Richard Lazenby, Professor Emeritus
Angèle Smith, Professor and Chair
Michel Bouchard, Professor
Shauna LaTosky, Assistant Professor
Farid Rahemtulla, Assistant Professor
Erin Gibson, Adjunct Professor
Brenda Guernsey, Adjunct Professor
Earl Henderson, Adjunct Professor
Alex Oehler, Adjunct Professor
Website: www.unbc.ca/anthropology
Anthropology is the integrated biological and sociocultural investigation of humankind, from the time of our pre-human ancestors to the present, including the study of both small- and large-scale societies. The program includes courses in archaeological, biological, linguistic and sociocultural anthropology. While a small number of mandatory courses will ensure that all students in the program share basic understanding of the range of anthropological approaches, students are able to select courses within the program and from other parts of the curriculum to focus on specific interests. The following suggestions illustrate the range of possibilities: a student with an interest in language could select courses within the programs in First Nations Studies, International Studies, English and Psychology; a student intending to enter a graduate program in archaeology might select courses from First Nations Studies, Geology, Geography, History and Environmental Studies programs; a student planning to work in the subfield of sociocultural anthropology could select courses from First Nations Studies, International Studies, Northern Studies, Women’s Studies and Social Work; a student interested in biological (or medical) anthropology would include courses in Biology, Environmental Studies and Statistics; and a career in museology or cultural property management might benefit from a background in Resource Recreation and Tourism or administration as well as First Nations Studies, International Studies, History and Northern Studies.
Anthropology prepares students for entrance to a number of graduate programs (Archaeology, Biological and Sociocultural Anthropology, Museology); several types of professional programs (Law, Library and Information Science, Communicative Disorders, Social Work, Education, etc.) or employment in government or the private sector. Students aiming towards specific career goals should discuss their interests with advisors in the program at an early stage.
Major in Anthropology (BA)
Joint Major in Anthropology and English (BA)
Joint Major in Anthropology and First Nations Studies (BA)
Joint Major in Anthropology and Geography (BA)
Joint Major in Anthropology and Political Science (BA)
Minor in Anthropological Archaeology
Minor in Biological Anthropology
Minor in General Anthropology
Minor in Sociocultural Anthropology
Major in Anthropology
Students majoring in Anthropology must take 54 credit hours in Anthropology courses (18 courses). Students may not take more than 60 credit hours of Anthropology without written permission of the Department Chair.
The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Anthropology is 120 credit hours.
Program Requirements
Lower-Division Requirements
| Anthropology: A World of Discovery | |
| Biological Anthropology | |
| Introduction to Archaeology | |
| Peoples and Cultures | |
| Language and Culture |
Upper-Division Requirements
Anthropology Capstone
One of the following:
| Qualitative Methods | |
| Archaeological Lab Methods | |
| Practicing Anthropology | |
| Human Adaptability and Environmental Stress |
One of the following:
| Anthropological Theory | |
| Archaeological Theory |
Ten additional 3 credit hour courses in Anthropology of which six courses must be upper-level.
Subject Requirement
Students wishing to pursue graduate degrees in anthropology or in anthropology-related careers are encouraged to take field school courses and internships.
Elective and Academic Breadth Requirement
Electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credit hours necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth).
Joint Major in Anthropology and English (BA)
The Anthropology and English joint major equips students with knowledge of anthropological issues and societal concerns as well as literary, critical reading and communication skills. The joint major offers complementary courses in areas such as theory, popular culture, film studies, place studies, gender studies as well as courses that focus on various cultural contexts.
Students fulfilling a Joint Anthropology/English major must take 75 credit hours or 25 courses (36 credit hours or 12 courses in Anthropology and 39 credit hours or 13 courses in English). The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a Joint Major in Anthropology and English is 120 credit hours.
Program Requirements
Lower-Division Requirement
| Anthropology: A World of Discovery | |
| Survey of English Literature I | |
| Survey of English Literature II |
Two of the following:
| Biological Anthropology | |
| Introduction to Archaeology | |
| Peoples and Cultures | |
| Language and Culture |
One of the following:
| Introduction to Literary Structures | |
| Introduction to Film |
One of the following theory courses:
| Gender and Literary Theory | |
| The History of Literary Criticism and Theory | |
| Contemporary Theory |
Two additional courses (6 credit hours) of Anthropology at the 200 level
Two additional courses (6 credit hours) of English at the 200 level
Upper-Division Requirement
One of the following:
| Qualitative Methods | |
| Archaeological Lab Methods | |
| Practicing Anthropology | |
| Human Adaptability and Environmental Stress |
One of the following:
| Anthropological Theory | |
| Archaeological Theory |
Anthropology Capstone
Four additional courses (12 credit hours) in Anthropology at the 300 or 400 level
Two of the following English courses (6 credit hours) at the 400 level:
| Special Topics in Contemporary Women's Literature | |
| Special Topics in Indigenous Literatures | |
| Special Topics in Canadian Literature | |
| Special Topics in Northern BC Literature | |
| Special Topics in International Literatures in English | |
| Special Topics in Comparative Literary Studies | |
| Special Topics in Romantic Literature | |
| Special Topics in Cultural Studies |
Five additional upper-division English courses (15 credit hours) ensure fulfillment of the upper-division requirement. Two courses may be chosen from the following list of English ancillary courses:
| Indigenous Women: Perspectives | |
| History of Feminist Theories | |
| An Introduction to the History of Gender | |
| Contemporary Feminist Theories |
Elective and Academic Breadth Requirement
Electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credit hours necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth.)
Joint Major in Anthropology and First Nations Studies (BA)
The Anthropology and First Nations Studies joint major equips students with knowledge of anthropological issues and societal concerns as well as engages students to critically assess underlying everyday assumptions by taking a First Nations perspective. The joint major offers complementary courses in areas such as community-based research theory and methods, gender, environment and place studies, traditional use wear, and heritage.
Students fulfilling a Joint Anthropology/First Nations Studies major must take 69 credit hours or 23 courses (36 credit hours or 12 courses in Anthropology and 33 credit hours or 11 courses in First Nations Studies). The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a Joint Major in Anthropology and First Nations Studies is 120 credit hours.
Program Requirements
Lower-Division Requirement
| Anthropology: A World of Discovery | |
| The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada | |
| Perspectives in First Nations Studies |
Two of the following:
| Biological Anthropology | |
| Introduction to Archaeology | |
| Peoples and Cultures | |
| Language and Culture |
One of the following:
| A First Nations Language: Level 1 | |
| A First Nations Language: Level 2 | |
| Dakelh / Carrier Language: Level 1 | |
| Dakelh / Carrier Language: Level 2 | |
| Haisla Language (X-a’islak’ala): Level 1 | |
| Haisla Language (X-a’islak’ala): Level 2 | |
| Tsimshian Language (Sm’algyax): Level 1 | |
| Tsimshian Language (Sm’algyax): Level 2 | |
| Nisga’a Language: Level 1 | |
| Nisga’a Language: Level 2 | |
| A First Nations Culture: Level 1 | |
| A First Nations Culture: Level 2 | |
| Dakelh / Carrier Culture: Level 1 | |
| Dakelh / Carrier Culture: Level 2 | |
| Tsimshian Culture: Level 1 | |
| Tsimshian Culture: Level 2 | |
| Nisga’a Culture: Level 1 | |
| Nisga’a Culture: Level 2 | |
| Métis Studies: Level 1 | |
| Métis Studies: Level 2 |
Two additional courses (6 credit hours) of Anthropology at the 200 level.
Upper-Division Requirement
One of the following:
| Qualitative Methods | |
| Archaeological Lab Methods | |
| Practicing Anthropology | |
| Human Adaptability and Environmental Stress |
One of the following:
| Anthropological Theory | |
| Archaeological Theory |
Required
| Anthropology Capstone | |
| Research Methods in First Nations Studies | |
| Internship in First Nations Studies |
Four additional courses (12 credit hours) in Anthropology at the 300 or 400 level
Six additional courses (18 credit hours) in First Nations Studies at the 300 or 400 level or approved ancillary courses for the major in First Nations Studies
Elective and Academic Breadth Requirement
Electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credit hours necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth.)
Joint Major in Anthropology and Geography (BA)
The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a Joint Major in Anthropology and Geography is 120 credit hours.
Program Requirements
Lower-Division Requirements
| Anthropology: A World of Discovery | |
| Biological Anthropology | |
| Introduction to Archaeology | |
| Peoples and Cultures | |
| Language and Culture | |
| Planet Earth | |
| or | Earth from Above |
Four of the following:
| British Columbia: People and Places | |
| Resources, Economies, and Sustainability | |
| Canada: Places, Cultures, and Identities | |
| Introduction to GIS | |
| Social Geography | |
| Migration and Development | |
| Natural Hazards: Human and Environmental Dimensions | |
| World Regions: Latin America and the Caribbean | |
| World Regions: Inuit Nunangat | |
| Global Environmental Change | |
| Special Topics |
Upper-Division Requirements
| Anthropological Theory | |
| or | Archaeological Theory |
| Anthropology Capstone |
One of the following:
| Qualitative Methods | |
| Archaeological Lab Methods | |
| Practicing Anthropology | |
| Human Adaptability and Environmental Stress |
Three upper-division Anthropology courses (9 credit hours) excluding Independent Study
Four of the following:
| Political Ecology: Environmental Knowledge and Decision-Making | |
| Critical Development Geographies | |
| Changing Arctic: Human and Environmental Systems | |
| Health Geography | |
| Community-Based Research | |
| Community Development | |
| Geography Field School |
Two of the following:
| Tenure, Conflict, and Resource Geography | |
| Indigenous Geographies of Climate Resilience | |
| Mountains | |
| Environmental Justice | |
| Northern Communities | |
| Geographies of Culture, Rights and Power |
Twenty-one additional credit hours of upper-division courses in any subject.
Elective and Academic Breadth
Elective course hours as necessary to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credit hours necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (See Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth).
Students wishing to pursue graduate degrees in Anthropology or Geography are encouraged to choose electives in Anthropology or Geography.
Joint Major in Anthropology and Political Science (BA)
The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a Joint Major in Anthropology and Political Science is 120 credit hours.
Program Requirements
Lower-Division Requirements
| Anthropology: A World of Discovery | |
| Contemporary Political Issues | |
| Canadian Government and Politics | |
| Canada in Comparative Perspective | |
| International Relations | |
| Political Philosophy: Antiquity to Early Modernity |
Two of the following:
| Biological Anthropology | |
| Introduction to Archaeology | |
| Peoples and Cultures | |
| Language and Culture |
Two additional courses (6 credit hours) of Anthropology at the 200 level.
Upper-Division Requirements
One of the following:
| Qualitative Methods | |
| Archaeological Lab Methods | |
| Practicing Anthropology | |
| Human Adaptability and Environmental Stress |
One of the following:
| Anthropological Theory | |
| Archaeological Theory | |
| Anthropology Capstone | |
| Democracy and Democratization | |
| Political Philosophy: Early Modernity to Post-Modernity |
Three additional courses (9 credit hours) in Anthropology at the 300 or 400 level.
Three additional courses (9 credit hours) in POLS at the 400 level.
Elective and Academic Breadth
Electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credit hours necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth).
Minor in Anthropology: Anthropological Archaeology
The minor in Anthropological Archaeology requires completion of a minimum of seven courses (21 credit hours), consisting of three lower-division courses (9 credit hours) and four upper-division courses (12 credit hours). A minor in Anthropology cannot be taken in addition to a major in Anthropology.
Requirements
| Anthropology: A World of Discovery |
Two of the following:
| Archaeology of the Americas | |
| Introduction to Archaeology | |
| Archaeology of the Old World | |
| The Ancient Egyptians |
Twelve credit hours of the following:
| Archaeological Lab Methods | |
| Archaeological Theory | |
| Archaeological Heritage Management | |
| British Columbia Archaeology | |
| Archaeological Survey and Mapping | |
| Excavation and Field Interpretation in Archaeology | |
| Archaeology and First Nations | |
| Stone Tools in Archaeology | |
| Anthropology Capstone | |
| Independent Study |
Minor in Anthropology: Biological Anthropology
The minor in Biological Anthropology requires completion of a minimum of seven courses (21 credit hours), consisting of three lower-division courses (9 credit hours) and four upper-division courses (12 credit hours). A minor in Anthropology cannot be taken in addition to a major in Anthropology.
Requirements
| Anthropology: A World of Discovery |
Two of the following:
| Biological Anthropology | |
| Medical Anthropology | |
| Human Adaptability and Environmental Stress |
Twelve credit hours of the following:
| Anthropology of Food, Drink and Health | |
| Plagues and Peoples | |
| Topics in Biological Anthropology | |
| Races, Racism, and Human Biology | |
| Anthropology Capstone | |
| Independent Study |
Minor in Anthropology: General Anthropology
The minor in General Anthropology requires completion of a minimum of seven courses (21 credit hours), consisting of three lower-division courses (9 credit hours) and four upper-division Anthropology courses (12 credit hours) no more than two of which may be chosen from any single existing Anthropology Minor (Anthropological Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, General Anthropology, Sociocultural Anthropology). A minor in Anthropology cannot be taken in addition to a major in Anthropology.
Requirements
| Anthropology: A World of Discovery |
Two of the following:
| Biological Anthropology | |
| Introduction to Archaeology | |
| Peoples and Cultures | |
| Language and Culture |
Four additional upper-division courses.
Minor in Anthropology: Sociocultural Anthropology
The minor in Sociocultural Anthropology requires completion of a minimum of seven courses (21 credit hours), consisting of three lower-division courses (9 credit hours) and four upper-division courses (12 credit hours). A minor in Anthropology cannot be taken in addition to a major in Anthropology.
Requirements
| Anthropology: A World of Discovery |
Two of the following:
| Popular Culture | |
| Anthropology Through Film | |
| Peoples and Cultures | |
| Anthropology of Europe | |
| Anthropology of Canada | |
| Language and Culture |
Twelve credit hours of the following:
| Qualitative Methods | |
| Museums, Galleries, Archives | |
| Circumpolar Ethnography | |
| Practicing Anthropology | |
| Anthropological Theory | |
| Thinking Through Anthropology: Ideas for a Better World | |
| Anthropological Perspectives on Inequality | |
| Comparative Study of Indigenous Peoples of the World | |
| Landscapes, Place and Culture | |
| Feminist Perspectives in Anthropology | |
| Theory of Nation and State | |
| Environmental Anthropology | |
| Religion, Ideology, and Belief Systems | |
| Ethnographic Field Methods | |
| Ethnographic Research Project | |
| Urban Anthropology | |
| Anthropology Capstone |
Updated: December 5, 2024