耶鲁大学

The major in Anthropology gives a firm grounding in this comparative discipline concerned with human cultural, social, and biological diversity. Anthropology deals not only with that small proportion of humankind in Europe and North America but with societies of the entire world, from the remotest past to the present day. It is thus an essential part of a sound liberal education, helping us to see our world from a perspective that challenges ethnocentric assumptions. The major in Anthropology covers the evolution of human and nonhuman primates and the evolutionary biology of living people; world prehistory and the emergence of civilization; diversity and commonality in social organization and culture; the importance of culture for understanding such topics as sickness and health, gender and sexuality, environment and development, media and visual culture, urban life and sport, economic organization and politics, law and society, migration, and religion; and language use as cultural behavior.

The subfields of anthropological inquiry—archaeology, biological anthropology, sociocultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology—together offer a holistic perspective on humankind and its development.

Requirements of the Major

Students are required to present twelve course credits toward their major. At least eight term courses must be taught in the Yale Department of Anthropology. These eight must include an introductory or intermediate course (numbered ANTH 001–299) in each of at least three subfields of anthropology, three advanced courses (numbered ANTH 300–470 or 473–490, not including a senior essay seminar), and two electives. Additionally, all students must prepare a senior essay in ANTH 491 or another Anthropology seminar. Majors may take up to three cognate courses in departments other than Anthropology.

Three term courses related to anthropology may be selected from other departments, with approval by the director of undergraduate studies. Majors are not required to present such cognate courses, but those who do should choose courses that expand their knowledge in one of the subfields of anthropology or in an area of cross-disciplinary concentration. For example, cognate courses for biological anthropology can be found in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Geology and Geophysics, Psychology, and Forestry & Environmental Studies; cognates for sociocultural anthropology can be found in Sociology, American Studies, History, Environmental Studies, Religious Studies, Global Affairs, and international and area studies. Appropriate areas of cross-disciplinary concentrations include such topics as area studies (e.g., Africa); anthropological approaches to law, environment, business, the built environment, and health; gender and sexuality studies; evolutionary biology; and geology.

Areas of concentration The major does not have formal tracks, but majors may choose to concentrate in one of the subfields of anthropology. They may also draw on courses in sociocultural and biological anthropology to pursue a concentration in medical anthropology. Those who concentrate in sociocultural anthropology are strongly encouraged to take a course in ethnographic methods and one in anthropological theory (e.g., ANTH 303 or 311). Those who concentrate in biological anthropology are strongly encouraged to take courses that give them hands-on experience working with material used in the study of human and nonhuman primate anatomy and evolution and that introduce them to laboratory methods.