Major

Anthropology (B.A.)

Anthropology brings a broad and comparative perspective to the study of human life and culture.

Majoring in Anthropology

By providing students with tools for better understanding human social and cultural complexity, a B.A. in Anthropology prepares students for careers in global health and medicine, museums, law, government, environmental management, entrepreneurship and international business, education, and the arts.

Note: Effective Fall 2025, the Anthropology B.A. has been updated to offer a clearer, more flexible path through the major — details below. These changes apply automatically to students entering in Fall 2025. Students who joined the major prior to Fall 2025 can opt-in to the latest catalog year through the STARS substitution process. Your advisor can assist with the transition, or answer any questions you may have.

Areas of Focus

The general Anthropology Major offers comprehensive training in social and cultural anthropology.

If students wish to specialize in a particular area of anthropological study, they can choose an “area of focus” by completing at least 3 courses (12 units) in that area. The following areas of focus are popular options, based on faculty research and expertise within our department:

  • Medical Anthropology
  • Heritage Studies & Archaeology
  • Environmental Anthropology
  • Media Anthropology

Students may also propose a different area of focus, subject to departmental approval, or may simply pursue a general anthropology major.

Medical Anthropology

Medical anthropology explores how culture, society, and biology shape health, illness, and healthcare practices worldwide.

Heritage Studies & Archaeology

Heritage Studies explores cultural heritage, its preservation, representation, and significance in shaping identities and communities. Archaeology studies past human life through material remains and artifacts.

Environmental Anthropology

Environmental anthropology examines human-environment interactions, focusing on the cultural, social, and political dimensions of environmental challenges.

Media Anthropology

Media anthropology studies media’s social and cultural impacts, and provides the analytical and creative tools for using media to document and explore human social worlds.

Requirements

Anthropology majors take ten courses (40 units) in Anthropology including:

  • One introductory course in preparation for the major, either:

    • ANTH 201 Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology,

    or

    • ANTH 263 Exploring Culture through Film

  • The following are required for all Anthropology Majors:

    • ANTH 440 History of Anthropological Theory
    • ANTH 410 Ethnographic Research Methods
    • ANTH 411 Thesis Seminar in Ethnographic Analysis

  • Six electives, which should include:

    • At least one lower-division ANTH course (100-299).
    • At least two upper division ANTH courses (300-499).
    • One or more courses representing an area of world ethnography: involving study of a region, cultural or religious group, or diasporic or settled community. Courses outside of ANTH, as well as coursework completed during study abroad, may be applied toward this requirement as approved by advisor or faculty.

  • Candidates for the Anthropology degree are required to complete a senior capstone project, usually a written thesis. Students should prepare for the Anthropology thesis by completing coursework in research methods such as ANTH 410 or equivalent. Students should plan to register for ANTH 411 Anthropology Seminar in the Spring semester of senior year.

    See the guidelines sheet for more information:

    Honors Program in Anthropology

    To be considered for Honors in Anthropology, students need a cumulative GPA of 3.5 both in the university as a whole, and in the courses that qualify for the Anthropology major (a USC honors requirement); and they must complete an honors thesis that is certified by its two faculty readers in Anthropology as of honors level.

    The honors thesis should exceed minimal expectations for the capstone project as outlined in the Anthropology Senior Thesis Guidelines document (link above), but the quality of the argument and supporting materials is more important than the length.

The Cultural Anthropology Minor allows students to develop insight into the field of Anthropology without a full major.

Contact Details

Have general questions about Anthropology at USC?

Contact the Anthropology Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Ready to declare an Anthropology major or minor?

Students using Advise SC can refer themselves to the program. Please note it may take 24 hours after the referral for students to be able to view an advisor’s availability. If not using Advise SC, please contact Undergraduate Advisor Kim Vinson vinson@usc.edu.

First-Year students, please contact fya@dornsife.usc.edu.

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