Anthropology: Bachelor of Arts Major and Minor
Description
Anthropology is a broad discipline because its subject matter is the entirety of human diversity. Anthropologists contribute to an understanding of the human condition through interpretations of human biological and cultural variation. Anthropology is often divided into four sub-fields. Archaeology examines the past using material remains, including artifacts, skeletal material, and architecture. Social and cultural anthropology is concerned with contemporary human societies throughout the world, and their complex inter-and intra-relationships. Linguistic anthropology* examines diversity in language, including historical migrations and relationships between languages. Biological anthropology concerns human biological evolution and biological variation, including skeletal and genetic, and the interaction between human biology and our environments.
KPU anthropology students work toward leadership-based careers integrated with local and global communities. Students will cultivate and demonstrate skills in inter- and intra-cultural communication, analysis, and both scientific and humanistic methodology.
The goal of the Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology Program at KPU is to prepare students for life, work, and research in diverse local communities, in a knowledge- and information-based economy for a world that is increasingly globally interconnected.
KPU is a participant of the BCCAT Flexible Pre-major transfer agreement for Anthropology. For detailed information pertaining to the Flexible Pre-Major in Anthropology, please visit KPU's Anthropology department's website.
*Note: The Anthropology Department at KPU does not currently offer courses in Linguistic Anthropology. Students are encouraged to take these courses through the Department of Modern Languages at KPU.
Career Opportunities
A Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology is directly applicable in employment fields such as market research, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and development studies, business, community liaison, legal careers, criminal investigation, environmental assessment and management, teaching, and health care, among many others. We anticipate our graduates will use skills developed during an anthropology degree throughout the rest of their careers. Our current anthropology field school involves direct interaction at a high level with First Nations communities and anthropology professionals, and has been endorsed by the British Columbia Association of Professional Archaeologists, the first such endorsement in Canada. Our program is also designed to give students a solid foundation for entry into graduate programs.
Program Admission Requirements
In addition to Kwantlen's General university admission requirements, including the undergraduate-level English Proficiency Requirement, the following program admission requirements apply:
Year One Admission:
- English 12 with a 'B' (or equivalent)
- Mathematics:
- Minimum grade of 'C' in Pre-Calculus 11, Principles of Mathematics 11, or Applications of Mathematics 12 (or equivalent); or
- Minimum grade of 'C+' in Foundations of Mathematics 11 (or equivalent); or
- Minimum grade of 'C-' in Pre-Calculus 12 or Foundations of Mathematics 12 (or equivalent)
Year Three Admission:
- 60 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 (including all 1100- and 2000-level major/minor program requirements).
- Grade of 'C' in all required 1000-and 2000-level courses, including the English writing requirement (ENGL 1100 and one of either ENGL 1202 or 1204, or equivalent).
- Two Quantitative courses (total of six or more credits).
- 12 credits of breadth courses
- Mathematics:
- Minimum grade of 'C' in Pre-Calculus 11, Principles of Mathematics 11, or Applications of Mathematics 12 (or equivalent); or
- Minimum grade of 'C+' in Foundations of Mathematics 11 (or equivalent); or
- Minimum grade of 'C-' in Pre-Calculus 12 or Foundations of Mathematics 12 (or equivalent); or
- Minimum grade of 'C+' in the above Two Quantitative courses (three credits of which must be from the Faculty of Science & Horticulture)
- Second language at the Grade 11 level or 6 credits of post-secondary language courses in the same language. Note: Students need only achieve a passing grade to fulfill this requirement. Beginner's or Introductory Language 11 courses are ineligible to meet this requirement. Students who can demonstrate competency in a second language may request an assessment to have this requirement waived.
Qualifying Year
Students who do not qualify upon initial application to KPU may be eligible for entry to the Qualifying Year. Students who possess at least a 'C' in English 12 (or equivalent) and a passing grade in either Pre-Calculus 11, Principles of Math 11, Foundations of Mathematics 11, Applications of Math 12 (or equivalents) will be able to apply for entry to the BA Qualifying Year. Students will be admitted to the BA program in the second year provided they have successfully completed appropriate qualifying courses. Other applicants who do not qualify are encouraged to consult an Educational Advisor for the appropriate qualifying courses that satisfy the application criteria.
Program Continuance Requirements
Current BA students must meet the following requirements to continue into their 3rd year of study. Registration access to third or fourth year courses is first awarded to students who have completed the following:
- 60 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 (including all 1100- and 2000-level major/minor program requirements).
- Grade of 'C' in all required 1000-and 2000-level courses, including the English writing requirement (ENGL 1100 and one of either ENGL 1202 or 1204, or equivalent).
- Two Quantitative courses (total of six or more credits).
- 12 credits of breadth courses
- Second language at the Grade 11 level or 6 credits of post-secondary language courses in the same language. Note: Students need only achieve a passing grade to fulfill this requirement. Beginner's or Introductory Language 11 courses are ineligible to meet this requirement. Students who can demonstrate competency in a second language may request an assessment to have this requirement waived.
Program Requirements
Students are projected to complete the BA in Anthropology in four years, with a total of 48 credits in Anthropology. This requirement will include 9 first year and 9 second year credits in foundational courses, then 21 third year and 9 fourth year credits in advanced methods, theory, ethics, topical, and applied courses. Anthropology students at KPU will be able to focus on one or more streams within the discipline: archaeology, biological anthropology, and cultural anthropology.
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree must complete all requirements in the Bachelor of Arts framework in addition to their major or minor program requirements.
Anthropology Major
1000 Level
Students are required to complete the following courses: |
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ANTH 1100 | Social & Cultural Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 1200 | Biological Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 1300 | Archaeology | 3 credits | |
Recommended: |
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ANTH 1217 | Forensic Anthropology | 3 credits |
Notes:
ANTH 1217 is the pre-requisite for ANTH 2217, 3220 (in development), and other upper level courses.
Completion of the courses listed above with a minimum grade of 'C' will fulfill prerequisites to 2000-level Anthropology courses.
2000 Level
Students are required to complete 3 credits of the following methods courses: |
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ANTH 2100 | Method and Ethics in Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2217 | Forensic Methods & Analysis | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2300 | Archaeological Methods | 3 credits | |
Students are required to complete a minimum of 6 additional ANTH credits at the 2000 level: |
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ANTH 2120 | Cross-Cultural Women's and Gender Studies | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2133 | Religion, Magic and Witchcraft | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2140 | First Nations Cultures of B.C. | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2142 | First Nations Cultures of Canada | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2160 | Culture and Environment | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2163 | Culture, Health and Healing | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2190 | Non-Governmental Organizations in Context | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2310 | Archaeology of Death | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2320 | Archaeology of the Old World | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2340 | Archaeology of the Americas | 3 credits |
3000 Level
Students are required to complete 3 credits of the following theory courses: |
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ANTH 3100 | Anthropological Theory | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3300 | Archaeological Theory | 3 credits | |
Students are required to complete a minimum of 18 additional ANTH credits at the 3000 level: |
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ANTH 3130 | Sikh Culture, Religion and Society | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3168 | Deviance Across Cultures | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3188 | Visual Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3190 | Non-Governmental Organizations in Practice | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3220 | Human Osteology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3301 | Archaeological Methods for Cultural Resource Management | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3330 | East Asian Archaeology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3340 | British Columbia Archaeology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3361 | Archaeology Field Studies | 6 credits | |
ANTH 3500 | Directed Readings in Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3501 | Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3502 | Special Topics in Biological Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3503 | Special Topics in Archaeology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3510 | Anthropology of Genocide | 3 credits |
Notes:
- ANTH 3301 (formerly 2301) is a methods course.
- ANTH 3301, 3340, and 3361 will be offered simultaneously as a field school option for upper level students in Summer Term.
4000 Level
Students are required to complete a minimum of 9 credits of Anthropology at the 4000 level: |
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ANTH 4101 | Contemporary Readings in Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 4500 | Culture, Community, and Well-Being | 3 credits | |
ANTH 4501 | Selected Problems in Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 4502 | Regional Focus in Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 4510 | Applied Research in Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 4520 | Anthropology of Deadly Disease (under development) | 3 credits |
Notes:
Anthropology Major with a Cultural Anthropology Focus
For an Anthropology Major with a focus on cultural anthropology, students are advised to choose from the following course offerings: ANTH 2100, 2120, 2133, 2140, 2142, 2160, 2163, 2190, 2310, 3100, 3130, 3168, 3183 (in development), 3188, 3190, 3500, 3501, 3510, 4101, 4500, 4501, 4502, and 4520 (in development).
Anthropology Major with an Archaeology & Biological Anthropology Focus
For an Anthropology Major with a focus on archaeology and biological anthropology, students are advised to choose from the following course offerings: ANTH 2217, 2300, 2310, 2320, 2340, 3220, 3300, 3301, 3330, 3340, 3361, 3500, 3502, 3503, 3510, 4500, 4501, 4502, 4510 and 4520 (in development).
Anthropology Minor
The Minor in Anthropology enables students to acquire skills and a well-rounded knowledge base in both the general discipline of anthropology and a specific sub-field of study (i.e., archaeology and biological anthropology, or cultural anthropology) that suits their individual interests.
It is our intention that these requirements provide students with employability skills that include:
- critical thinking skills;
- cross-cultural and historical awareness in a multicultural society affected by globalization;
- the ability to apply abstract ideas to deal with specific issues or problems;
- practical and cross-cultural experience in the areas of archaeological, forensic, and ethnographic research
1000 Level
Students are required to complete all of the following courses: |
|||
ANTH 1100 | Social & Cultural Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 1200 | Biological Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 1300 | Archaeology | 3 credits | |
Recommended: |
|||
ANTH 1217 | Forensic Anthropology | 3 credits |
Notes:
ANTH 1217 is the prerequisite for ANTH 2217, 3220 (in development).
Completion of the courses listed above with a minimum GPA of 2.0 will fulfill prerequisites to all 2000-level Anthropology courses.
2000 Level
Students are required to complete 3 credits of the following methods courses: |
|||
ANTH 2100 | Method and Ethics in Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2217 | Forensic Methods & Analysis | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2300 | Archaeological Methods | 3 credits | |
Students are required to complete a minimum of 6 additional ANTH credits at the 2000 level. |
|||
ANTH 2120 | Cross-Cultural Women's and Gender Studies | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2133 | Religion, Magic and Witchcraft | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2140 | First Nations Cultures of B.C. | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2142 | First Nations Cultures of Canada | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2160 | Culture and the Environment | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2163 | Culture, Health and Well-Being | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2310 | Archaeology of Death | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2320 | Archaeology of the Old World | 3 credits | |
ANTH 2340 | Archaeology of the Americas | 3 credits |
3000 Level
Students are required to complete 3 credits of the following theory courses: |
|||
ANTH 3100 | Anthropological Theory | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3300 | Archaeological Theory | 3 credits | |
Students are required to complete a minimum of 9 additional ANTH credits at the 3000 level: |
|||
ANTH 3130 | Sikh Culture, Religion and Society | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3168 | Deviance Across Cultures | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3188 | Visual Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3220 | Human Osteology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3301 | Archaeological Methods for Cultural Resource Management | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3330 | East Asian Archaeology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3340 | British Columbia Archaeology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3361 | Archaeology Field Studies | 6 credits | |
ANTH 3500 | Directed Readings in Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3501 | Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3502 | Special Topics in Biological Anthropology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3503 | Special Topics in Archaeology | 3 credits | |
ANTH 3510 | Anthropology of Genocide | 3 credits |
Notes:
- ANTH 3301 (formerly 2301) is a methods course.
- ANTH 3301, 3340, and 3361 will be offered simultaneously as a field school option for upper level students in Summer Term.
4000 Level
Required Course: |
|||
ANTH 4500 | Culture, Community, and Well-Being | 3 credits |
Notes:
Anthropology Minor with a Cultural Anthropology Focus
For an Anthropology Minor with a focus on cultural anthropology, students are advised to choose from the following course offerings: ANTH 2100, 2120, 2133, 2140, 2142, 2160, 2163, 2310, 3100, 3130, 3168, 3188, 3500, 3510, 4500.
Anthropology Minor with an Archaeology & Biological Anthropology Focus
For an Anthropology Minor with a focus on archaeology and biological anthropology, students are advised to choose from the following course offerings: ANTH 2217, 2300, 2310, 2320, 2340, 3220, 3300, 3330, 3340, 3361, 3500, 3502, 3503, 3510, 4500.
Credential Awarded
Upon successful completion of the major program students are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Arts. Transcripts will indicate a Major in Anthropology.
Upon successful completion of the minor as part of a Bachelor of Arts program, transcripts will indicate a Minor in Anthropology.