Anthropology is the study of human beings from all times and all places, offering a holistic, comparative, international, and humanistic perspective. In studying and interpreting the vast range of similarities and differences in human societies and cultures, anthropologists also seek to understand how people themselves make sense of the world in which they live. The Department of Anthropology at Brown is a vibrant, award-winning group of scholars working primarily in the subfields of cultural anthropology, archaeology, and anthropological linguistics. Anthropology is a varied discipline and the Concentration at Brown University reflects that diversity. Students concentrating in Anthropology must declare one of six possible concentration tracks: sociocultural anthropology, archaeology, anthropological linguistics, biological anthropology, medical anthropology, or general anthropology.
The department also supports students involved in Engaged Scholarship through the Swearer Center, through which students may pursue an Engaged Scholarship Certificate. Study abroad is also supported and encouraged. Interested students may contact the director of undergraduate studies.
Students who declared a concentration prior to fall 2019 can refer to concentration requirements here: https://bulletin.brown.edu/archive/2018-19/the-college/concentrations/anth/
General Anthropology Track
| Choose one foundational course in sociocultural, linguistic anthropology, or medical anthropology: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Culture and Health | ||
| Sound and Symbols: Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology | ||
| Choose one foundational course in archaeology or biological anthropology: | 1 | |
| Human Evolution | ||
| Past Forward: Discovering Anthropological Archaeology | ||
| Choose one of the following courses in anthropological methodology, to prepare students for further research: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis | ||
| Material Culture Practicum | ||
| The Human Skeleton | ||
| The Archaeology of College Hill | ||
| Ethnographic Research Methods | ||
| Five additional courses in anthropology of the student's choosing. At least three of these electives will need to be at the 1000-level to meet the requirements of the concentration. | 5 | |
| Senior Seminar | 1 | |
| Senior Seminar: (Re)Making Anthropology (Senior Seminar) | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Medical Anthropology Track
| Foundation course | 1 | |
| Culture and Health | ||
| Two courses in at least two of the four major subfields of anthropology: | 2 | |
Choose one: | ||
| Human Evolution | ||
| Past Forward: Discovering Anthropological Archaeology | ||
Choose any one 0000 or 1000-level course in socio-cultural anthropology or linguistic anthropology such as: | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Sound and Symbols: Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology | ||
| Anthropology of China | ||
| Middle East in Anthropological Perspective | ||
| Anthropology of Disasters | ||
| Anthropology and International Development: Ethnographic Perspectives on Poverty and Progress | ||
| Ethnography + Social Critique | ||
| Methods Course | 1 | |
| Ethnographic Research Methods | ||
| At least one 1000-level course in medical anthropology such as: 1 | 1 | |
| Bioethics and Culture | ||
| Anthropology of Addictions and Recovery | ||
| Anthropology of Homelessness | ||
| Global Health: Anthropological Perspectives | ||
| An additional three anthropology courses of the student's choosing. At least two of the electives must be at the 1000-level to meet the general requirements of the concentration. | 3 | |
| At least one non-anthropology course in the natural sciences, public health, or psychology that focuses on human health to give students basic exposure to the science of human physical and/or mental health. This course is in addition to the nine courses required in ANTH. 2 | 1 | |
| Senior Seminar | 1 | |
| Senior Seminar: (Re)Making Anthropology | ||
| Total Credits | 10 | |
| 1 | Other appropriate anthropology courses may be used to fulfill this requirement with DUS approval |
| 2 | Most qualifying courses will bear a BIOL, PHP, or CLPS designation but students can choose any appropriate course to fulfill this requirement with DUS approval. |
Socio-Cultural Anthropology Track
| Foundation course | 1 | |
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| One course in archaeology or biological anthropology: | 1 | |
| Human Evolution | ||
| Past Forward: Discovering Anthropological Archaeology | ||
| Research methods | 1 | |
| Ethnographic Research Methods | ||
| At least two 1000-level courses that focus on specific aspects of sociocultural methods or theories, or in a particular region, such as: | 2 | |
| Anthropology of China | ||
| Middle East in Anthropological Perspective | ||
| Religion and Culture | ||
| Bioethics and Culture | ||
| Anthropology of Disasters | ||
| Anthropology of Addictions and Recovery | ||
| Anthropology of Homelessness | ||
| Global Health: Anthropological Perspectives | ||
| Anthropology and International Development: Ethnographic Perspectives on Poverty and Progress | ||
| Anthropology of Mental Health | ||
| Ethnography + Social Critique | ||
| Gender and Sexuality in the Middle East | ||
| An additional three anthropology courses of the student's choosing. At least one of the electives must be at the 1000-level to meet the general requirements of the concentration. | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar | 1 | |
| Senior Seminar: (Re)Making Anthropology | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Linguistic Anthropology Track
| Foundation course | 1 | |
| Sound and Symbols: Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology | ||
| One additional course in linguistic anthropology from the following: | 1 | |
| Language and Migration | ||
| Language and Medicine in Practice | ||
| Language and Power | ||
| Two other foundational courses in anthropology: | 2 | |
Choose one: | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Culture and Health | ||
Choose one: | ||
| Human Evolution | ||
| Past Forward: Discovering Anthropological Archaeology | ||
| Research methods | 1 | |
| Ethnographic Research Methods | ||
| Senior Seminar | 1 | |
| Senior Seminar: (Re)Making Anthropology | ||
| An additional three anthropology courses of the student's choosing. At least two of the electives must be at the 1000-level to meet the requirements of the concentration. | 3 | |
| At least one general course focusing on aspects of linguistic structure. 1 | 1 | |
| At least one language course (one semester) in any language other than English 2 | 1 | |
| Total Credits | 11 | |
| 1 | This course is in addition to the nine courses required in ANTH. Given the teaching commitments of departmental faculty, eligible courses will generally be offered only in departments other than Anthropology. Recommended courses include Introduction to Linguistics (LING 0100) or Sociolinguistics (SLAV 1300). Students may also choose another appropriate course to fulfill this requirement with DUS approval. |
| 2 | This course is in addition to the nine courses required in ANTH. Students interested in studying a language not offered at Brown should consult with Linguistic Anthropology faculty and the DUS. |
Anthropological Archaeology Track
| Foundation course in anthropological archaeology | 1 | |
| Past Forward: Discovering Anthropological Archaeology | ||
| Foundation course in socio-cultural anthropology | 1 | |
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Choose one course in anthropological archaeology methodology: 1 | 1 | |
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis | ||
| Material Culture Practicum | ||
| The Archaeology of College Hill | ||
| Choose one course that involves detailed archaeological investigation of a geographic region: 2 | 1 | |
| Classic Mayan Civilization | ||
| Ethnographies of Heritage: Community and Landscape of the Mediterranean and Beyond | ||
| Vertical Civilization: South American Archaeology from Monte Verde to the Inkas | ||
| Indians, Colonists, and Africans in New England | ||
| Maize Gods and Feathered Serpents: Mexico and Central America in Antiquity | ||
| Ancient Maya Writing | ||
| Southwestern Archaeology | ||
| One 1000-level course in anthropology with significant archaeological, material culture, and/or museum studies component. A second geographic area course from the list above may be used to meet this requirement. Other regularly offered courses that meet this requirement include: 3 | 1 | |
| Indigenous Archaeologies | ||
| Global Historical Archaeology | ||
| Archaeology of Death | ||
| Lost Languages: The Decipherment and Study of Ancient Writing Systems | ||
| Three anthropology courses of the student's choosing. At least one of the electives must be at the 1000-level to meet the general requirements of the concentration. | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar | 1 | |
| Senior Seminar: (Re)Making Anthropology | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
| 1 | This requirement will be waived for students who have completed an archaeological field school. The field school must be approved in advance of its completion for the requirement to be waived. Per the broader requirements of the concentration, students must still complete nine anthropology credits at Brown or via transfer credits. Note that many field schools do not carry credit. |
| 2 | Other anthropological archaeology courses with significant geographic focus may be used to fulfill this requirement with DUS approval. |
| 3 | Other anthropology courses with significant archaeological, material culture, or museum studies focus may be used to fulfill this requirement with DUS approval. |
Biological Anthropology Track
| Foundation course in biological anthropology | 1 | |
| Human Evolution | ||
| Choose one foundational course in cultural anthropology, medical anthropology, or linguistic anthropology: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Culture and Health | ||
| Sound and Symbols: Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology | ||
| Biological anthropology methodology | 1 | |
| The Human Skeleton | ||
| Five anthropology courses of the student's choosing. At least three of the electives must be at the 1000-level to meet the requirements of the concentration. | 5 | |
| At least one non-anthropology course with a biological focus. Any course with a BIOL subject code can be used to fulfill this requirement. Students are especially encouraged to consider a course with a significant content devoted to genetics and/or evolutionary theory. This course is in addition to the nine courses required in ANTH. | 1 | |
| Choose at least one course in statistics. This course is in addition to the nine courses required in ANTH. Possible courses include: 1 | 1 | |
| Essential Statistics | ||
| Statistical Analysis of Biological Data | ||
| Statistical Methods | ||
| Introductory Statistics for Social Research | ||
| Essentials of Data Analysis | ||
| Senior Seminar | 1 | |
| Senior Seminar: (Re)Making Anthropology | ||
| Total Credits | 11 | |
| 1 | Other courses may be substituted to meet this requirement with the permission of the DUS. |
Research Opportunities and Engaged Scholarship
Training in anthropology is not limited to the classroom. Students are urged to seek out extracurricular opportunities that will round out their anthropological studies. Such experiences might include internships, study abroad, field schools, faculty research apprenticeships, and independent projects. Interested students may contact the director of undergraduate studies.
Anthropology concentrators who are especially interested in making deeper connections between their concentration curriculum and long-term engagement with local communities in Providence and beyond may choose to pursue an Engaged Scholarship designation through the Swearer Center. Engaged scholars combine hands-on experiences such as internships, public service, humanitarian and development work with their academic learning in order to develop a deeper understanding of, and appreciation for, social engagement. While most anthropology courses have some sort of ‘engaged’ element, being an Engaged Scholar in Anthropology means making a commitment to engaging more actively and intensively with the communities in which a student is living.
All Anthropology tracks are compatible with the Engaged Scholarship Certificate.
Honors
Candidates for honors should apply to the concentration advisor by the end of their 6th semester, but no later than the 4th week of the 7th semester. An application consists of a thesis proposal of 2-3 pages, describing the major research questions and methods to be used. Candidates will prepare their proposals in close consultation with their primary advisor. Candidates for honors are required to:
- Fulfill the standard concentration requirements.
- Have completed at least two thirds of the concentration requirements by the end of the sixth semester.
- Be in good standing
- Have earned a majority of “A” grades in the concentration. Classes taken S/NC will count as qualifying towards that majority if they are marked “S* with distinction” indicating that had the student taken the course for a grade, the grade would have been an “A.”
Honors candidates will:
- Take two half-credit Anthropology Thesis Workshop courses (ANTH 1930) and at least one additional independent study course (ANTH 1970) with the thesis advisor, usually in the student’s final semester.
- In consultation with the primary thesis advisor, identify a second reader by the start of the seventh semester.
- Submit an approved honors thesis by the deadline stipulated each year.
- Present the thesis in the Honors Theses Symposium in the Anthropology department.
More information on honors is available here: https://www.brown.edu/academics/anthropology/honors