Western Washington University · Bellingham, Washington
Anthropology—Biocultural Concentration, BA
What Is the Study of Biocultural Anthropology?
Anthropology explores what it means to be human. Anthropology is the scientific study of humankind in all the cultures of the world, past and present. This study includes humankind’s physical development and creation of diverse lifestyles. The cross-cultural approach of Anthropology provides a framework for understanding all the diverse facets of what it means to be human.
Why Should I Consider this Major?
The Biocultural Anthropology Concentration is the most flexible of the biology anthropology combined majors and allows for students to gain a broad interdisciplinary training relevant for many of the professions confronting the challenges of modern society. Students can supplement their studies with related coursework from other departments given the requirements of specific training or post-baccalaureate programs.
How to Declare:
To declare, a student must have completed any one of the following core courses:
- ANTH 301 or
- ANTH 303 or
- ANTH 335
Contact the Department of Anthropology at (360) 650-3620 or visit their office in Arntzen Hall 315 to declare the major and connect with a departmental advisor.
Advising Tips: Students are advised to declare their major early in their academic career. Anthropology advisors will provide information about the program, help develop a plan of study and answer any questions.
Coursework
- ANTH 201 - INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
- ANTH 301 - ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY
- ANTH 303 - QUALITATIVE METHODS IN ANTHROPOLOGY (optional)
- ANTH 335 - QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN ANTHROPOLOGY
- ANTH 350 - THE ECOLOGY OF HUMAN VARIATION
- ANTH 424 - MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
- ANTH 490 - SENIOR SEMINAR IN ANTHROPOLOGY (optional)
- ANTH 496 - PORTFOLIO ASSEMBLY
- BIOL 204 - INTRODUCTION TO EVOLUTION, ECOLOGY AND BIODIVERSITY
- BIOL 205 - INTRODUCTION TO CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
- BIOL 206 - INTRODUCTION TO ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY
- BIOL 348 - HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
- BIOL 349 - HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY
- Two courses from:
- ANTH 361 - NATIVE PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA
- ANTH 362 - PEOPLES OF ASIA
- ANTH 365 - PEOPLES OF LATIN AMERICA
- ANTH 422 - NUTRITIONAL ANTHROPOLOGY
- ANTH 423 - HUMAN EVOLUTION
- ANTH 457 - THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF DEATH AND DYING
- ANTH 460 - CULTURE AND SOCIETY OF JAPAN
- ANTH 462 - NATIVE PEOPLES OF THE NORTHWEST
- ANTH 463 - PEOPLES OF EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
- ANTH 464
- ANTH 465 - PEOPLES OF MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA
- ANTH 466 - REPRODUCTIVE ECOLOGY
- ANTH 476 – BORDERLANDS
- Choose one of the following series:
- CHEM 121 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
- CHEM 122 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
- CHEM 123 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY III
- or
- CHEM 125 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY I, HONORS
- CHEM 126 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY II, HONORS
- CHEM 225 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY III, HONORS
- Choose either:
- CHEM 251 - ELEMENTARY ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- or all three of the following:
- CHEM 351 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- CHEM 352 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- CHEM 353 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- At least one course each of the major subfields: physical anthropology, archaeology and linguistics (LING 201 or 204, ENG 370 may be substituted for an anthropological linguistics course)
- 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 advisor to tailor your training to meet your post-baccalaureate plans.
GURs:
These courses are offered within this major and may be used to satisfy GUR or Writing Proficiency Requirements.
- QSR: ANTH 335
- SSC: ANTH 201, 210, 247; LING201, 204
- ACGM: ANTH 362, 365
- BCGM: ANTH 361
- LSCI: ANTH 215; BIOL 204, 205, 206; CHEM 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 225, 251
Sample Careers
- Physical Anthropologist
- Archaeologist
- Cultural Anthropologist
- Anthropological Linguist
- Forensic Anthropologist
- Applied Health
- Medical fields
Department
Contact
Undergraduate Advisors:
Joan Stevenson
AH 316, 360-650-4787
Joan.Stevenson@wwu.edu
MJ Mosher
AH 324, 360-650-3614
M.J.Mosher@wwu.edu
Robert Marshall
AH 344, 360-650-4785
Robert.Marshall@wwu.edu
Anthropology Office:
AH 315
360-650-3620