| |
Mar 19, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
[DRAFT] Course Catalog 2026-2027 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Anthropology Major
|
|
The major consists of a minimum of 9 full courses (or the equivalent).
Note: Students must earn minimum grades of C- or P for all courses that apply toward the major.
 View the catalog page for the anthropology department.
A major will gain excellent preparation for graduate study in anthropology or as part of a pre-professional education. Additionally, anthropology majors can gain preparation for a wide variety of careers.
|
Transfer of Credit Toward the Major
The anthropology department will accept up to the equivalent of two full courses of transfer credit to count toward the anthropology major requirements. Two types of approval are needed. (1) Approval from the Office of the Registrar that the transfer course meets Oberlin’s transfer-of-credit eligibility standards and (2) approval from the department/program chair that the course(s) may count to the major. Current students taking post-matriculation credit must secure this approval before registering for course(s). Students who enter Oberlin as transfer students will have their pre-matriculation credit evaluated by the Office of the Registrar for elective credit, and they can later seek approval from the department/program for applying coursework to major requirements. Off-Campus Programs for Credit
Summer fieldwork in projects sponsored by Oberlin College or by other institutions is encouraged. Such projects may be undertaken in archaeology, ethnography, or linguistics. - Students interested in archaeological projects should contact Professor Margaris.
Course of Study
Students take 100-level (Foundations) courses in each of the four core subfields of American anthropology and gain deeper knowledge and skills as they make their way through the major’s four major rungs. Should student majors wish to specialize in a particular subfield of anthropology by meeting their Theory, Methods, and Practice requirements with classes in that subfield, they may do so. It is also possible that a major may wish to remain a generalist and continue to sample among different subfields in their selection of upper rung courses. Courses in several other disciplines, including those in the social and natural sciences and the humanities, complement a major in anthropology. The particular pattern of courses chosen will vary, depending on the plans and interests of the students. The particular pattern should be worked out in close consultation with the major advisor. Students majoring in anthropology are strongly urged to pursue work beyond the introductory level in each of the subfields. Sample Courses of Study Based on Subfield
Biological Anthropology
An advisor will propose appropriate courses in biology to pair with this curriculum. Honors in Anthropology
The department invites a small number of qualified majors to participate in the Honors Program in Anthropology. Honors work may begin as early as the sixth semester or may commence at the beginning of the senior year. Students may receive one or two courses of credit per semester of honors. Honors work requires a thesis based on original research and an oral examination on the thesis. Detailed Major Requirements
Anthropology Major Course Lists
|
|
|
