Undergraduate Program: Introduction

Anthropology at Berkeley

Undergraduate Program

What is Anthropology?

Anthropology is the study of the human species, from its beginnings millions of years ago to the present day. Anthropology brings a global, comparative, holistic viewpoint to the study of human beings, exploring an enormous range of similarities and differences in time and space. The wide scope of anthropology has resulted in the identification of three primary subdisciplines: social/cultural anthropology, archaeology, and biological anthropology. Social/cultural anthropology concentrates on the social and cultural diversity of human experience, practice and knowledge. Archaeology is the scientific study of human cultures through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains and environmental data. Biological anthropology focuses on the biological evolution of humans and human ancestors, the relationship of humans to other organisms, and patterns of biological variation within and among human populations.

Anthropology at UCBerkeley

The undergraduate major is designed to provide students with a broad introduction to Anthropology covering all three of the discipline's sub-fields, but with curriculum largely drawn from the social/cultural and archaeology sub-disciplines. The department offers undergraduates the optimal combination of classroom study, opportunities to conduct research, and fieldwork/practical work experience in the discipline. Students may, if they so choose, focus their elective coursework in one of the sub-disciplines; concentrations are not noted on transcripts or the diploma.

Undergraduate Program
Introduction
Admission
Requirements & Declaring
Senior Honors Thesis
Special Programs
DeCal Approval Process
Undergraduate Prizes
The Minor
Undergraduate Resources
Diplomas and Transcripts
Careers

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Faculty

Office Hours