Use anthropological theory and evidence to interpret human diversity and social change
Degree Program
Anthropology & Archaeology
Anthropology & ArchaeologyDegree Program · Human & Social Systems
Anthropology, Technology & Society
Studies culture, human difference, technology, institutions, material life, and social change through comparative and field-based inquiry.
Program purpose
Bachelor of Arts
The program provides a broad anthropological foundation while placing technology, environment, media, institutions, and applied research at the center of contemporary human questions. Students combine ethnography, archaeology, spatial analysis, evidence literacy, and public scholarship.
Learning outcomes
What graduates are prepared to do
Program outcomes connect disciplinary knowledge to methods, judgment, communication, and independently evaluated work.
Design and conduct ethical qualitative and comparative research
Connect culture, technology, institutions, and environment across scales
Communicate anthropological knowledge to scholarly, community, and public audiences
Curriculum architecture
How the pathway is organized
Coursework progresses from foundations to methods, integration, and a culminating demonstration of capability.
Foundations
Build the knowledge, skills, and mindset for inquiry.
Application
Apply methods and tools to real-world questions.
Integration
Synthesize across disciplines and perspectives.
Demonstration
Produce and present work that creates impact.
- 01
General education and interdisciplinary foundations
- 02
Anthropological core across culture, archaeology, biology, and language
- 03
Methods in ethnography, archaeology, spatial analysis, and evidence evaluation
- 04
Technology, institutions, environment, and public scholarship electives
- 05
Integrated senior capstone
Course sequence
Selected curriculum
ANTH-101
Foundations of Anthropological Inquiry
Introduces anthropology as a comparative study of human life across culture, biology, language, material evidence, technology, and history.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Ethnographic Methods & Thick Description
Develops field-based qualitative research through observation, interviewing, fieldnotes, reflexivity, ethics, coding, and interpretive writing.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
AI in Anthropology
Examines how artificial intelligence can support anthropological research while preserving context, evidence, authorship, ethics, and disciplinary judgment.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Archaeological Method & Interpretation
Introduces archaeological reasoning from research design and survey through excavation, classification, chronology, interpretation, and reporting.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Cartography & Spatial Reasoning
Builds foundational spatial thinking and cartographic communication across human, environmental, archaeological, and technical questions.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Scientific Communication & Public Scholarship
Develops clear, accurate, accessible communication across research articles, public writing, visual explanation, presentations, and digital media.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Integrated Human Systems Capstone
Guides a substantial interdisciplinary project that connects human systems, evidence, method, ethics, and a public or professional output.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 4.0
Learning environments
Field, laboratory & studio work
- Ethnographic fieldwork
- Archaeological and collections documentation
- GIS and digital heritage environments
- Publishing and public scholarship studio
Professional directions
Where the capability can lead
- Applied anthropology
- Research and program coordination
- Community and institutional analysis
- User research and human-centered technology
- Graduate study in anthropology and related fields
Culminating work
Capstone, thesis, dissertation, or professional demonstration
A senior capstone produces an ethnography, applied research report, digital public project, or comparative study evaluated through written work and oral defense.
Admissions preparation
Materials and background
Admissions review considers preparation, purpose, prior work, and the fit between the applicant’s goals and the program.
Secondary-school completion or recognized equivalent
Academic records demonstrating preparation for college-level work
Statement connecting the applicant’s interests to the program
Writing or project sample when relevant to the pathway
Faculty & academic leadership
Program relationships
Next step
Connect this pathway to your academic goals.
Request information for a focused conversation or begin an application through the Stella Nova Student Information System.