2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog

Oct 21, 2025

2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Anthropology, BA (ANTHRO-BA)

CIP Code: 450201

Program Description

Anthropology explores the diverse ways in which humans relate to one another, and reveals the cultural milieus, political configurations, ways of speaking, and environments which people have used to shape their world. Anthropologists learn about humanity in all times and places through the systematic study of human behavior, material culture, and human physiology and evolution. Students will also be challenged to call into question beliefs and behaviors which may seem “natural” or “inevitable” within their own cultures.

Program Admission Requirements

This academic program does not have admission requirements beyond regular admission to Wright State University. Any student is eligible to declare this academic program.

Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program will learn to:

Gain an awareness of scientific principles grounding the study of human origins, human biological diversity and adaptive behavior, and the importance of a biocultural approach to such studies.
Acquire skills detecting archaeological sites and features, and effectively assess material remains and their contexts to infer the lifeways of past peoples.
Acquire the tools with which to evaluate and discern the locally-specific but increasingly globalized cultural contexts in which peoples of the world currently interact.
Develop strong critical thinking skills through writing coherent, properly documented, and substantive research papers and reports.

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can:

Demonstrate an awareness of scientific principles grounding the study of human origins, human biological diversity and adaptive behavior, and the importance of a biocultural approach to such studies.
Demonstrate skills detecting archaeological sites and features, and effectively assess material remains and their contexts to infer the lifeways of past peoples.
Use the tools with which to evaluate and discern the locally-specific but increasingly globalized cultural contexts in which peoples of the world currently interact.
Demonstrate strong critical thinking skills through writing coherent, properly documented, and substantive research papers and reports.

For More Information

Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core: 36 Credit Hours

As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours.

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements.

First-Year Seminar: 3 Credit Hours

All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year. Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy three additional credit hours in the Additional Core Courses category.

LA 1020 - First-Year Seminar: College of Liberal Arts Credit Hour(s): 3

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours

First-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)

All students must successfully complete ENG 1100.  Based on Writing Placement level, some students may be required to enroll in a corequisite course (DEV 0100). 
ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
Second-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)
ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation Credit Hour(s): 3

Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 3 Credit Hours

Students will select one Element B course from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements list. Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the course chosen.

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. One course must fulfill the History requirement.

History Requirement (3 credit hours)

Choose 1 course from the list below:
HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
Arts and Humanities Course (3 credit hours)

Choose an additional Arts and Humanities course (a different prefix from what is chosen above) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element D - Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Required:

ATH 2200 - Introduction to Archaeology Credit Hour(s): 3
Select an additional Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with a different course prefix (not ATH) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element E - Natural Sciences: 7 Credit Hours

Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. At least one course must contain a laboratory.

Required:

ATH 2100 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology Credit Hour(s): 4
ATH 2100L - Lab in Biological Anthropology Credit Hour(s): 0
Select an additional Natural Science course, with a different course prefix (not ATH) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Additional Core Courses: 5 Credit Hours

Students will select up to 5 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core. Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student. When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.

Required:

ATH 2150 - Comparative Nonwestern Cultures Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI) (IW)

Additional Core Requirements

Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following:

· One Global Inquiry (GI) course

· One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses. To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major. Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing.

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36.

II. Major Requirements: 36 Credit Hours

Students will complete the following:

ATH 4700 - Development of Anthropological Thought Credit Hour(s): 3 or (IW)
ATH 4750 - Seminar in Archaeological Theory Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)
Two 3000 level or above Cultural Anthropology courses Credit Hour(s): 6
Two 3000 level or above Archaeology courses Credit Hour(s): 6
Two 3000 level or above Biological Anthropology courses Credit Hour(s): 6
Four 3000 level or above Anthropology (ATH) electives Credit Hour(s): 12
Students will select one of the following methods courses Credit Hour(s): 3
ATH 3700 - Field Methods in Archaeology Credit Hour(s): 3
ATH 3710 - Ethnographic Fieldwork Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)
ATH 3800 - Special Topics in Anthropological Methods Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3
ATH 4600 - African Oral Traditions Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)
ATH 4650 - Field School in Archaeology Credit Hour(s): 3 to 6

III. Related Requirements: 6 Credit Hours

Student will complete two electives chosen from a wide variety of liberal arts, social science and natural science courses that relate to the three sub-disciplines of anthropology. Advisor’s approved required.

IV. College Requirements: 18-22 Credit Hours

Foreign Language: 12-16 Credit Hours

Through 2020 level (1010, 1020, 2010, 2020) of one foreign language:

American Sign Language (ASL)*, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Spanish, or other foreign language.

*Note: all language classes above are 3 credit hours each, except for the ASL classes which are 4 credit hours each.

Methods of Inquiry: 6 Credit Hours

Quantitative Thinking: 3 Credit Hours

SOC 3410 - Introduction to Research Methods Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)

Qualitative Thinking: 3 Credit Hours

PHL 3000 - Critical Thinking Credit Hour(s): 3

V. General Electives: 20-24 Credit Hours

Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours. Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit.

Students are encouraged to consider adding a minor, certificate, or microcredential.

Total: 120 Credit Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

A Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS), also known as a four-year guide, is an academic tool showing one example of how a program can be completed in a certain amount of time. All Wright State undergraduate majors can be completed in four years with careful planning. Some programs may require summer coursework. Time to degree is dependent on many factors including student placement in mathematics and writing courses, CCP and AP coursework, transfer coursework, and other variables.

These guides are valid for this year’s Academic Catalog only and are subject to change. These guides are a recommendation only and your actual program may vary. Students should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis and create a personalized plan to degree completion.