At-a-Glance
Admission to the major: No requirement other than good academic standing in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Minimum hours required for major: 40
Minimum hours required for minor: 20
Subfields: Archaeology, biological/physical anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology
Advising: Students are encouraged to select a faculty adviser when they declare the major or minor in anthropology. The Handbook for Anthropology Majors and Minors, available from the Anthropology Department, Chester Building 119, contains comprehensive information regarding program requirements.
Awards: In recognition of academic excellence, the Anthropology High Academic Achievement Award is presented to seniors who have achieved a grade-point average in their major courses at the highest honor level, 3.8 or above.
Student organizations: CSU Anthropology Association, Lambda Alpha (National Anthropology Honorary Society)
Anthropology is the study of the biological and cultural diversity of humanity. American anthropology has four broad subfields. Archaeology examines the physical records of past cultures. Biological or physical anthropology is concerned with human evolution and modern human biological variation. Cultural anthropology focuses on the customs, traditions, and rituals of human societies. Linguistic anthropology explores the relationship between language and culture in past and present human societies.
Anthropologists study contemporary and past societies as well as human evolution. They usually specialize in one or more geographic areas of the world, such as Mesoamerica, Oceania, or Africa. They may also focus on particular populations and locales and do field research in those areas. Cleveland State anthropologists have conducted research on the ancient Maya civilization in Belize, the Nambicuara Indians of Brazil, the Amhara of Ethiopia, griots and language in Mali, native healing traditions of India, prehistoric and historic archaeology of Ohio, the paleopathology of the Midwestern and Eastern United States, and many other topics and geographic areas.
The Anthropology Department offers training in all four subfields of anthropology. Specialized training and hands-on experience is available through independent study projects and participation in on-going faculty research projects in archaeology, human paleontology, forensics, visual anthropology, ethnography, and sociolinguistics. Fieldwork experience and laboratory analysis are central parts of the curriculum.
Students may also enroll in a variety of special topics and independent study courses; however, there are limits on the number of credit hours of independent study courses that may be used to fulfill requirements for the major and minor.
Anthropology majors are encouraged to explore other academic disciplines in conjunction with their anthropology focus. Many students complete a second major or a minor in another field of study, such as biology, geology, education, linguistics, psychology, or urban studies. Conversely, a minor in anthropology is an excellent complement to majors in other disciplines. Anthropology courses are also offered in several interdisciplinary programs, including Asian Studies, Black Studies, Gerontological Studies, Linguistics, Native American Studies, and Women’s Studies.
Majors who anticipate pursuing graduate study in anthropology should plan to gain substantial foreignlanguage training as undergraduates. All anthropology students are encouraged to acquire training in computer and information sciences and to develop writing skills that exceed present minimum university requirements.
The bachelor’s degree in anthropology prepares students for careers requiring “people skills” and/or an understanding of cultural differences. It is especially useful in professions requiring a strong social-science background, such as law enforcement, social work, and health care. It also provides a strong foundation for graduate study in anthropology and other disciplines.
A graduate degree is required for most professional jobs in anthropology and archaeology. A second undergraduate degree or a graduate degree in another field, such as business, education, political science, sociology, communication, urban studies or public administration, will enhance employment opportunities.
Cleveland State graduates are employed in a variety of fields including community and public relations, education, health and social services, law and law enforcement, and marketing and sales. A significant number of our graduates have traveled to other countries to teach English or serve in the Peace Corps.
Requirements for Transfer Students
Transfer students must complete a minimum of 16 credit hours of anthropology courses at Cleveland State for the major and a minimum of 8 credit hours for the minor.