Program: Anthropology - Davidson College - Modern Campus Catalog™

Distribution Requirements

Any course in anthropology numbered 371 or under may be counted toward fulfillment of the distribution requirements for social sciences, with the exception of 101W. However, first-year students are encouraged to take 100- and 200-level courses rather than more advanced courses.

Cultural Diversity Requirement

Anthropology 220, 221, 222, 232, 240, 251, 253, 257, 265, 340, 341, 350, 354, and 356 are options for fulfilling the cultural diversity requirement.

Major Requirements

Ten courses, including:

Introductory Cultural Anthropology (101),
one approved course in biocultural anthropology (e.g., 102, 271, 272, 275, 335, 340, 375),
one approved course in archaeology (e.g., 108, 207, 208, 251),
Theory in Anthropology (370),
a methods course (371, 375, 377),
Senior Colloquium in Anthropology (490),
four additional courses (at least two numbered 300 or above).

Normally, seven of the ten major courses should be taken in residence at the college. A maximum of three 100-level courses and two independent studies may count toward fulfillment of major requirements. A current list of departmental offerings satisfying the biocultural and archaeological requirements will be posted on the departmental web page. Courses taken at another institution may be applied to major requirements with prior written permission. College policy is that Pass/Fail courses taken at Davidson may not be applied toward the major without departmental approval. Note that 498 and 499 are in addition to major requirements for honors candidates.

Minor Requirements

Six courses, at least four of which must be taken in residence at Davidson College, including Anthropology 101 or 102 or 108; 370; and four other courses in anthropology, including one numbered 200 or above and one numbered 300 or above. Normally, courses taken on a Pass/Fail basis at Davidson may not be counted toward the minor.

Honors Requirements

A major desiring to become a candidate for honors in anthropology must apply in writing to the department at the beginning of the fall semester of the senior year. Applicants must have an overall GPA of 3.2 and a GPA of 3.5 in all course work taken in the major at the time of application. To receive honors, a student must, in addition to maintaining this level of performance, complete Ant. 498 during the fall semester and receive a grade of at least A- on the honors thesis (Ant. 499), as well as a departmental recommendation. Further conditions are posted on the departmental Web page.

Anthropology Courses

Anthropology is usually characterized as having four subfields: cultural/social anthropology, archaeology, physical/biocultural anthropology, and linguistics. (We provide courses only in the first three of these.) As these subfields are quite distinct in their subject matter and methods, each requires its own introduction. Our 100-level courses (101, 102, and 108) provide general overviews of each of the first three subfields. Because some majors may prefer to take more advanced courses, the required major course in each subfield is not restricted to the 100-level, with the exception of 101.

Intermediate courses comprise the 200-level series, more specific than the introductory courses but still accessible to those with no previous background in anthropology. Area overviews fall within this category (China, Africa, Mesoamerica). Class size is usually 30 and either lecture-based or a mixture of lecture and discussion.

Seminars comprise the 300-level series. These courses are more focused in their subject matter and emphasize theoretical perspectives. Small class size is inteded to foster discussion. Research projects are longer and more ambitious, emphasizing independent research. Our theory and methods courses fall in this grouping. Courses over 371 do not satisfy the social science requirement.