG/ESM 301 - International Environmental Issues & Globalization (3 units)
  • HED 388 - Community Based Health Promotion (3 units) (Prereq: HED 390)
  • JMC 305 - Global Media and Society (3 units)
  • NAS 306 - Indigenous Peoples of the Americas (3 units) **Catalog year 23/24
  • NAS 307 - Nature and Issues of Genocide (3 units) **Catalog year 24/25
  • NAS 332 - Environmental Justice (3 units) **Catalog year 24/25
  • NAS 400 - Decolonizing Public Health (3 units) **Catalog year 24/25
  • RS 361 - Environment & Religion (3 units)
  • SOC 586 - Community Action Research (3 units) (Prereq: Senior standing with IA)
  • TA 307 - Theater of the Oppressed (3 units)
  • WS 303 - Anticolonial Women's Movements (3 units)
  • Advisor Approved Elective (other relevant course, field program, etc...). Students are strongly encouraged to discuss their interests with faculty and propose alternate courses to fit their interests and goals.
Cross-Disciplinary Concentration (21+ units) 
**For catalog years beginning AY 24/25 (starting Fall 2024)

Complete at least 21 units total, including at least 3-4 units from each area:

Archaeology electives - Complete 3+ units from the following:

  • ANTH 307 - World Heritage & Archaeology (3 units)
  • ANTH 351 - Archaeological Materials Analysis (4 units)
  • ANTH 352 - Experimental Archaeology (4 units)
  • ANTH 353 - Archaeology of Warfare (4 units)
  • ANTH 354 - Cultural Resource Management (4 units)
  • ANTH 357 - Field Archaeology (1-6 units)
  • ANTH 358 - Archaeology Lab (1-3 units)
  • ANTH 359 - Special Topics in Archaeology (1-4 units)
  • ANTH 395 - Mesoamerican Archaeology (4 units)

Biological anthropology electives - Complete 3+ units from the following:

  • ANTH 305 - Human Evolutionary Health (3 units)
  • ANTH 331 - Paleoanthropology (4 units)
  • ANTH 332 - Skeletal Biology & Forensics (4 units)
  • ANTH 333 - Primate Adaptation & Evolution (4 units)
  • ANTH 334 - Anthropology, Ecology & Conservation (4 units)
  • ANTH 339 - Special Topics in Biological Anthropology (4 units)

Linguistic anthropology courses - Complete 4+ units from the following:

  • ANTH 340 - Language & Culture (4 units)
  • ANTH 341 - Anthropological Linguistics (4 units)

Sociocultural anthropology electives - Complete 9+ units from the following:

  • ANTH 302 - Anthropology of Religion (3 units)
  • ANTH 314 - Wicked Problems of the Anthropocene (3 units)
  • ANTH 316 - Anthropology & Development (4 units)
  • ANTH 317 - Gender & Development (4 units)
  • ANTH 329 - Selected Topics in Social Anthropology (1-4 units)
  • ANTH 390 - World Regions Cultural Seminar (4 units)

Additional courses from any of the elective areas to total at least 21 units.
Students may also include advisor-approved electives (other relevant course, field program, etc...)