Anthropology

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The Anthropology major is designed to serve two purposes: to provide a general education in anthropology for students who are pursuing a liberal arts education and to provide preparation for graduate work for students who wish to become professional anthropologists. For both groups of students, anthropology provides communication skills, analytic approaches to human lifeways, and understanding of diversity. Students should select a combination of courses to form a unified plan of study that meets their intellectual interests and fulfills the requirements below.

Declaring the Major

Before you are eligible to declare the major, you must have completed or be in the progress of completing two of the three prerequisite courses and enrolled in the third, with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher in all courses intended for the major. For more details regarding the prerequisites, please see the Major Requirements tab on this page.

To declare the major, you will need to complete these three steps:

1. Reach out to the Anthropology Academic Undergraduate Advisor in 215 Kroeber Hall, during office hours or by email at: [email protected] and address it to the Undergrad Advisor.
2. Bring or attach to your email, photocopies of transcripts, (unofficial will suffice), showing courses satisfying the major prerequisites that you took anywhere other than Berkeley along  with the grades you earned.
3. To prepare, review the description of the program, and the requirements for the major to be prepared to identify how you might fulfill them. And please acquaint yourself with the faculty pages. 

Declare the major as soon as you are eligible. You should declare the major no later than the end of your first semester of junior year. If you are a transfer student, this means you should declare the major during your first semester at UC Berkeley.

Honors Program

The honors thesis in Anthropology is the result of an independently-pursued course of research undertaken by qualified students under the mentorship of a faculty thesis advisor. An overall GPA of 3.5 and a GPA of 3.65 in the major in courses completed at UC Berkeley is required to qualify for the program. The program requires the sponsorship of an anthropology professor as an adviser. This advisor should be identified by the end of the junior year. A second reader must also be identified, in consultation with the thesis advisor. If students want to apply for research funding for summer between junior and senior years, they will benefit by having secured an advisor by January of the junior year. The year-long senior thesis course normally begins in the fall of senior year, but can begin in spring of senior year if justified. The honors courses, ANTHRO H195A and ANTHRO H195B, count as two of the five elective requirements for the major and are four unit courses each.

Minor Program

The Department of Anthropology offers an undergraduate minor in anthropology. In order to declare the minor, you will need to complete these three steps:

1. Consult the Undergraduate Advisor in 215 Kroeber about your intentions and interests.  The advisor will assist you in identifying courses that fulfill the minor requirements. Send email to [email protected] and request the Undergrad Advisor.
2. Bring or attach to your email the photocopies of any transcripts showing any lower division Intro to Anthropology, Anthro 1, 2, or 3 courses, that satisfy lower division minor requirements taken anywhere other than Berkeley, with the grades you earned. Two of the three courses and five Anthro Upper Division courses satisfy the Anthropology Minor.
3. Submit the L&S "Completion of the L&S Minor" form by the end of the semester prior to graduation. See L&S Advising website for details.

Visit Department Website

1. Learning About Anthropology
   • Understand core concepts in contemporary biological anthropology.
   • Understand core concepts in contemporary anthropological archaeology.
   • Understand core concepts in contemporary sociocultural anthropology, including medical anthropology.
   • Develop understanding of the history of anthropological thought.
   • Gain experience in fieldwork and the application of theory and methodology.
   • Develop understanding of the anthropological analysis of visual media and language.
2. Critical Thinking, Communication, and Analytical Goals
   • Encourage critical abilities in the analysis of evolutionary, historical, and contemporary situations.
   • Develop the ability to analyze comprehensively and critically scholarly articles and monographs.
   • Develop facility in conveying anthropological concepts and debates to public audiences.
   • Formulate well-organized written and oral arguments supported by evidence.
3. Learning About the World
   • Understand the structure and transformation of society and culture past and present.
   • Analyze regional and cultural diversity in the organization of human societies and the impact of cultural contacts and globalization.
   • Integrate biological and cultural perspectives on human behavior, social organization, and the environment.
   • Utilize anthropological concepts and methods to understand the history and forms of diversity in US society.

• finish secondary school and
• earn a certificate of completion, which allows admission to a university in their home country or country of graduation

In addition:

Students who have completed the IGCSE or O-level exams have not yet met the requirements for admission at UC Berkeley. The university requires further study, either completion of the two-year A-level program with a minimum of three academic exams, the IB diploma program, or another similar academic curriculum.

Students from countries requiring entry into military service upon completion of secondary education should not submit an application until the obligation has been met. UC Berkeley cannot defer admission to a later term.

Students may have to meet additional admission requirements and follow certain guidelines for filling out the undergraduate application, depending on country or educational system.

Apply to Berkeley by filling out the UC application. You can begin working on the application as early as August 1, and must submit the application November 1-30. You can apply to as many UC campuses as you like with one application, and each campus will receive your application and official test scores. If you have difficulties, contact the UC Application Center at [email protected] or (800) 207-1710.