Career and Academic Paths

Nationally, the growth in students majoring in anthropology relates to its focus on issues such as multiculturalism and ethnic relations, international migration, global urbanization, economic and technological development, and the application of anthropological research to the key issues of our time — health, aging, AIDS, genocide and poverty, to name a few. Additionally, the methods used by anthropologists increasingly are adopted and used by other social and behavioral science disciplines.

There is an increasing need for people trained for sensitivity to cultural nuances. Undergraduate majors in cultural anthropology will be prepared to seek a range of jobs in both public and private sectors of the economy that involve human interaction. Other areas of significance include the following:
Anthropologists teach and develop an understanding of how broad social, behavior and cultural systems operate.

The demand for qualitative evaluation in federal and state and local programs has never been higher; anthropologists are poised to take advantage of such a need.
Anthropology is a popular major for people intending to pursue professional study in medicine, law, psychology, education, business and the human-services professions (e.g., social work, nursing, etc.)

Many job opportunities are available for people who complete the program. Graduates of the program will be well-prepared to take positions in museums, social welfare institutions and agencies, research and evaluation firms of all sorts, marketing research firms and advertising agencies, medical and social welfare agencies that involve multicultural components, agencies that involve cross-ethnic relationships, companies and agencies that deal with management issues and the structure and operation of large corporate entities, and entities involved in international business and relations.

As with most liberal arts majors, there is not a specific professional niche to be filled by graduates with the degree. However, the skills that anthropology majors acquire are amply serviceable in numerous employment settings, especially as those settings experience increasing diversity, global competition and expansion.

Academic Advising

When a student declares a major in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, a copy of the declaration is sent to the department. A staff member then assigns the student a faculty advisor. Students should feel free to change advisors. The staff will make the necessary changes.

Every major should meet with his or her advisor at least once each semester to discuss progress and future plans and obtain electronic permission to register. Advisors have office hours posted outside their offices or can be contacted by leaving a message in their mailboxes with a telephone number and times the student will be available for telephone calls. Staff members usually do not make appointments for faculty members. Try to see the faculty advisor several days in advance of registration. It is often impossible to have your registration approved if you come to the department office on the day that you are scheduled to register. We encourage students to meet with his or her advisor any time that he or she has questions or problems or want to discuss his or her major or career plans. If the student’s advisor cannot help him or her with a problem, the student may be referred to someone who can. When a student applies for graduation, his or her advisor makes the final evaluation as to whether the student has completed all requirements for the major or minor. If the advisor has permitted the student to modify the major in any way, such as by transferring courses or waiving requirements, the student should get a written and signed copy of the agreements. The student’s advisor will be glad to discuss the general education requirements, general distribution requirements or general foundation requirements with him or her. However, department advisors have no authority to approve or disapprove courses used to satisfy these requirements. That is done by the Office for Academic and Preprofessional Advising.

Anthropology (31 Credits)

Students must complete the following requirements with a grade of “C” or better:

1. Core Requirements    (13 credits)

ANTH 211
Cultural Anthropology [3]
ANTH 303
Anthropological Research Methods [3]
SOCY 300
Methodology of Social Research [4]
ANTH 400
Anthropological Theory [3]

2. Other Requirements    (18 credits)

ANTH 212
The Ethnographer’s World
ANTH 297
Selected Topics in Anthropology
ANTH 302
Human Evolution: Physical Anthropology and Archaeology
ANTH 304
Family, Kin and Groups: The Anthropology of Social Organization
ANTH 310
Ethnographic Film
ANTH 311
Urban Anthropology
ANTH 312
Medical Anthropology
ANTH 313
Applied Anthropology

ANTH 314
Psychological Anthropology
ANTH 316
Anthropology of Religion
ANTH 317
Contemporary Problems in Anthropological Perspective
ANTH 318
Anthropology of Science and Technology
ANTH 320
Witchcraft and Magic
ANTH 326
American-Indian Cultures
ANTH 397
Selected Topics in Anthropology
ANTH 399
Independent Study in Anthropology
ANTH 402
Ethnography of Communication
ANTH 416
Cyberspace, Culture and Society
ANTH 419
Qualitative Methods in Social Research
ANTH 429
Aging in Cultural Context
ANTH 497
Advanced Selected Topics in Anthropology
ANTH 498
Selected Topics in Anthropology
ANTH 499
Advanced Independent Study in Anthropology

AFST 211
Introduction to Contemporary Africa
AFST 241
The Making of the Caribbean
AFST 314
Islam in Africa
AFST 323
Economic Development
in Africa
ARCH 100
Introduction to Archaeology
ARCH 340
Cities of the Past
ARCH 360
Rise of Civilization
ARCH 397
Field Experience in Archaeology
ARCH 410
Archaeological Methods and Theory
ENGL 318
Myth and Literature
ENGL 347
Contemporary Developments in Literature and Culture
ENGL 348
Literature and Culture
ENGL 349
The Bible and Literature
GES 327
Cultural Ecology

LING 210
Introduction to Language Structures
MLL 230
World Language Communities

Minor Program

The minor in anthropology consists of ANTH 211 and 15 credits in elective anthropology courses (a total of 18 credits). At least six of these credits must be at the 300 level or above, and at least nine credits normally must be taken at UMBC. A grade of “C” or better is required in all courses.

Honors Program

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology offers a major with honors in anthropology. Information describing the requirements for the major with honors is available in the Student’s Guide available in the department office in room 252 of the Public Policy Building. Students considering graduate school in anthropology are particularly encouraged to pursue this option.

M.A. and Accelerated B.A./M.A. Programs in Applied Sociology

The M.A. in Applied Sociology and the Accelerated B.A./M.A. in Applied Sociology focus on the sociology of health, aging and diversity. The two programs are open to students in all majors and to full-time and part-time students. The M.A. program is 30 credits and can be completed in three semesters plus a summer or winter course by full-time students.

The Accelerated B.A./M.A. enables UMBC undergraduates to take up to nine credits of graduate courses that count both for the B.A. and M.A. degrees. This reduces the number of credits that must be taken in graduate school. Students can enter the accelerated program no earlier than their junior year and no later than the semester when they graduate.

Students can be admitted to either program in the fall and spring semesters. Admission requirements include a GPA of 3.0 or higher and an undergraduate course in statistics in any department. GRE scores are not required for UMBC undergraduates. The graduate school application fee is waived for UMBC undergraduates who apply for the accelerated program. Some research, teaching and other assistantships are available and provide tuition remission, health insurance and a stipend. For details, contact the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

Evening and Part-time Options

The department offers various advanced courses in the evening every semester but does not offer an evening major. Students who are able to take some courses during the day can complete the degree on a part-time basis.

Student Organizations

Council of Majors
Membership in the Council of Majors is open to declared majors. The council publishes a newsletter, meets regularly throughout the academic year, and the department meeting room is set aside during various hours as a meeting and study room.

Lambda Alpha
National Collegiate Honor Society for Anthropology
To become a member, an undergraduate student must:
(1) be an officially declared anthropology major
(2) be a junior (60-89 total credits) or a senior (90 or more total credits)
(3) have an overall UMBC GPA of 3.0 or better
(4) have a GPA in all UMBC (and UMCP) anthropology courses of 3.0 or better
(5) have completed not less than twelve credits in Sociology and Anthropology
Further details and applications are available from the department office (room 252 of the Public Policy Building). The induction ceremony is held in May each year.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

The department has external grants and contracts on which undergraduates may work as research assistants. Such arrangements are made individually with the faculty member.