About

Have you ever pictured yourself analyzing forensic remains at a crime scene, helping deliver aid to the victims of a disaster in another country, or excavating the remains of an ancient civilization? Do you want to stand out from the crowd and live an exciting life?

East Carolina's bachelor of arts program in anthropology provides students a general background in the study of people, both in the past and present. Beyond their general studies, students can specialize in archaeology, biological anthropology, or cultural anthropology. Students receive individualized advising and the opportunity to work closely with faculty members on various projects. Learning extends beyond the classroom through field schools, internship options, and the opportunity to do honors thesis research.

ECU Advantage

Anthropology at ECU has gained national attention for its efforts to help students obtain jobs after graduation. Faculty and staff work with students individually to match their talents and skills to job options after graduation. In addition, the department hosts alumni events to help current students begin to build their professional network. Through an active Anthropology Student Organization and chapter of Lambda Alpha Honor Society, students develop leadership skills and enjoy social activities. Our faculty members are active in ECU's Global Classroom program, through which students can take a course in cross-cultural understanding that involves interacting in live-time with students in at least three different cultures during the semester. The program is housed in the completely renovated Flanagan Building featuring modern classrooms, laboratories, a library, and computer room for student use.

ECU's anthropology faculty are recognized experts specializing in the study of bioarchaeology, primates, and forensic anthropology; prehistoric and historic North American archaeology, and the archaeology of the Middle East; language and cross-cultural communication, culture and personality, systems of health and healing, religion, immigration, and global education.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Laura Mazow (207 Flanagan Building, 252-328-0432, anthug@ecu.edu)

The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:

1. General education requirements - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

    2. Demonstrated foreign language proficiency through level 2004 - 12 s.h.

    (For information about the foreign language requirement view Special Requirements for the BA Degree in the Academic Advisement, Progression and Support Services section and Placement Testing, Foreign Language in the Admission and Readmission section.)

      3. Core - 13-14 s.h.
      • ANTH 2000 - Archaeology Around the World
      • ANTH 2010 - Societies Around the World

      • ANTH 2015 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology
      • ANTH 2016 - Biological Anthropology Laboratory
        • OR
      • BIOL 2015 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology
      • BIOL 2016 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology Laboratory

      • Choose a methods course from the following:
      4. Electives - 15 s.h.

      (At least 3 s.h. must be above 2999. A maximum of 3 s.h. can be below 1999. It is recommended that at least one course be chosen from each of the following sub-fields.)

        a. Archaeology:
        • ANTH 3111 - North American Archaeology

        • ANTH 3113 - Archaeology of the Old Testament World OR
        • RELI 3113 - Archaeology of the Old Testament World

        • ANTH 3114 - Archaeology of the New Testament World OR
        • RELI 3114 - Archaeology of the New Testament World

        • ANTH 3115 - Caribbean Archaeology
        • ANTH 3116 - Latin American Archaeology
        • ANTH 3117 - Prehistory of the Middle East
        • ANTH 3118 - Pyramids, Pharaohs, and Mummies: The Archaeology of Ancient Egypt
        • ANTH 3175 - Archaeological Field Training
        • ANTH 5120 - Archaeology of the Southeastern US
        • ANTH 5125 - Historical Archaeology
        • ANTH 5126 - Public Archaeology

        • (ANTH 3077 - Archaeological Methods can be taken as an elective if another methods course is used to
        b. Biological anthropology:
        • ANTH 1088 - Anthropology of Monsters, Zombies and Vampires
        • ANTH 3020 - Primate Behavior and Social Organization
        • ANTH 3026 - Forensic Anthropology
        • ANTH 3027 - Human Diseases and Ancient Environments
        • ANTH 3028 - Human Adaptation and Variation
        • ANTH 3030 - Death and Disease in the Classical World
        • ANTH 3252 - Medical Anthropology
        • ANTH 3352 - A Medical Anthropology Approach to Global Health Today
        • ANTH 4225 - Human Evolution

        • (ANTH 4400 - Human Skeletal Analysis and ANTH 4401 - Human Skeletal Analysis Laboratory can be taken
        c. Cultural anthropology:
        • ANTH 1050 - Global Understanding
        • ANTH 2002 - Introduction to Asia
        • ANTH 2005 - Environmental Anthropology
        • ANTH 2025 - Sexual Behavior from an Anthropological Perspective
        • ANTH 2250 - Race and Ethnic Relations: Discovering New Solutions
        • ANTH 2760 - Afro-Caribbean Language And Culture
        • ANTH 3003 - Cultures of Africa
        • ANTH 3004 - Cultures of the South Pacific
        • ANTH 3005 - North American Indians
        • ANTH 3011 - Hunter-Gatherer Lifeways
        • ANTH 3012 - Lifeways of Pastoral Nomads
        • ANTH 3016 - Cultures of the Caribbean
        • ANTH 3017 - Cultures of Mexico and Guatemala
        • ANTH 3018 - Cultures of South and Central America
        • ANTH 3150 - Applying Anthropology to Contemporary Cultural Issues
        • ANTH 3176 - Cultural Anthropology Field School I
        • ANTH 3177 - Cultural Anthropology Field School II
        • ANTH 3200 - Women's Roles in Cross-Cultural Perspective
        • ANTH 3252 - Medical Anthropology
        • ANTH 3300 - Language and Culture
        • ANTH 3352 - A Medical Anthropology Approach to Global Health Today

        • ANTH 3720 - Writing Systems of the World OR
        • ANTH 3770 - Language Universals

        • ANTH 4260 - Cultural Ecology
        • ANTH 4990 - Internship in Applied Anthropology
        • ANTH 4991 - Advanced Internship in Applied Anthropology
        • Note:
      5. Senior capstone course - 3 s.h.
      • ANTH 4025 - Theory in Anthropology
      6. Minor and general electives to complete requirements for graduation.
        For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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