Richard Lazenby, Professor Emeritus
Angèle Smith, Professor and Chair
Michel Bouchard, Professor
Shauna LaTosky, Assistant Professor
Farid Rahemtulla, Assistant Professor
Erin Gibson, Adjunct Professor
Brenda Guernsey, Adjunct Professor
Earl Henderson, Adjunct Professor
Alex Oehler, Adjunct Professor
Website: www.unbc.ca/anthropology
Anthropology is the integrated biological and sociocultural investigation of humankind, from the time of our pre-human ancestors to the present, including the study of both small- and large-scale societies. The program includes courses in archaeological, biological, linguistic and sociocultural anthropology. While a small number of mandatory courses will ensure that all students in the program share basic understanding of the range of anthropological approaches, students are able to select courses within the program and from other parts of the curriculum to focus on specific interests. The following suggestions illustrate the range of possibilities: a student with an interest in language could select courses within the programs in First Nations Studies, International Studies, English and Psychology; a student intending to enter a graduate program in archaeology might select courses from First Nations Studies, Geology, Geography, History and Environmental Studies programs; a student planning to work in the subfield of sociocultural anthropology could select courses from First Nations Studies, International Studies, Northern Studies, Women’s Studies and Social Work; a student interested in biological (or medical) anthropology would include courses in Biology, Environmental Studies and Statistics; and a career in museology or cultural property management might benefit from a background in Resource Recreation and Tourism or administration as well as First Nations Studies, International Studies, History and Northern Studies.
Anthropology prepares students for entrance to a number of graduate programs (Archaeology, Biological and Sociocultural Anthropology, Museology); several types of professional programs (Law, Library and Information Science, Communicative Disorders, Social Work, Education, etc.) or employment in government or the private sector. Students aiming towards specific career goals should discuss their interests with advisors in the program at an early stage.
Major in Anthropology (BA)
Joint Major in Anthropology and English (BA)
Joint Major in Anthropology and First Nations Studies (BA)
Joint Major in Anthropology and Geography (BA)
Joint Major in Anthropology and Political Science (BA)
Minor in Anthropological Archaeology
Minor in Biological Anthropology
Minor in General Anthropology
Minor in Sociocultural Anthropology
Major in Anthropology
Students majoring in Anthropology must take 54 credit hours in Anthropology courses (18 courses). Students may not take more than 60 credit hours of Anthropology without written permission of the Department Chair.
The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Anthropology is 120 credit hours.
Program Requirements
Lower-Division Requirements
| ANTH 102-3 | Anthropology: A World of Discovery |
| ANTH 200-3 | Biological Anthropology |
| ANTH 205-3 | Introduction to Archaeology |
| ANTH 213-3 | Peoples and Cultures |
| ANTH 217-3 | Language and Culture |
Upper-Division Requirements
ANTH 460-3 Anthropology Capstone
One of the following:
| ANTH 300-3 | Qualitative Methods |
| ANTH 301-3 | Archaeological Lab Methods |
| ANTH 310-3 | Practicing Anthropology |
| ANTH 312-3 | Human Adaptability and Environmental Stress |
One of the following:
| ANTH 315-3 | Anthropological Theory |
| ANTH 325-3 | Archaeological Theory |
Ten additional 3 credit hour courses in Anthropology of which six courses must be upper-level.
Subject Requirement
Students wishing to pursue graduate degrees in anthropology or in anthropology-related careers are encouraged to take field school courses and internships.
Elective and Academic Breadth Requirement
Electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credit hours necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth).
Joint Major in Anthropology and English (BA)
The Anthropology and English joint major equips students with knowledge of anthropological issues and societal concerns as well as literary, critical reading and communication skills. The joint major offers complementary courses in areas such as theory, popular culture, film studies, place studies, gender studies as well as courses that focus on various cultural contexts.
Students fulfilling a Joint Anthropology/English major must take 75 credit hours or 25 courses (36 credit hours or 12 courses in Anthropology and 39 credit hours or 13 courses in English). The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a Joint Major in Anthropology and English is 120 credit hours.
Program Requirements
Lower-Division Requirement
| ANTH 102-3 | Anthropology: A World of Discovery |
| ENGL 211-3 | Survey of English Literature I |
| ENGL 212-3 | Survey of English Literature II |
Two of the following:
| ANTH 200-3 | Biological Anthropology |
| ANTH 205-3 | Introduction to Archaeology |
| ANTH 213-3 | Peoples and Cultures |
| ANTH 217-3 | Language and Culture |
One of the following:
| ENGL 100-3 | Introduction to Literary Structures |
| ENGL 104-3 | Introduction to Film |
One of the following theory courses:
| ENGL 200-3 | Gender and Literary Theory |
| ENGL 300-3 | The History of Literary Criticism and Theory |
| ENGL 400-3 | Contemporary Theory |
Two additional courses (6 credit hours) of Anthropology at the 200 level
Two additional courses (6 credit hours) of English at the 200 level
Upper-Division Requirement
One of the following:
| ANTH 300-3 | Qualitative Methods |
| ANTH 301-3 | Archaeological Lab Methods |
| ANTH 310-3 | Practicing Anthropology |
| ANTH 312-3 | Human Adaptability and Environmental Stress |
One of the following:
| ANTH 315-3 | Anthropological Theory |
| ANTH 325-3 | Archaeological Theory |
ANTH 460-3 Anthropology Capstone
Four additional courses (12 credit hours) in Anthropology at the 300 or 400 level
Two of the following English courses (6 credit hours) at the 400 level:
| ENGL 410-3 | Special Topics in Contemporary Women's Literature |
| ENGL 420-3 | Special Topics in Indigenous Literatures |
| ENGL 430-3 | Special Topics in Canadian Literature |
| ENGL 431-3 | Special Topics in Northern BC Literature |
| ENGL 440-3 | Special Topics in International Literatures in English |
| ENGL 450-3 | Special Topics in Comparative Literary Studies |
| ENGL 483-3 | Special Topics in Romantic Literature |
| ENGL 493-3 | Special Topics in Cultural Studies |
Five additional upper-division English courses (15 credit hours) ensure fulfillment of the upper-division requirement. Two courses may be chosen from the following list of English ancillary courses:
| WMST 306-3 | Indigenous Women: Perspectives |
| WMST 311-3 | History of Feminist Theories |
| WMST 312-3 | An Introduction to the History of Gender |
| WMST 411-3 | Contemporary Feminist Theories |
Elective and Academic Breadth Requirement
Electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credit hours necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth.)
Joint Major in Anthropology and First Nations Studies (BA)
The Anthropology and First Nations Studies joint major equips students with knowledge of anthropological issues and societal concerns as well as engages students to critically assess underlying everyday assumptions by taking a First Nations perspective. The joint major offers complementary courses in areas such as community-based research theory and methods, gender, environment and place studies, traditional use wear, and heritage.
Students fulfilling a Joint Anthropology/First Nations Studies major must take 69 credit hours or 23 courses (36 credit hours or 12 courses in Anthropology and 33 credit hours or 11 courses in First Nations Studies). The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a Joint Major in Anthropology and First Nations Studies is 120 credit hours.
Program Requirements
Lower-Division Requirement
| ANTH 102-3 | Anthropology: A World of Discovery |
| FNST 100-3 | The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada |
| FNST 200-3 | Perspectives in First Nations Studies |
Two of the following:
| ANTH 200-3 | Biological Anthropology |
| ANTH 205-3 | Introduction to Archaeology |
| ANTH 213-3 | Peoples and Cultures |
| ANTH 217-3 | Language and Culture |
One of the following:
| FNST 131-3 | A First Nations Language: Level 1 |
| FNST 132-3 | A First Nations Language: Level 2 |
| FNST 133-3 | Dakelh / Carrier Language: Level 1 |
| FNST 134-3 | Dakelh / Carrier Language: Level 2 |
| FNST 135-3 | Haisla Language (X-a’islak’ala): Level 1 |
| FNST 136-3 | Haisla Language (X-a’islak’ala): Level 2 |
| FNST 137-3 | Tsimshian Language (Sm’algyax): Level 1 |
| FNST 138-3 | Tsimshian Language (Sm’algyax): Level 2 |
| FNST 139-3 | Nisga’a Language: Level 1 |
| FNST 140-3 | Nisga’a Language: Level 2 |
| FNST 161-3 | A First Nations Culture: Level 1 |
| FNST 162-3 | A First Nations Culture: Level 2 |
| FNST 163-3 | Dakelh / Carrier Culture: Level 1 |
| FNST 164-3 | Dakelh / Carrier Culture: Level 2 |
| FNST 167-3 | Tsimshian Culture: Level 1 |
| FNST 168-3 | Tsimshian Culture: Level 2 |
| FNST 169-3 | Nisga’a Culture: Level 1 |
| FNST 170-3 | Nisga’a Culture: Level 2 |
| FNST 171-3 | Métis Studies: Level 1 |
| FNST 172-3 | Métis Studies: Level 2 |
Two additional courses (6 credit hours) of Anthropology at the 200 level.
Upper-Division Requirement
One of the following:
| ANTH 300-3 | Qualitative Methods |
| ANTH 301-3 | Archaeological Lab Methods |
| ANTH 310-3 | Practicing Anthropology |
| ANTH 312-3 | Human Adaptability and Environmental Stress |
One of the following:
| ANTH 315-3 | Anthropological Theory |
| ANTH 325-3 | Archaeological Theory |
Required
| ANTH 460-3 | Anthropology Capstone |
| FNST 300-3 | Research Methods in First Nations Studies |
| FNST 440-3 | Internship in First Nations Studies |
Four additional courses (12 credit hours) in Anthropology at the 300 or 400 level
Six additional courses (18 credit hours) in First Nations Studies at the 300 or 400 level or approved ancillary courses for the major in First Nations Studies
Elective and Academic Breadth Requirement
Electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credit hours necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth.)
Joint Major in Anthropology and Geography (BA)
The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a Joint Major in Anthropology and Geography is 120 credit hours.
Program Requirements
Lower-Division Requirements
| ANTH 102-3 | Anthropology: A World of Discovery |
| ANTH 200-3 | Biological Anthropology |
| ANTH 205-3 | Introduction to Archaeology |
| ANTH 213-3 | Peoples and Cultures |
| ANTH 217-3 | Language and Culture |
| GEOG 101-3 | Planet Earth |
| or GEOG 102-3 | Earth from Above |
Four of the following:
| GEOG 200-3 | British Columbia: People and Places |
| GEOG 202-3 | Resources, Economies, and Sustainability |
| GEOG 203-3 | Canada: Places, Cultures, and Identities |
| GEOG 204-3 | Introduction to GIS |
| GEOG 206-3 | Social Geography |
| GEOG 209-3 | Migration and Development |
| GEOG 211-3 | Natural Hazards: Human and Environmental Dimensions |
| GEOG 220-3 | World Regions: Latin America and the Caribbean |
| GEOG 224-3 | World Regions: Inuit Nunangat |
| GEOG 225-3 | Global Environmental Change |
| GEOG 298-3 | Special Topics |
Upper-Division Requirements
| ANTH 315-3 | Anthropological Theory |
| or ANTH 325-3 | Archaeological Theory |
| ANTH 460-3 | Anthropology Capstone |
One of the following:
| ANTH 300-3 | Qualitative Methods |
| ANTH 301-3 | Archaeological Lab Methods |
| ANTH 310-3 | Practicing Anthropology |
| ANTH 312-3 | Human Adaptability and Environmental Stress |
Three upper-division Anthropology courses (9 credit hours) excluding ANTH 499-(3, 6) Independent Study
Four of the following:
| GEOG 305-3 | Political Ecology: Environmental Knowledge and Decision-Making |
| GEOG 306-3 | Critical Development Geographies |
| GEOG 307-3 | Changing Arctic: Human and Environmental Systems |
| GEOG 308-3 | Health Geography |
| GEOG 324-3 | Community-Based Research |
| GEOG 332-3 | Community Development |
| GEOG 333-3 | Geography Field School |
Two of the following:
| GEOG 401-3 | Tenure, Conflict, and Resource Geography |
| GEOG 403-3 | Indigenous Geographies of Climate Resilience |
| GEOG 416-3 | Mountains |
| GEOG 420-3 | Environmental Justice |
| GEOG 424-3 | Northern Communities |
| GEOG 426-3 | Geographies of Culture, Rights and Power |
Twenty-one additional credit hours of upper-division courses in any subject.
Elective and Academic Breadth
Elective course hours as necessary to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credit hours necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (See Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth).
Students wishing to pursue graduate degrees in Anthropology or Geography are encouraged to choose electives in Anthropology or Geography.
Joint Major in Anthropology and Political Science (BA)
The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a Joint Major in Anthropology and Political Science is 120 credit hours.
Program Requirements
Lower-Division Requirements
| ANTH 102-3 | Anthropology: A World of Discovery |
| POLS 100-3 | Contemporary Political Issues |
| POLS 200-3 | Canadian Government and Politics |
| POLS 202-3 | Canada in Comparative Perspective |
| POLS 230-3 | International Relations |
| POLS 270-3 | Political Philosophy: Antiquity to Early Modernity |
Two of the following:
| ANTH 200-3 | Biological Anthropology |
| ANTH 205-3 | Introduction to Archaeology |
| ANTH 213-3 | Peoples and Cultures |
| ANTH 217-3 | Language and Culture |
Two additional courses (6 credit hours) of Anthropology at the 200 level.
Upper-Division Requirements
One of the following:
| ANTH 300-3 | Qualitative Methods |
| ANTH 301-3 | Archaeological Lab Methods |
| ANTH 310-3 | Practicing Anthropology |
| ANTH 312-3 | Human Adaptability and Environmental Stress |
One of the following:
| ANTH 315-3 | Anthropological Theory |
| ANTH 325-3 | Archaeological Theory |
| ANTH 460-3 | Anthropology Capstone |
| POLS 303-3 | Democracy and Democratization |
| POLS 370-3 | Political Philosophy: Early Modernity to Post-Modernity |
Three additional courses (9 credit hours) in Anthropology at the 300 or 400 level.
Three additional courses (9 credit hours) in POLS at the 400 level.
Elective and Academic Breadth
Electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credit hours necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth).
Minor in Anthropology: Anthropological Archaeology
The minor in Anthropological Archaeology requires completion of a minimum of seven courses (21 credit hours), consisting of three lower-division courses (9 credit hours) and four upper-division courses (12 credit hours). A minor in Anthropology cannot be taken in addition to a major in Anthropology.
Requirements
| ANTH 102-3 | Anthropology: A World of Discovery |
Two of the following:
| ANTH 203-3 | Archaeology of the Americas |
| ANTH 205-3 | Introduction to Archaeology |
| ANTH 212-3 | Archaeology of the Old World |
| ANTH 250-3 | The Ancient Egyptians |
Twelve credit hours of the following:
| ANTH 301-3 | Archaeological Lab Methods |
| ANTH 325-3 | Archaeological Theory |
| ANTH 335-3 | Archaeological Heritage Management |
| ANTH 409-3 | British Columbia Archaeology |
| ANTH 416-(3-6) | Archaeological Survey and Mapping |
| ANTH 417-(3-6) | Excavation and Field Interpretation in Archaeology |
| ANTH 418-3 | Archaeology and First Nations |
| ANTH 430-3 | Stone Tools in Archaeology |
| ANTH 460-3 | Anthropology Capstone |
| ANTH 499-(3, 6) | Independent Study |
Minor in Anthropology: Biological Anthropology
The minor in Biological Anthropology requires completion of a minimum of seven courses (21 credit hours), consisting of three lower-division courses (9 credit hours) and four upper-division courses (12 credit hours). A minor in Anthropology cannot be taken in addition to a major in Anthropology.
Requirements
| ANTH 102-3 | Anthropology: A World of Discovery |
Two of the following:
| ANTH 200-3 | Biological Anthropology |
| ANTH 201-3 | Medical Anthropology |
| ANTH 312-3 | Human Adaptability and Environmental Stress |
Twelve credit hours of the following:
| ANTH 311-3 | Anthropology of Food, Drink and Health |
| ANTH 313-3 | Plagues and Peoples |
| ANTH 411-(3, 6) | Topics in Biological Anthropology |
| ANTH 420-3 | Races, Racism, and Human Biology |
| ANTH 460-3 | Anthropology Capstone |
| ANTH 499-(3, 6) | Independent Study |
Minor in Anthropology: General Anthropology
The minor in General Anthropology requires completion of a minimum of seven courses (21 credit hours), consisting of three lower-division courses (9 credit hours) and four upper-division Anthropology courses (12 credit hours) no more than two of which may be chosen from any single existing Anthropology Minor (Anthropological Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, General Anthropology, Sociocultural Anthropology). A minor in Anthropology cannot be taken in addition to a major in Anthropology.
Requirements
| ANTH 102-3 | Anthropology: A World of Discovery |
Two of the following:
| ANTH 200-3 | Biological Anthropology |
| ANTH 205-3 | Introduction to Archaeology |
| ANTH 213-3 | Peoples and Cultures |
| ANTH 217-3 | Language and Culture |
Four additional upper-division courses.
Minor in Anthropology: Sociocultural Anthropology
The minor in Sociocultural Anthropology requires completion of a minimum of seven courses (21 credit hours), consisting of three lower-division courses (9 credit hours) and four upper-division courses (12 credit hours). A minor in Anthropology cannot be taken in addition to a major in Anthropology.
Requirements
| ANTH 102-3 | Anthropology: A World of Discovery |
Two of the following:
| ANTH 207-3 | Popular Culture |
| ANTH 211-3 | Anthropology Through Film |
| ANTH 213-3 | Peoples and Cultures |
| ANTH 214-3 | Anthropology of Europe |
| ANTH 215-3 | Anthropology of Canada |
| ANTH 217-3 | Language and Culture |
Twelve credit hours of the following:
| ANTH 300-3 | Qualitative Methods |
| ANTH 303-3 | Museums, Galleries, Archives |
| ANTH 305-3 | Circumpolar Ethnography |
| ANTH 310-3 | Practicing Anthropology |
| ANTH 315-3 | Anthropological Theory |
| ANTH 400-3 | Thinking Through Anthropology: Ideas for a Better World |
| ANTH 401-3 | Anthropological Perspectives on Inequality |
| ANTH 404-3 | Comparative Study of Indigenous Peoples of the World |
| ANTH 405-3 | Landscapes, Place and Culture |
| ANTH 406-3 | Feminist Perspectives in Anthropology |
| ANTH 410-3 | Theory of Nation and State |
| ANTH 413-3 | Environmental Anthropology |
| ANTH 414-3 | Religion, Ideology, and Belief Systems |
| ANTH 421-(3-6) | Ethnographic Field Methods |
| ANTH 422-(3-6) | Ethnographic Research Project |
| ANTH 423-3 | Urban Anthropology |
| ANTH 460-3 | Anthropology Capstone |
Updated: December 5, 2024