The BA in Anthropology with a Biocultural concentration is a program housed solely in the Anthropology Department and designed for students that are interested in Biological Anthropology and may require more flexibility in scheduling in order to create a curriculum that fits their specific needs. The emphasis of this degree is on the interaction of biological and cultural forces on the human species. This major is excellent preparation for applied health careers that integrate behavioral sciences and biology. The overall credit requirement is relatively high and thus, ANTH 303 and ANTH 490 are optional.
The Biocultural BA degree has most of the same curricular expectations as the other anthropology degrees. One does not need to take upper division biology, in general, beyond anatomy and physiology and perhaps microbiology, but this degree provides more training in cultural anthropology. Students can receive post baccalaureate training in anthropology or related behavioral science graduate and health-related programs, but for some career tracks additional coursework will be required. Students with this major will be well-situated for further training in any aspect of biosocial anthropology particularly medical or aging specialties, occupational therapy, nursing, public health, rehabilitation therapy and so on.
Transfer students interested in the Anthropology Biocultural major are advised to complete a year of chemistry and biology before entering the the program. Fulfilling these courses prior to entering Western may considerably shorten the many quarters necessary to complete the major. Students are welcome to contact our Department Office at (360) 650-3620 or the Biology Department for more information and advisement.
Mid-Program Checkpoint
Students seeking to complete a BA degree in anthropology with a BioCultural concentration within a four-year time span should have completed the following courses by the start of their junior year. Major omissions from this list will make it difficult or impossible to complete this degree within two additional years.
Bio 204, 205 & 206; Chem 121, 122 & 123 OR Chem 125, 126, 225; Anth 201 and 210 and either Anth 335 OR Anth 301
NEW! Students are only eligible to declare an anthropology major if they have successfully completed any one of the following core courses: Anth 301, 303, 335.
DEGREE COURSEWORK & REQUIREMENTS
Anthropology - Biocultural Concentration - BA 95-98 Credits
Anthropology requirements as follows:
Cultural Core Component
Anth 201
Anth 210
Anth 215
Anth 247 (Ling 201 or 204, Eng 370 may be substituted for an anthropological linguistics course)
Anth 301
Anth 335 or another basic statistics course under departmental advisement
Anth 496
PLEASE NOTE: Anth 303 and 490 are optional.
Chem 121, 122, 123 (or Chem 125, 126, 225)
Chem 251 (or 351, 352, 353)
Biol 204, 205, 206, 348, 349
Anth 350, 424
Two of the following: Anth 422, 423, 457, 466 or any course from the Culture Region Component under the Anthropology major. (see below)
Anth 361, 362, 364, 365, 460, 462, 463, 465, 476
Program advis0r: Joan Stevenson, Anthropology.
Students are encouraged to further specialize according to their interests by pursuing appropriate course sequences and/or minors outside of the anthropology department, e.g. mathematics with an emphasis on statistics if pursuing epidemiology. Please confer with your advisors to tailor your training to meet you post-baccalaureate plans.
Only one 100-level course will count toward any major or minor.
"The world began without man, and it will complete itself without him.”
