Ways to Major in Anthropology

The major in anthropology consists of nine 4-point courses (36 points), which include the following four required courses (16 points):

• Culture, Power, Society (ANTH-UA 1)
• Human Evolution (ANTH-UA 2)
• Introduction to Archaeology (ANTH-UA 3)
• Language, Culture, and Society (ANTH-UA 17; offered only in the spring semester)

The remaining elective courses for the major (five courses/20 points) may be selected from any subfield of anthropology. Students must take at least five courses from the Department of Anthropology at New York University in order to receive a major in anthropology from NYU, and a grade of C or better is required in every course to be counted toward the major. Students are not required to focus on any one of the subfields of anthropology represented in the department, but rather are free to choose elective courses that accommodate their interests as narrowly or broadly as they see fit, in consultation with the DUS. Internships approved by the DUS are encouraged, but internship credits may not be applied toward the major. Independent study courses, conducted under the supervision of a departmental faculty member, are also encouraged and can be applied toward the major, up to a limit of 8 credits. Majors should consult regularly with the DUS in order to take full advantage of the seminars and research opportunities open to them.

The joint major in anthropology and classical civilization emphasizes the importance of anthropological approaches to understanding the social orders and institutions of the classical world. One anthropology course, Culture, Power, Society (ANTH-UA 1), is required, along with four other anthropology electives chosen in consultation with the DUS of each department. Twenty points are required in classics. See classics section in this Bulletin for additional information. Joint anthropology classics majors should also consult with Professor Radu Iovita in the Department of Anthropology and the DUS in the Department of Classics for aid in developing their program of study.

The joint major in anthropology and linguistics emphasizes the complementary nature of anthropological and sociolinguistic approaches to language. Students are required to take five 4-point courses (20 points) each from the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Linguistics, and a grade of at least C is required in every course to be counted toward the joint major.

• Required courses in anthropology are Culture, Power, Society (ANTH-UA 1), Language, Culture, and Society (ANTH-UA 17), either Cultural Symbols (ANTH-UA 48) or Language, Power, and Identity (ANTH-UA 16), and two other cultural or linguistic anthropology courses approved by the Department of Anthropology's DUS.
• Required courses in linguistics are Language (LING-UA 1), Language and Society (LING-UA 15), and at least two of the following: Bilingualism (LING-UA 18); Language, Literacy, and Society (LING-UA 20); Sex, Gender, and Language (LING-UA 21); African American Vernacular English: Language and Culture (LING-UA 23); Language and Liberation at Home in the Caribbean and Abroad (LING-UA 26); and Language in Latin America (LING-UA 30).

The fifth course in linguistics may be an additional course from the above list or another course that the department offers, chosen in consultation with the DUS in the Department of Linguistics. See linguistics section in this Bulletin for additional information. Joint anthropology-linguistics majors should also consult with Professor Sonia Das in the Department of Anthropology and the DUS in the Department of Linguistics for aid in developing their program of study.

The College of Arts and Science (CAS) and the Department of Anthropology offer students the opportunity to pursue a major that combines anthropology and global public health. Students pursuing this combined program will complete core and elective courses in both areas.

The major provides interdisciplinary training that embraces the natural convergence of society, culture and health, and draws on the Department of Anthropology's strength in bridging the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. A major in global public health/anthropology prepares students to analyze various cultural traditions through the lens of health; to examine complex relationships within economic, political, cultural, physical, and biological environments; and to apply anthropological approaches to public health problems. The major is designed to prepare students for multidisciplinary careers in a variety of settings and/or for advanced academic training in public health, anthropology, or other related fields.

Students in this combined major must talk to the DUS or departmental liaison with GPH in the Department of Anthropology to work out a course plan. The following are the fifteen courses (60 points) required for the major:

Global public health requirements (six courses/24 points):

• Health and Society in a Global Context (UGPH-GU 10)
• Biostatistics (UGPH-GU 20)
• Epidemiology (UGPH-GU 30)
• Health Policy in a Global World (UGPH-GU 40)
• Environmental Health in a Global World (UGPH-GU 50)
• GPH Internship (UGPH-GU 60)
• One semester of advanced foreign language (above intermediate II level). Students who present AP or other advanced standing credit that is equivalent to completion of at least one course above intermediate two have satisfied the requirement. Students who take an NYU language placement exam and demonstrate proficiency equivalent to completion of at least one course above the intermediate two level (i.e., they at least place into the second course above intermediate two) have also met this requirement.
• One semester of study away

Anthropology core courses (three courses/12 points):

• Culture, Power, Society (ANTH-UA 1)
• Medical Anthropology (ANTH-UA 35)
• Global Biocultures (ANTH-UA 36)

Anthropology elective courses (three courses/12 points), chosen from:

• Human Evolution (ANTH-UA 2)
• Language, Power and Identity (ANTH-UA 16)
• Conversations in Everyday Life (ANTH-UA 32)
• Evolutionary Medicine  (ANTH-UA 55)
• Emerging Diseases (ANTH-UA 80)
• Human Ecology (ANTH-UA 90)
• Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality (ANTH-UA 112)
• Race, Difference, and Social Inequality (ANTH-UA 323)
• Introduction to Forensic Anthropology (ANTH-UA 326)
• Human Rights and Culture (ANTH-UA 331)
• The Social Life of Food: Producing, Selling, Cooking, Sharing, Eating (ANTH-UA 410)

Major electives (three courses/12 points):

• Three additional electives must be completed in the GPH program or anthropology, by advisement. For descriptions of GPH (UGPH-GU) courses, and for all policies applying to the major (including those for transfer students), please see the global public health section of this Bulletin.