Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology

Anthropology, in its broadest sense, is the study of what it is to be human. The discipline differs from all others that study human beings because it is holistic, historic, global and comparative. It helps us understand human differences and similarities across the world and through time, including the following aspects:

• cultures.
• social organization.
• languages.
• environmental relationships.
• physical and genetic diversity.

Anthropology at Athabasca University advocates a four-field approach:

• Archaeology reconstructs the lives of ancient peoples by documenting and analyzing the material remains left behind.
• Biological anthropology focuses on our biological diversity and evolution, including comparative studies of non-human primates.
• Sociocultural anthropology explores and explains the social and cultural diversity of the present and the recent past.
• Linguistic anthropology studies the history, structure and function of language.

Why take the Bachelor of Arts?

The Bachelor of Arts strengthens critical and creative thinking through a broad range of social, political and cultural studies. The program is designed to

• broaden your perspective on local and global affairs
• encourage community and social involvement
• prepare you for lifelong learning and occupational diversity

Knowledge outcomes

By the end of the program, students will be able to

• Discuss past and present human social, linguistic, and biological diversity and evolution through the engagement of cross-cultural studies research.
• Integrate approaches and findings from archaeology, biological anthropology, anthropological linguistics, and socio-cultural anthropology to adopt a holistic and comparative approach that recognizes human differences and similarities across the world and through time.
• Employ basic anthropological concepts, terminology, and theory for the appreciation of anthropology’s history and context.

Skills outcomes

By the end of the program, students will be able to

• Draw upon anthropological research methods in the critical analysis of research methodology used in studies in anthropology and other disciplines.
• Critically evaluate original anthropological datasets, including diverse scholarly and popular sources, to better address methodological / theoretical problems and issues.
• Employ university-level skills in information literacy and academic integrity when writing research papers regarding anthropological subjects.

Value outcomes

By the end of the program, students will be able to

• Avoid cultural and social assumptions that form the bases of human prejudice and discrimination in their research and professional careers.
• Use anthropological insights that foster tolerance and appreciation for the diversity of human cultures, ways of life, and the value of human diversity.

Possible career options

• Archivist
• Conservator
• Cultural resource manager
• Customer service agent
• Employment recruiter
• English as a second language (ESL) teacher
• Ethnographer/ethnologist
• Events co-ordinator
• Field archeologist
• Foreign service officer
• Forensic scientist or specialist
• Government policy analyst
• Heritage assistant
• Human resources specialist
• Immigration officer
• Laboratory assistant
• Librarian
• Linguist
• Lobbyist
• Management trainee
• Market research analyst
• Medical anthropologist
• Multicultural education specialist
• Museum technician/assistant
• National/provincial park interpreter or service supervisor
• Palaeoanthropologist or palaeontologist
• Preservation/restoration assistant
• Primatologist
• Probation officer
• Refugee services coordinator
• Researcher
• Social worker
• Travel agent
• University professor
• Volunteer co-ordinator
• Writer

• Completion of high school in an English-speaking country.
• Completion of 15 university credits from a recognized English-speaking university, or 1 year at a non-university post-secondary institution with an overall average of 75% (GPA of 3.0).

English is the language of instruction and communication in SCIS graduate programs.

Proficiency in English is an essential requirement for admission to SCIS graduate programs. Although working and studying online requires a different level of English language skills than does the classroom situation, students must nevertheless be able to communicate effectively with faculty, administration, and with other students.

For more information on the English Language Prociency Requirements for Graduate Studies please refer to the AU graduate calendar.

• Minimum score of 6 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
• Minimum score of 60% on the Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL).
• Minimum score of 80 on the Michigan English Language Battery (MELAB) test.
• Minimum score of 59 on the Pearson Test of English (PTE).
• Minimum score of 213 on the computer- or paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL PBT), with 4.5 on the Test of Written English (TWE).
• Minimum score of 80 with an essay score of 20 on the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT).
• Successful completion of AU’s English Language Proficiency Program with an overall average of 75% (GPA of 3.0).
• See the English Language Proficiency Requirements Policy for further details.

How to apply

You can apply to AU online, anytime. Once you’ve completed the online application form and paid the one-time general application fee (and transfer credit evaluation fee, if applicable), you’re officially an AU student and can start registering in courses.

• How to enrol in an undergraduate program

Make sure we get your transcripts if you want us to consider your previous post-secondary education for transfer credit.