Anthropology is one of the most diverse disciplines in the university. Spanning human evolution, the development and heterogeneity
of language and culture, human history, and the diversity of cultures past and present, the field has broad scope, utilizes a variety
of methods, addresses basic issues about human origins and human life, and maintains commitment to understanding social life and
using this understanding to improve society. Anthropology is an ideal "liberal arts" major. It also serves as a major that, when
well designed by the student and their adviser, prepares students for a wide range of professional careers, e.g., law, medicine,
foreign service, social services, and business, among others. Courses for non-majors: Anthropology welcomes non-majors into many of
its courses. Unless prerequisites are explicitly stated, 200- and 300-level courses do not have formal prerequisites and can be taken
by students without prior experience in anthropology. Such students are welcome in these upper-level courses. For more information on
the department's courses, see
course offerings.
No prerequisites are required to enter the anthropology major, except a broad interest in the human condition. Because of the intellectual breadth of the field, close collaboration between student and adviser is encouraged to build a program of study around the student's interests. Areas of concentration include a wide variety subjects within and between the three subfields of anthropology represented at Cornell: cultural anthropology, archaeology, and biological anthropology. Topics ranging from identity politics and globalization to prehistory and human evolution can be pursued in classes focused on every major geographical region in the world. Upper level courses span a range of theoretical issues related to religion, gender, economics, colonialism, democratization, prehistoric cultures, race, behavioral evolution, and conservation, to name a few.
Students are required to take at least one course at any level in the curriculum in each of the three subfields. A total of 38 credits are necessary to complete the major. At least 5 courses must be at the 300 level or higher, and all majors must take a 400-level course in their senior year. When warranted, the adviser is free to approve up to two courses from other departments totaling up to eight credit hours to contribute to the 38-credit requirement. Our goal is to provide a close and supportive advising relationship and a strong and coherent structure for the student's major.
The 400-level seminar is meant to serve as a space where students can synthesize their undergraduate work in anthropology. Although individual classes vary to some extent, most meet weekly, are discussion-based, and are limited to 15 students. Collaboration is encouraged between students to pursue their individual interests, and some form of student presentation is a typical part of the course.
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Honors in anthropology
are awarded for excellence in the major, which includes
overall grade point average and completion of an
honors thesis. Anthropology majors interested in
the Honors Program should consult the chair of the
Honors Committee in their junior year. To qualify
for entrance into the Honors Program, a student must
have at least a 3.0 GPA overall and 3.3 GPA in the
major, and the consent of a faculty member in anthropology
who will guide the honors thesis. After applying
to the program and being admitted as a candidate
by the Honors Committee, the student will conduct
research and write a thesis. This thesis will be
evaluated by the faculty research adviser and two
other faculty members. Honors (i.e., cum laude, magna
cum laude, or summa cum laude) are awarded based
on the quality of the thesis and the student's overall
record. Honors candidates must start this process
by consulting their adviser about the honors program
early in their junior year.
While working on the thesis during the senior year,
students should make use of the Senior Seminar as
a place to develop the ideas for their thesis. In
addition, students may enroll in Anthropology 483
(fall or spring) "Honors Thesis Research." To complete
the thesis, students must enroll in 491 (fall or
spring) "Honors Thesis Write-up." Only Anthropology
483 may count toward hours for completion of the
anthropology major requirements. The credit hours
for these courses are variable, grades are given
by the faculty research adviser, and they are based
on performance during thesis research and writing.
Any honors candidate whose research directly involves
working with human subjects must receive approval
for the project from the Cornell University Committee
on Human Subjects.
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| Specialized individual study
programs are offered in Anthropology 497, Topics in
Anthropology, a course open to a limited number of
juniors and seniors who have obtained consent and supervision
of a faculty member. The credits hours for this course
are variable. Students select a topic not covered in
regularly scheduled courses in consultation with the
faculty member who has agreed to supervise the course
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The Department of Anthropology
encourages students to consider a semester of study
abroad or off-campus study developed as an integral
part of the student's major concentration.
The Cornell-Nepal Study Program: is a joint program
of Cornell University and Tribhuvan University, the
national university of Nepal. Qualified juniors,
seniors, and first- or second-year graduate students
work with faculty from both universities to prepare
for and undertake field research projects in Nepal.
Students receive 15 credits per semester; students
may enroll for either fall or spring semester, or
for the entire year; application is through Cornell
Abroad. For further information, consult David Holmberg
or Kathryn March in the Department of Anthropology.
Other anthropologically-relevant study abroad options,
using existing Cornell Abroad and off-campus options,
can be worked out in consultation with the major
adviser, the Anthropology Study Abroad adviser, and
Cornell Abroad.
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