Anthropology

Study what it means to be human, with methods and theoretical engagements from the humanistic to the scientific.

The Bachelor of Arts program in Anthropology in the College of Letters & Science allows students to learn about the history of the discipline and become familiar with contemporary archaeology, biological anthropology, and sociocultural anthropology, gaining competence in at least one method. In our courses, students learn that anthropology is a field whose methods and theoretical engagements stretch from the humanistic to the scientific.

Our courses provide the scaffolding for critical engagement with contemporary social issues; a sophisticated understanding of global, human experience in all of its diversity; and a deep, multi-modal engagement with the human past and its relationship to the present. The Anthropology major is unified by a commitment to career-readiness and hands-on research experience for undergraduates through Haas Scholars, SURF, URAP, and SSCRIP, and the department’s senior thesis programs.

Highlights

Anthropology inquires into diverse ways of belonging. The global—rational ideas, forms, and activities—is directly implicated in redefining ways of being human today.
Aihwa Ong, Professor Emerita

Undergraduate Program

Curriculum 

The department’s curriculum offers a mix of large introductory courses and small- and medium-sized upper division lecture, seminar, and lab courses. Many of our courses are cross-listed and fulfill major requirements in other departments. The small lab and ethnographic methods courses provide spaces where students can develop skills in the “craft” of anthropological research. Methods courses give students hands-on experience in museum studies, archival analysis, artifact analysis, production of ethnographic film and digital media, and folkloric and ethnographic fieldwork. Students may find themselves immersed in one area of anthropology, taking most of their electives from faculty whose work is on contemporary society, past peoples, or human biology. These concentrations are not noted on transcripts or the diploma but can lead students to more specialized graduate work.

Learn more at anthropology.berkeley.edu/undergraduate-program

Prospective Students

Prospective majors may want to browse the listings of recently offered courses, and read faculty research profiles to get a sense of the opportunities open to them. Incoming first-years should review courses that satisfy the university's American Cultures and Reading and Composition requirements as well as Freshman and Sophomore Seminars as potential ways to get a taste of anthropology. Transfer students might wish to review the array of methods courses available. Students may also consider a minor in Anthropology.

Declaring the Major

First-year students who are accepted to UC Berkeley are admitted to the College of Letters & Science as an undeclared student. To declare the Anthropology major, you must have two of the three prerequisite courses (ANTHRO 1, 2 or 2AC, and 3 or 3AC) completed or in progress and be enrolled in the third. Declare the major as soon as you are eligible and no later than the beginning of junior year.

Transfer students who are accepted to UC Berkeley, have selected Anthropology on their undergraduate admissions application, and have completed the three lower division prerequisite courses will be admitted directly into the major (no declaration required).

What Can I Do With My Major?

Anthropologists can be found in an array of fields and careers, studying the biological, cultural, archaeological, and linguistic aspects of what it means to be human. An Anthropology degree opens doors to many career paths including education, research, public service, and advocacy, and is good preparation for jobs that involve people skills and require an understanding of cultural differences. Anthropology graduates are also well-prepared to pursue graduate and professional degrees in a range of fields.

UC Berkeley offers a number of career resources for students studying Anthropology. The Social Sciences Career Readiness Internship Program enhances students’ career readiness with advising, job search resources, alumni-hosted internships, and funding opportunities. The College of Letters & Science offers advising for undergraduates pursuing medical or health professions programs, law school, or masters and PhD programs. Additionally, Berkeley Career Engagement provides career counseling, professional and graduate school advising, job and internship listings, and events such as career and graduate school fairs.

Employment

Alumni find employment in a variety of fields and industries after graduation. Examples include:

  • Advocacy / Program Manager
  • Archaeologist
  • Author / Editor
  • Business Consultant
  • Clinician / Medical Assistant
  • College Advisor
  • Community Programs Coordinator
  • Community Health Worker
  • Cultural Resource Manager
  • Data Analyst
  • Human Resources Specialist
  • Park Ranger
  • Pharmaceutical / Biomedical Services
  • Product Manager
  • Teacher
  • UI / UX Designer
  • Veterinary Technology Instructor

Graduate Study

Alumni pursue graduate education to gain more depth of knowledge in their field as well as prepare for jobs that require advanced degrees. Examples include:

  • Anthropology
  • Archeology 
  • Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology
  • Biological Anthropology
  • Cultural Resource Management
  • Education
  • History of Art and Architecture
  • Law
  • Medicine
  • Museum Studies
  • Social Welfare

Spotlight

Mackenzie, class of 2018

Mackenzie Moore (BA, Anthropology) is a scientist and global health researcher. As an undergraduate, she was a Regents' and Chancellor's Scholar and was awarded the Frankenberg Prize for Outstanding Honors Thesis. Mackenzie has worked on topics in epidemiology, biosecurity, and global health at a number of international organizations, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and USAID.

Following UC Berkeley, Mackenzie was named a Welcome Trust Scholar at the University of Edinburgh where she is pursuing her PhD. Mackenzie is the author of the book Outbreak Atlas and is part of a broader effort to raise public literacy and engagement around outbreak response.

Four-Year Student Timeline

First Year

Plan Your Studies

Engage Outside the Classroom

Pursue Your Career Goals

Second Year

Plan Your Studies

Engage Outside the Classroom

Pursue Your Career Goals

Third Year

Plan Your Studies

Engage Outside the Classroom

Pursue Your Career Goals

Fourth Year

Plan Your Studies

  • Develop your writing and critical thinking in an Art of Writing seminar.
  • Finish all upper division requirements and electives.
  • Enroll in ANTHRO H195A + H195B if doing the senior honors thesis; attend a thesis workshop with the Anthropology Department. 
  • Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.

Engage Outside the Classroom

Pursue Your Career Goals

Summer

Transfer Student Timeline

First Semester

Plan Your Studies

Engage Outside the Classroom

Pursue Your Career Goals

Second Semester

Plan Your Studies

Engage Outside the Classroom

Pursue Your Career Goals

Third Semester

Plan Your Studies

Engage Outside the Classroom

Pursue Your Career Goals

Fourth Semester

Plan Your Studies

  • Finish all upper division requirements and electives.
  • Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
  • Enroll in ANTHRO H195B, the second half of the senior thesis honors program; attend a thesis workshop with the Anthropology Department.

Engage Outside the Classroom

Pursue Your Career Goals

Summer

Learn More

Undergraduate Advising

Have questions about Anthropology or the College of Letters & Science?

The Department of Anthropology offers undergraduate advising for students interested in the Anthropology major or minor. The Undergraduate Student Affairs Officer assists students with declaring the major, tracking progress, administrative concerns, graduation, general info on Anthropology courses, independent study, URAP, senior honors program, researching graduate programs, and referrals to other campus offices. Faculty Undergraduate Advisors offer general academic advising, assist with graduate school planning, and evaluate requests for exceptions, including transfer course credit. For advising contacts and more information, visit anthropology.berkeley.edu/undergraduate-program/current-students.

The College of Letters & Science helps students with non-major-specific academic topics, including major exploration, general program planning, finding campus resources, and pre-professional graduate programs. L&S College Advisors are available for in-person and virtual meetings. Visit lsadvising.berkeley.edu or email asklns@berkeley.edu.

Related Programs

Looking for programs similar to Anthropology? UC Berkeley also offers the following major, minor, and certificate programs:

Topics

Major Maps topic page, College of Letters & Science topic page

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Link to download the Anthropology major map print version