Anthropology

Anthropology, the broadest of the social science disciplines, is the study of human culture and social experience through space and time—from early hominid ancestors to post-industrial societies. The major consists of a four-field approach: cultural anthropology and the study of historic and contemporary societies (ethnography, ethnology and ethnohistory), archaeology and the study of material culture (prehistoric, historic and underwater archaeology), biological anthropology (biology, human evolution and culture), and linguistic anthropology (language and culture). Course offerings address topical areas that include applied anthropology, Chesapeake archaeology, ecological and economic anthropology, kinship and social organization, food, Tourism, and historic preservation. Many courses address issues of gender, ethnicity and globalization.

Affiliations with Historic St. Mary’s City and nearby Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum/Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory provide adjunct faculty and generate rich opportunities for majors to engage in internships, independent studies, St. Mary’s Projects and hands-on professional research, laboratory work and fieldwork. Several study tour and exchange programs offer exciting possibilities for study and research abroad.

A degree in anthropology prepares students for graduate work in the social sciences and professions and provides an excellent liberal arts foundation for a wide range of career options—working in educational institutions, museums, business, private industry or government.

Learning Outcomes

Understand the contributions of biological, archaeological, cultural and linguistic anthropology to our shared humanity
Master key anthropological concepts, theories and methodologies
Grasp the cultural and material importance of the Chesapeake and Atlantic World in the development of modernity
Apply anthropological knowledge and skills to critically understand and address human challenges
Synthesize anthropological knowledge across the liberal arts curriculum
Communicate anthropological knowledge effectively for diverse audiences

Degree Requirements for the Anthropology Major

General College Requirements

General College Requirements (see Curriculum section), including the following requirements to satisfy the major

Required Core Courses

ANTH 101: Introduction to Anthropology
ANTH 201: Anthropology Toolkit or ANTH 202: Archaeology Practicum

Two Subfield Anthropology Courses

Two courses chosen from the following to incorporate two subfield anthropology courses

ANTH 230: Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 243: Biological Anthropology
ANTH 250: Language and Culture
ANTH 281: Archaeology and Prehistory
ILCT 300: Introduction to Linguistics

Required Upper Division Courses

ANTH 349: Anthropological Theory
ANTH 385: Anthropological Research Methods or ANTH 303: Gambia, West Field Studies Program or field methods course approved by department chair

Elective Courses

Three elective courses in anthropology at the 300- or 400-level

Capstone Experience

All students must select one of the following options as the capstone experience of their education

ANTH 490 Senior Tutorial (plus one additional 300- or 400-level course)
ANTH 493/494: St. Mary’s Project (8 credit hours)
ANTH 497: Directed Research (4 credit hours, plus one additional 300- or 400-level course)
ANTH 498: Internship (plus one additional 300- or 400-level course)

Minimum Grade and GPA Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 44 credit hours, and all courses presented for the major must have a grade of at least C-.

Sequence of Study

Each student will plan an individual program with an adviser to arrive at a combination of courses that will meet the requirements for the major and be most meaningful for the student’s goals and interests. The anthropology faculty strongly recommends that the student obtain an adviser from among the faculty in the student’s area of concentration by the beginning of the junior year. The following model is suggested as a possible basic program to satisfy the above requirements:

First Year:
ANTH 101 and one subfield course
Second Year:
ANTH 201 or ANTH 202, one subfield course, and two anthropology electives
Third Year:
ANTH 385, ANTH 349, one anthropology elective
Fourth Year:
St. Mary’s Project or ANTH

THE ST. MARY’S PROJECT IN ANTHROPOLOGY

Students must complete all upper level major requirements (ANTH 349 and ANTH 385) before submitting a St. Mary’s Project (SMP) proposal to the department chair for review by the department faculty. SMP proposals must follow a format established by the Department, and are due to the Department Chair on August 15 to begin an SMP in the fall semester, or December 15 to begin an SMP in the spring semester. Projects approved by the department and successfully completed and presented by the student will receive eight hours of credit to be counted towards the major and fulfill the capstone requirement. Students contemplating an SMP in another discipline should follow the department’s SMP guidelines and submit their SMP proposal to the department chair for review in order to receive credit for the senior capstone experience.

Degree Requirements for the Anthropology Minor

Core Curriculum

Completion of Core Curriculum requirements.

Course Requirements

At least six courses in anthropology and a minimum of 22 credit hours:

Required Courses

ANTH 101 Introduction to Anthropology
ANTH 201 Anthropology Toolkit or ANTH 202 Archaeology Practicum

Two Courses at the 200-level

ANTH 230 Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 243 Biological Anthropology
ANTH 250 Language and Culture
ANTH 281 Archaeology and Prehistory

Two Elective Courses

Any two elective anthropology courses at the 300 or 400 level

Grade Requirements

All courses presented for the minor must have a grade of at least C-.

Requirements for Teacher Certification

A Master of Arts in Teaching program is available at St. Mary’s College of Maryland after completion of the baccalaureate degree. Students who are interested in becoming teachers should contact the chair of the Department of Educational Studies or an education adviser in their major field of study for suggested coursework in Educational Studies and their specific major. These consultations should take place during the first semester of the sophomore year.

Faculty

Bill Roberts (department chair), Iris Carter Ford, Liza Gijanto, Julia King. Adjunct faculty: Silas Hurry, Susan Langley, Stephan Lenik, Henry Miller, Patricia Samford