Courses and Requirements

In recognition of the broad interdisciplinary nature of the field, the Department of Anthropology offers a wide range of options including the anthropology major, an interdepartmental major (geography-anthropology), an anthropology correlate sequence, and an interdepartmental correlate sequence (Biology and Culture). At all levels of the curriculum, students have opportunities to conduct faculty-supervised research.

Courses available to first-year students include Cultural Anthropology (Anthropology 140), which is required of all majors; Archaeology (Anthropology 130); The Human Animal (Anthropology 120); and Linguistics and Anthropology (Anthropology 150). Several 200-level anthropology courses have no prerequisites and may be suitable for first-year students. Please contact the professor for more information.

A major in anthropology requires the completion of eleven anthropology units with the core courses in cultural anthropology (ANTH 140, 201, 301) and the remaining units reflecting experience in three of the four subfields, two intermediate courses, an anthropology seminar, two electives, and an intensive.

The correlate in anthropology can be completed with one 100-level course and five additional courses of the student’s interest. Two of those five courses must be at the 300-level. The major planning forms and correlate forms with all the requirements are linked below.

Outside of courses, the anthropology interns, administrative assistant, and department faculty work together to plan events including campus lectures and fall/spring socials. To be added to our mailing list, send your name and contact information to anthropology@vassar.edu.

Courses and Requirements

Academic requirements and courses are available in the Vassar College Catalogue.

Please find our majors handbook here.

Major

• Anthropology Major
• Anthropology Department Major Planning Form
• Geography-Anthropology Major Planning Form

Correlate Sequence

• Anthropology Correlate Sequence
• Anthropology Correlate Planning Form (DOC)
• Biology and Culture Correlate Sequence
• Biology and Culture Correlate Planning Form

Process for declaring an Anthropology Major or Correlate

• Contact a faculty member in the Anthropology Department to assist you in completing the major planning form. If you don’t know who to ask, contact the Anthropology department chair.
• Meet with the faculty member to discuss your interests and the major requirements. Together you will develop a plan of study.
• The faculty member will circulate your plan among the other department faculty for approval. At that time a major advisor will be assigned to you.
• Once your major plan has been approved, and an advisor assigned, you must submit a Declaration of Major request form to complete the process. The form is available on the Registrar’s website.