Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology

Our students become well-rounded critical thinkers who are well-versed in big questions about humankind who enjoy careers in research, education, academe, government and private enterprise.  

Anthropologists get to ask and answer the big questions about humanity. Who are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going? As an anthropology major, you will apply basic methods, concepts, theories and modes of explanation to three main subfields: archaeology, biological anthropology and cultural anthropology. 

  • Understand what it means to be human through time, from our earliest ancestors to the modern cultures of the world
  • Gain a different perspective of the world and its citizens
  • Learn how to use excavation and measurement tools, laboratory and recording equipment, statistical and database software, and geographic information systems (GIS) by designing and completing anthropological studies

The Department of Anthropology ranked third in the country by Academic Analytics based on scholarly output (2019)

Every summer, the Department of Anthropology conducts an archaeological field school for qualifying undergraduate and graduate students 

The University of Colorado Boulder is home to the CU Museum of Natural History, where students can get hands-on museum curation and paleontological experience

Be successful.

Be prepared to meet the needs of our 21st-century society by applying your theoretical and applied knowledge of the ways of life for people from various parts of the world.  

 
$49,900

Median salary of CU Boulder anthropology students 1–5 years after graduation

 

Research assistant, fieldworker, postsecondary teacher and cultural research management analyst are common job titles of our graduates

 

Employment of anthropologists and archeologists is projected to grow 10% from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations

(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Academic Plan & Requirements

A minimum of 30 credit hours in anthropology is required for the degree, 18 of which must be upper-division.

All students must complete introductory courses in:

  • Biological Anthropology
  • Cultural Anthropology
  • Archeology of Human History

Students complete 12 credits in the social sciences and a minimum of 6 credits in the natural sciences, along with a component on global perspective.

Community & Involvement

We offer students many opportunities to network with peers and faculty, further their studies, and get the most out of their undergraduate experience.  

Be inspired.

The Department of Anthropology has an extensive list of alumni working in a variety of fields across the globe.

Some alumni of the program include:

Catherine Workman

(BA'04)
Senior director of wildlife at the National Geographic Society

Chris Kuzawa

(BA'93)
A professor of anthropology and faculty fellow at the Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University

Mark Hamrick

(BA'91)
Regents Professor and graduate program director in cellular biology and anatomy at Augusta University (the medical school for the University of Georgia)

News & Stories

College of Arts & Sciences magazine cover