Anthropology at Albion

Anthropology is one of the most wide ranging of academic fields. Its primary subfields--traditionally defined as archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistics--straddle the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. This is one of the ways anthropology differs from sociology, which is strictly a social science. Anthropology also contains countless smaller subfields, including political anthropology, economic anthropology, legal anthropology, medical anthropology, paleoanthropology, zooarchaeology, environmental anthropology, etc. Anthropology can accommodate almost any interest, but anthropologists of all specializations tend to share curiosity about people and their similarities and differences. Although the majority of anthropologists eventually work in a single primary sub-field (archaeology, cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, or linguistics), many are able to combine these areas of inquiry and collaborate on projects with anthropologists of different specializations. At Albion, the anthropology program offers more courses in cultural anthropology than in other subfields, but there are regularly offered courses in biological anthropology and archaeology and all anthropology majors are required to take one course in one of these sub-fields.  Some anthropology courses combine sub-fields.

Please visit our Faculty page to learn more about Albion's anthropology professors.

• Action Plan for Anthropology Majors
• Requirements for an Anthropology Major
• Requirements for an Anthropology Minor
• Requirements for a Combined Anthropology/Sociology Major
• Requirements for a Combined Anthropology/Sociology Minor

Action Plan for Anthropology Majors at Albion College

The anthropology program at Albion College exposes students to the breadth of anthropology, but it also encourages them to explore their own interests and, if possible, carry out their own research. It's possible to complete a major in many different ways. Here we provide a way of going about the major that would be especially suitable for a student who decides early on that anthropology is a possible major. 

Students should keep in mind that deciding on a major is a very different decision from deciding on a career. Anthropology is excellent preparation for many different types of careers, but generally speaking, an undergraduate program in anthropology does not train students for any career in particular. For students interested in careers as professional anthropologists, the program at Albion should prepare students well for M.A. or Ph.D. programs. Occasionally graduates have found jobs for anthropologists with B.A. degrees, but most interested in anthropology as a career will eventually go on to graduate work. An undergraduate major in anthropology is not a requirement for admission to a graduate program in anthropology--a fact that might help underscore how deciding on a major is not the same as deciding on a career.

If students have a particular career in mind they might be able to tailor their studies accordingly--some recent graduates have, for example, aimed their studies towards preparation for careers in museum administration and journalism. Or, students undecided about careers can explore different options and pick up a variety of job-related skills and experience while completing the major. Many students gain valuable work experience through summer internships or internships completed during a semester off-campus.

First-year: Students will take Introduction to Anthropology and a variety of other courses to explore various "modes of inquiry," as described in the Albion Academic Catalog. If students are not already fairly competent in a language, they are strongly encouraged to begin language study during this year. Language study is often useful in anthropology and students might also consider doing advanced study in a language they have previously studied or they might begin to study a different language (language study is, however, not required for the major). It's not too early to begin investigating study-abroad possibilities.

Sophomore year: Students will explore various facets of anthropology, perhaps taking Archaeology (A/S 241) or Biological Anthropology (A/S 242) (such courses can be taken in any year, but probably the majority take them after the first year). Students might also explore particular regions of the world by taking one or more of the following courses:

• Native North America (A/S 256)--taught by cultural anthropologist Molly Mullin
• Modern China (A/S 263)--taught by historian Dr. Yi-Li Wu
• Modern Japan (A/S 264)--also taught by Dr. Wu
• Israel and Palestine (A/S 270)--taught by sociologist Len Berkey
• Social Change and Development in Africa (A/S 248)--taught by sociologist 'Dimeji Togunde

Note that occasionally courses are offered, by visiting faculty especially, that focus on other geographic areas. It is often possible to fulfill the area studies requirement for the major by taking one of these courses, but students must obtain faculty approval.

During this time students should also consider:

• Continuing language study.
• Taking Theory and Method in Anthropology (A/S 343) in the spring semester of their sophomore or junior years.
• Taking Statistics (Math 109 or 210) and Social Research (A/S 224) especially if they are planning on graduate work in Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, or related applied fields.
• Taking Social Stratification or other sociology courses (keep in mind that sociology courses can count towards the required 8 units of coursework in the department).
• Developing independent research projects and applying for funding through FURSCA.

By sophomore year, if firmly committed to the anthropology major, students might look into the possibility of having one of the anthropology professors serve as their academic advisor. If their advisor is in another department, they should feel free to consult with faculty in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at any time regarding their plans and the requirements for the major.

Junior year: Students should think about spending at least one semester of their junior year in an off-campus study program that provides the opportunity for internships or independent research. They might also consider enrolling in year-long study programs at a university in another country. Students might want to:

• Explore social change and cultural diversity in urban centers (Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, London...). Work in a museum or for a nonprofit organization, acquiring valuable job experience or trying out possible career interests.
• Participate in archaeological excavations in Honduras, Ireland, or the American Southwest.
• Work with social service providers or environmentalists along the United States/Mexican border.
• Gain first-hand experience for a semester or a year in some part of the world studied in courses at Albion, either as a university student or in some other type of program. Majors have recently completed study abroad programs in Germany, Japan, Spain, England, Scotland and China, among many other countries.

Students are often able to complete requirements for the anthropology major while studying off-campus (specific requirements might be fulfilled by, for example, taking an archaeology or biological anthropology course or an anthropology course focusing on a particular region; anthropology courses can also be taken that help fulfill the requirement of 8 units for the major). Anthropology faculty can help students gain pre-approval for particular courses.

If only away for one semester their junior year, during the semester students are at Albion they might take upper division anthropology courses such as those in the Anthropology of Sex & Gender, the Anthropology of Mass Culture, the Anthropology of Art, Environmental Anthropology, or Healing, Health & Society. Many students, in their junior year, start thinking about possible topics for a senior thesis project. Even if not working towards a thesis, students might explore opportunities to conduct independent research on a project they would develop in consultation with a faculty member and apply for funding through FURSCA. 

Junior year isn't too early to start investigating graduate programs in various fields.  Many students decide to get a few years of work experience after graduation, but if you think you would like to go straight into a graduate degree program, it can take a while to learn about the various options and decide which one is best for you. 

Senior year: Students with a 3.0 GPA or higher might consider working on a senior thesis for departmental honors. In consultation with a departmental advisor, students may take two units of Senior Paper (A/S 408), one in the fall semester and one in the spring, in order to complete a senior paper based on their independent research. Alternatively, students may want just to continuing taking upper division anthropology courses.

Many students will want to apply to a pre-professional or graduate program during the fall of their senior year. Many will want to start researching job possibilities.  Students might need to take the GRE or some other required exam (even if not going immediately to a graduate program, many students like to get entrance exams over with while still in school). If you're going to need letters of recommendation from faculty members, make sure to request them well ahead of deadlines. When requesting letters, it's a good idea to provide professors with a resume, a list of what courses you've taken with them and when, and either an application essay or some sort of statement about what you're applying for and why. Choose appropriate faculty to write your letters: generally speaking, you want to ask for letters from faculty who know you well.

Requirements for an Anthropology Major

Eight units are required for a major including

• Introduction to Anthropology (A/S 105)
• Theory and Method (A/S 343)
• One course in anthropological approaches to the human past such as Prehistoric Archaeology (241), Biological Anthropology (242), or the Archaeology of Ethnicity in America (361)
• One course in cultural studies such as Anthropology of Art (310), Anthropology of Sex and Gender (332), Myth, Magic and Mind (362), Anthropology of Mass Culture (366), Animals and Human Societies (A/S 220)
• One course in an ethnographic area such as Cultures of Mexico (254), Native North America (256), Social Change and Development in Africa (248), and Modern China (263)
• Study of a foreign language for at least 2 years is strongly encouraged
• Students anticipating graduate work in Archaeology, Biological Anthropology or related applied fields are also strongly advised to take Statistics (Math 109 or 210) and Social Research (A/S 224)
• No more than one internship credit may be counted toward the major
• All anthropology and sociology courses must be taken for a numerical grade except those offered only on a credit/no credit basis
• All department majors will be required to take a senior exit exam during the Spring semester as part of the department's assessment program. Participation in additional assessment activities may be required.

Requirements for Anthropology Minor

• Minors must have 5 units in anthropology including Theory and Method (343)
• Anthropology majors may not complete a minor in the department
• All anthropology courses must be taken for a numerical grade except those offered only on a credit/no credit basis.

Requirements for Combined Anthropology/Sociology Major

Although anthropology and sociology are separate and distinct disciplines, they also have many things in common: theories and methodologies, a focus on cultural similarities and differences and a commitment to international and/or global studies.  Nearly all students choosing either anthropology or sociology as a major will take courses in both fields, but some students may find that their academic needs are best met by a major that explicitly combines both fields of study.

• No more than one unit of internship credit may be counted toward the major
• All anthropology and sociology courses must be taken for a numerical grade, except those offered only on a credit/no credit basis

Beginning in 2006/2007 academic year, the new course requirement for combined A/S major would consist of 8 Units of Coursework: distributed as follows:

1) Two "gateway courses": A/S 101 and A/S 105

These two courses introduce students to both disciplines and their topics and methodological approaches provide grounding in two modes of inquiry: Modeling & Analysis and History and Culture.

2) Two theory based courses from both disciplines: A/S 212 and A/S 343

3) Four Advanced level courses: two upper division level courses in Anthropology and two from Sociology.

At least two of these upper division level courses must be at the 300 level where part of the course requirements should include research based assignments.

Students anticipating graduate work in archaeology, sociology or related applied fields are strongly encouraged to take A/S 224 in order for them to be equipped with the much needed training in quantitative data analysis and software applications.

Requirements for Combined Anthropology/Sociology Minor

• Minors must have 5 units in anthropology and sociology including Theory and Method (343) or History of Sociological Thought (312)
• Students majoring in anthropology or sociology may not complete a minor in the department
• All anthropology and sociology courses must be taken for a numerical grade, except those offered only on a credit/no credit basis
• All department majors will be required to take a senior exit exam during the Spring semester as part of the department's assessment program. Participation in additional assessment activities may be required.

Top of page

For more information please contact Dr. 'Dimeji Togunde, Chair of Anthropology and Sociology Department
( dtogunde@albion.edu ). For information specifically about anthropology at Albion, contact Dr. Molly Mullin (mmullin@albion.edu).