Requirements

Anthropology Major

The major in anthropology consists of ten courses. 

• Eight of the ten courses required for the major must be Bowdoin anthropology courses.
• Up to two of the six elective courses, with departmental approval, may be taken from among off-campus study courses, Bowdoin sociology courses, and/or—with approval by the department chair—other Bowdoin courses in related fields that contribute to the student's specific interests.

Anthropology Minor

The minor in anthropology consists of five courses.

Additional Information and Department Policies

• In order for a course to fulfill major or minor requirements, a grade of C- or above must be earned in that course.
• Courses that count toward the major or minor must be taken for regular letter grades (not Credit/D/Fail).
• First-year seminars count toward the major or minor.

Departmental Honors

Students seeking to graduate with honors in anthropology must have distinguished themselves in the major program. Students must petition the department to pursue honors by submitting a written proposal for scholarly research. Students contemplating honors candidacy should have established records of A and B grades in anthropology courses. Students must prepare an honors project, which ordinarily is a written paper emanating from two semesters of advanced independent study work. A total of two semesters of independent study may be counted toward the major requirements in anthropology. Determination of honors is based on grades attained in major courses, an honors project which is approved by the department, and demonstration of the ability to creatively synthesize theoretical, methodological, and substantive materials and to work independently.

Off-Campus Study

Study away may contribute substantially to a major in anthropology. Students are advised to plan study away for their junior year. Students are encouraged to complete ANTH 2010 Ethnographic Research—which focuses on research design, methods, and ethics—before studying away. Students must obtain provisional approval for their study away courses in writing by department faculty before they leave, and then, to receive credit toward their major or minor, students must seek final approval from their advisor upon their return to Bowdoin. With departmental approval, students may count up to two off-campus study courses toward their major requirements and up to one off-campus study course toward their minor requirements.  

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate

For information on credit for International Baccalaureate tests, please see the department. No credit is given for Advanced Placement. In order to receive credit for International Baccalaureate work, students must have their scores officially reported to the Office of the Registrar by the end of their sophomore year at Bowdoin.