Anthropology (ANTH)

Anthropologists seek a holistic understanding of human social life through complex accounts of histories, societies, and cultures. Anthropologists do ethnographic, linguistic, biological and archaeological research on various aspects of individual and collective experience in all time periods and parts of the world.

The department offers four ways to explore anthropology: 1) an 11-unit major, 2) a 6-unit correlate (minor), 3) an 11-unit interdepartmental geography-anthropology major, and 4) a 6-unit interdepartmental Biology and Culture correlate (minor). Students often double major in ANTH and Cognitive Science, Film, Latin American and Latinx Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, or Urban Studies. Double majors with languages such as Japanese and Russian are also common.

Anthropology courses are often cross-listed with Africana Studies, American Studies, Asian Studies, Environmental Studies, Latin American and Latinx Studies, Media Studies, Urban Studies, and Womens Studies.

• Common Application (Vassar specific URL) or Coalition Application
• Early Decision Agreement (Early Decision Applicants ONLY)
• School Report and High School Transcript: To be completed and sent by your guidance counselor. Available for online completion or download through Common Application.
• Teacher Evaluations
• Mid-year Grade Report Vassar requests each applicant’s most recent grade report to be sent by their school counselor. For Early Decision I or II, Vassar requires a first quarter/trimester grade report, which should be sent as soon as it becomes available. For Regular Decision, a mid-year report with first term grades is required when available, typically by February 1. Students admitted during Early Decision I or II will also be asked to provide their first term grades as soon as they become available.
• TOEFL/IELTS/DET: If English is neither your first language nor the primary language of instruction in secondary schools you have attended for the last three years.

English Language Proficiency

If English is either your native or heritage language, or the primary language of instruction in the secondary school(s) you have attended for the last three years, you do not need to submit English language proficiency exam results.

First-year applicants may submit either the Common Application (including Vassar Member Questions) or Coalition Application, along with a non-refundable application fee of $65 or a request for a fee waiver. Vassar is also a QuestBridge partner school and will accept the QuestBridge application for first-year applicants as well. Transfer applicants can apply using the Common Application along with a non-refundable application fee of $65 or a request for a fee waiver.