Requirements for the Anthropology Major

Ten courses (31 credits) taken within a program approved by a departmental undergraduate advisor are required for a major. These ten courses may include courses taken before declaration of the major, and up to two from outside the Department of Anthropology. Courses taken outside the anthropology department, including courses transferred from other institutions or study- abroad programs, may count toward the area requirements for the major (subject to approval by a major advisor), but normally they may not count toward the above-3000-level requirement for the major. In order to declare a major, a student must have completed two courses taken in the anthropology department. No course for the major may be taken on a CR/NC basis. Normally at least 18 credits must be taken after declaration of the major. The major requires a distribution of courses in the following areas:

1. One course in each of the following areas within Anthropology:
   1. Principles of Sociocultural Analysis
   2. Ethnography (formerly Cultural Diversities)
   3. Archaeology
   4. Linguistic Anthropology.
2. All majors must take ANTH 3010, History of Anthropological Theory, preferably in their third year. This is a 4-credit course, with an obligatory discussion section.
3. All majors must take ANTH 4991 during their fourth year.
4. All majors must take at least two ANTH courses at or above the 3000 level in addition to ANTH 3001 and 4991. These may overlap with the area distribution requirements (1a-1d above).
5. All majors must take at least one course in Anthropology which fulfills the Department's non-western perspectives requirement.

Each semester the department publishes a list of the current courses that satisfy the above requirements.
Students frequently find that anthropology provides a cognate discipline which can be paired with other studies in the humanities and sciences. Many of these students choose to double-major in anthropology and another discipline. Up to six credits in another department major may be counted toward an anthropology major if they are consistent with a student's overall program. Specific courses, therefore, may be counted toward both majors, but the student must receive approval from a departmental advisor in advance.

Exceptions to any of these requirements are made only upon written petition to the Undergraduate Committee of the Department of Anthropology. No petitions are accepted after the completion of a student's seventh semester.

A number of informal activities are associated with the department. Among these is the Anthropology Association of the University of Virginia. Majors are encouraged to attend meetings of the group and to attend lectures and symposia sponsored by the department.

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