OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120
Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0
Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: A grade of C- or higher is required for ANT 101, 102, 317, 400. A grade of C or higher is required for ANT 493.
Other GPA requirements to graduate: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in the major.
Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience: ANT 493
Contact Information: Gregory Zaro, Chair, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Climate Change, 5773 S. Stevens Hall, Room 242 (207) 581-1857, Fax: (207) 581-1823, gregory.zaro@maine.edu
Anthropology is the study of human cultures, societies, and behavior in all parts of the world throughout all periods of history. There are four sub-disciplines: archaeology, the study of historic and prehistoric cultures and civilizations; socio-cultural anthropology, which is concerned with current cultures of all degrees of complexity; physical anthropology, the biological aspects of the human species; and anthropological linguistics, which is concerned with the scientific study of language and its relationship to thought and society. In the past, anthropologists tended to study people in small, tribal societies. In recent decades, more attention has been given to peasantry and industrialized, urban societies and to the application of anthropology to understanding problems of these societies.
The Department of Anthropology focuses on archaeology and socio-cultural anthropology. Courses in biological/physical anthropology also are offered. In addition, the Department offers courses in folklore, oral history, and geography, which are closely related to anthropology.
Graduate Programs
The Department of Anthropology cooperates with the Climate Change Institute to train graduate students in archaeology towards an MS degree in Quaternary and Climate Studies. Application is made through the Graduate School.
The MA/PhD in Anthropology and Environmental Policy Program centers on understanding human society and culture in cross-cultural perspective and their pivotal role in implementing successful environmental policy. The program engages students in a multi-disciplinary framework bridging environmental sciences and policy while focusing on the sociocultural impacts of, and responses to, local and global environmental change. Application is made through the Graduate School.
An Individualized Ph.D. in Anthropology is possible under certain circumstances. (See also, Graduate School Catalog).
Career Opportunities
Anthropology provides very broad training in the social sciences. Therefore, a background in Anthropology is useful in any career in which an understanding of people or the societies in which they live is important. Due to the broad nature of the field, students trained in anthropology have followed a wide range of careers. In recent years, our majors have pursued advanced training in anthropology, archaeology, law, social work, business, theology, library science, writing, museum work, nursing, computer programming, clinical psychology, education, economic development, and the U.S. Armed Forces.
Students with course work and practical experience in archaeology, as well as those with graduate degrees in archaeology, have found employment with public agencies and private organizations concerned with cultural resource management.
Special Resources and Programs
The archaeology faculty focuses on ancient cultures and landscapes of the Americas and Mediterranean. A number of faculty are jointly appointed with the Canadian-American Center, the Climate Change Institute and Native American Studies. The cultural anthropologists have extensive field experience in the Middle East, Oceania, Latin America, and North America.
Periodically, the anthropology faculty offers field schools in prehistoric archaeology, oral history and folklore, and geography. Students also are encouraged to participate in research programs in New England and the Maritime Provinces currently in progress. In recent years students have been hired to work on archaeology field and laboratory projects, in the Maine Folklife Center, and the Hudson Museum of Anthropology.
The Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology
Students may declare an anthropology major in their first year, and must declare their major once they have accumulated 53 credits. It is desirable to begin taking anthropology courses in the first semester at the university.
First year students are advised to take ANT 101 (fall semester) and ANT 102 (spring semester), as these are both required for the major and are prerequisites for many upper division courses. Other 100 and 200 level courses in anthropology are relevant and may be taken in the first year. First year students also concentrate on completing General Education requirements.
ANT 317 and ANT 400 are both major requirements and should be taken as early as possible. ANT 400 is our writing intensive course within the major and is limited to 15 majors of junior standing per semester. There is a waiting list for this course. Please sign up for the waiting list in the Anthropology Office, as soon as possible.
The Capstone course, ANT 493, is taken in the senior year. Students writing an anthropology honors thesis do not have to take the Capstone course, ANT 493.
The requirements listed on this page are specific to this particular major. Students are also responsible for meeting any graduation requirements set out by their college. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) should make sure to review those requirements as stated on the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences page of the catalog.
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