Bachelor of Arts in Global Cultures and Languages: Anthropology

Program Overview

The Anthropology B.A. program at Southeast Missouri State University provides a comprehensive understanding of human societies and cultures through its focus on sociocultural, linguistic, archaeological, and biological anthropology. The flexible curriculum allows students to tailor their studies to their interests, preparing them for careers in education, healthcare, museums, government, and law enforcement. The program emphasizes critical thinking, analytical skills, and real-world applications through fieldwork, research, and presentations.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Anthropology B.A. program at Southeast Missouri State University provides students with a holistic understanding of human societies and cultures, past and present. The program emphasizes the interaction between human culture, biology, and the environment, and offers a flexible curriculum that allows students to explore their interests in-depth. The program's objectives are to:

• Provide students with a strong foundation in the four subfields of anthropology: sociocultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, archaeology, and biological anthropology.
• Develop students' critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Prepare students for careers in a variety of fields, including education, healthcare, museums, government, and law enforcement.

Outline:

The Anthropology B.A. curriculum consists of 49 credit hours of coursework, including 39 senior division hours. Students are required to take a core of courses in the four subfields of anthropology, as well as elective courses in their areas of interest.

Core Courses:

• AN181 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (3 hours)
• AN182 Introduction to Archaeology (3 hours)
• AN183/083 Introduction to Biological Anthropology (4 hours)
• AN200 Professional Development in Anthropology (2 hours)
• AN493 Anthropology Theory Seminar: Cultural Anthropology and Linguistics (3 hours)

Elective Courses:

Students must choose 9 hours of elective courses from the following:

• AN317 Ethnographic Field Methods (3 hours)
• AN341 Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology (3 hours)
• AN380 Human Evolution and Adaptations (3 hours)
• AN382 Archaeology: Method and Theory (3 hours)
Students must also choose 3 hours of elective courses from the following:
• GG140 Physical Geography (3 hours)
• GO110 Physical Geology (3 hours)
In addition to the core and elective courses, students can choose to pursue one of two advising tracks:

General Anthropology Track:

Students who choose the General Anthropology track must take 12 hours of elective courses from the following:

• AN313 Archaeology Fieldwork (3 hours)
• AN319 Archaeology Lab (3 hours)
• AN333 Applied Anthropology (3 hours)
• AN355 Special Topics in Anthropology (3 hours)
• AN360 Meso-American Civilizations (3 hours)
• AN375 Anthropology of Religion (3 hours)
• AN414 Human Osteology (3 hours)
• AN415 Forensic Anthropology (3 hours)

Global Studies Track:

Students who choose the Global Studies track must take 12 hours of coursework, including:

• 3 hours of AN333 Applied Anthropology (3 hours)
• 3 hours of XX300-599 Study Abroad/Internship (3 hours)
• 6 hours of courses from the following:
• CNxxx (3 hours)
• FRxxx (3 hours)
• GNxxx (3 hours)
• JNxxx (3 hours)
• SNxxx (3 hours)
• 3 hours of courses from the following:
• GG320 Political Geography (3 hours)
• UI307 Economic Geography (3 hours)
• UI308 Cultural and Physical Landscapes of the World: A Geographical Analysis (3 hours)

Assessment:

Students in the Anthropology B.A. program are assessed through a variety of methods, including:

• Exams: Exams are used to assess students' knowledge of course material.
• Papers: Papers are used to assess students' ability to research and write about anthropological topics.
• Projects: Projects are used to assess students' ability to apply anthropological concepts to real-world situations.
• Presentations: Presentations are used to assess students' ability to communicate their research findings to others.

Teaching:

The Anthropology B.A. program at Southeast Missouri State University is taught by a team of experienced faculty who are dedicated to providing students with a high-quality education. The faculty are actively involved in research and publish their findings in top academic journals. They also have extensive experience working with students from diverse backgrounds. The program uses a variety of teaching methods, including:

• Lectures: Lectures are used to introduce students to new material and to provide them with a framework for understanding the subject matter.
• Discussions: Discussions are used to encourage students to think critically about the material and to share their own ideas.
• Laboratory work: Laboratory work is used to give students hands-on experience with archaeological and biological anthropology techniques.
• Fieldwork: Fieldwork is used to give students the opportunity to apply their anthropological knowledge to real-world situations.

Careers:

Graduates of the Anthropology B.A. program from Southeast Missouri State University are prepared for a variety of careers in the public and private sectors. Some of the most common career paths for anthropology graduates include:

• Education: Anthropology graduates can teach anthropology at the secondary or college level.
• Healthcare: Anthropology graduates can work as healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or social workers.
• Museums: Anthropology graduates can work as curators, museum educators, or museum administrators.
• Government: Anthropology graduates can work for government agencies, such as the National Park Service or the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
• Law enforcement: Anthropology graduates can work as forensic anthropologists or crime scene investigators.