Anthropology - M.A.

Explore humanity from every angle — past, present and future — through hands-on research and fieldwork in cultural anthropology, archaeology and biological anthropology. This research-driven program empowers you to pursue your own projects early while building advanced analytical and methodological skills. With strong career outcomes and over 80 percent of graduates advancing to a Ph.D. or related careers, you will be prepared to make a meaningful impact in academia and beyond.

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Program Information for Anthropology - M.A.

Program Description

Full Description

The Master of Arts degree in Anthropology provides opportunities for students to study in three fields: cultural anthropology, archaeology and biological anthropology. The research-oriented program encourages students to develop their own projects or participate in existing projects by their second semester. More than 80 percent of M.A. graduates continue for the Ph.D. degree or find employment in an area directly related to their training.

Examples of Possible Jobs and Salaries*

Anthropologists and archeologists

  • 3.7% about as fast as the average
  • 8,800 number of jobs
  • $64,910 potential earnings

Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary

  • 2.7% slower than the average
  • 6,500 number of jobs
  • $95,770 potential earnings

Admissions for Anthropology - M.A.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 3.000 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • GRE scores
  • Goal statement
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
    • Minimum 50 PTE score
    • Minimum 100 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Priority deadline: February 1

All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a holistic view of human cultures.
    1. They are to appreciate that the global species is a social and cultural as well as a biological organism, with a past that is both historic and prehistoric.
    2. A student who wishes to emphasize socio-cultural anthropology will demonstrate a fundamental appreciation of diverse human and institutional behavior.
  2. Appreciate and demonstrate how anthropologists investigate the past using the methods of the social sciences and the natural sciences, particularly geography and geology.
    1. They demonstrate comprehension of anthropology’s special role in making archaeology(particularly the study of prehistoric Ohio, woodland North America and Mesoamerica) come to life and become relevant for them.
    2. They gain a special appreciation of archaeology’s other mandate — the need to conserve the precious heritage of the archaeological record, not only Ohio’s but that of the Americas and the Old World as well.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of biological anthropology as the most relevant evolution science, the one which gives them an appreciation of their own place in nature.
    1. They see the two dimensions of human evolution and adaptation: a global one (modern human variation) and a deep temporal one (human origins). Both dimensions require an appreciation of the neo-Darwinian theory of evolution, which includes both the process of natural selection and also the roles which genetics and developmental biology play in adaptation and evolution.
    2. They appreciate the urgency of primate and rainforest conservation.

Coursework

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Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
ANTH 68230PROBLEMS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (min B grade)3
ANTH 68430PROBLEMS IN WORLD PREHISTORY (min B grade)3
ANTH 68630PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY (min B grade)3
Major Electives, choose from the following: 121
BSCI 50220
BIOINFORMATICS
BSCI 50431
NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
BSCI 50432
ENDOCRINOLOGY
BSCI 50519
HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
BSCI 60200
FOUNDATIONS OF NEUROSCIENCE
ESCI 54070
SEDIMENTOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY
GEOG 59070
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE
LIS 60700
FOUNDATIONS OF MUSEUM STUDIES
Any Anthropology (ANTH) Graduate course (50000 or 60000 level)
Culminating Experience
ANTH 68199THESIS I 26
Minimum Total Credit Hours:36
1

Students are encouraged to select at least one course in either linguistics or statistics in consultation with their advisors. Students may be permitted to present a maximum 6 credit hours of coursework from outside of anthropology. The 6 credit hours, however, are expected to relate to the course of study being pursued (all cases will be considered on an individual basis, and outside courses must be selected in consultation with the advisor and the coordinator of graduate studies). Students wishing to take statistics or linguistics courses from outside of anthropology may be permitted to do so without those credit hours counting against their allotted 6 credit hours, in the event that the courses are not available within the department when they are needed.

2

By the end of the first semester of graduate work, students should select two members of the graduate anthropology faculty, in addition to their principal advisor, to constitute a thesis committee. This committee must approve the thesis before it is submitted to the College of Sciences and Humanities. Students should arrange for the appointment of this committee with the graduate coordinator for anthropology. See Graduation Requirements section below for more information.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
  • Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

Final Examinations

Formal final examinations are administered in ANTH 68230, ANTH 68430 and ANTH 68630. Students who do not pass these examinations (earning "Unsatisfactory") may be dismissed from the program. Students who do not earn a minimum B grade in these courses will be required to pass an appropriate additional examination. Students who earn less than a C grade in any of the courses cannot subsequently qualify for an M.A. degree in Anthropology.

Thesis Requirement

A completed written thesis must be unanimously approved as a work of professional caliber as to content and form by a thesis committee of three graduate faculty. This thesis will be defended orally by the student. The defense is not to be considered a mere formality. The committee may range beyond the actual content of the thesis to questions about concepts, methods, theories upon which the thesis is based and about the content of relevant studies included in the bibliography of the thesis.

In cases in which the faculty believe that a student’s career would be better served by additional coursework rather than a thesis, 6 credit hours of additional coursework may be substituted for the thesis. The additional courses should compose an intensive investigation within the student’s specialty. Permission for using the non-thesis option must be arranged through the graduate coordinator. In the very rare cases where a student is granted permission to use the non-thesis option, special written comprehensive examinations will be required.

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

What does delivery mean?

Examples of Possible Jobs and Salaries for Anthropology - M.A.

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Medical Anthropology - Minor

Explore the intersection of anthropology and medicine with Kent State's Medical Anthropology minor. Gain insight into how culture, health and healing are intertwined and prepare for a career in healthcare or social services.

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Program Information for Medical Anthropology - Minor

Program Description

Full Description

The Medical Anthropology minor is attractive to any student in nursing, pre-med, public health, psychology and related disciplines. It is designed to give students the skills needed to provide culturally sensitive and effective health care.

Medical Anthropology is the fastest growing sub-discipline of anthropology with a variety of applications. It is a broad field that includes medical and psychiatric anthropology, global health, disability, social suffering, humanitarianism, death and dying, caregiving, public health, medical ethics, human rights and medical humanities.

Admissions for Medical Anthropology - Minor

Admission Requirements

The Medical Anthropology minor is not accepting students at this time.

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

Coursework

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Program Requirements

Minor Requirements

Minor Requirements
ANTH 18210INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (KSS) 3
ANTH 18630HUMAN EVOLUTION (KBS) 3
ANTH 48250MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 3
Anthropology Elective, choose from the following:3
ANTH 48150
RELIGION: A SEARCH FOR A MEANING
ANTH 48245
PSYCHOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 48623
HUMAN VARIATION
ANTH 48820
HUMAN MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM
Minor Electives, choose from the following6
GEOG 42052
HEALTH GEOGRAPHY
GEOG 49072
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE AND HEALTH
HIST 31550
MEDICINE IN THE MODERN WORLD SINCE 1500
PH 10002
INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL HEALTH
PH 20001
ESSENTIALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
PH 22001
PLAGUES AND PANDEMICS: HOW INFECTION SHAPED CULTURE AND HISTORY
PSYC 31532
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
PSYC 41364
DRUGS AND BEHAVIOR
SOC 22570
UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENCES AND INEQUALITY
SOC 32570
INEQUALITY IN SOCIETIES
SOC 42010
DEATH AND DYING
SOC 42400
SELF AND IDENTITY
SOC 42562
SOCIOLOGY OF MENTAL ILLNESS
SOC 42563
SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE
Minimum Total Credit Hours:18

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Minor GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
  • Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).
Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

The Medical Anthropology minor is not accepting students at this time.

What does delivery mean?

Forensic Anthropology - Minor

The Forensic Anthropology minor introduces students to analyses of skeletal remains, bodily fluids and DNA profiles associated with missing persons cases and violent crimes. Courses focus on the science of forensic anthropology and the presentation of such data in the courtroom.

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Program Information for Forensic Anthropology - Minor

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Gain an understanding of basic forensic anthropological techniques and biological processes relevant to death investigations, including a working knowledge of bone biology and body decomposition.
  2. Learn the workflow of forensic DNA laboratories, beginning with evidence examination, continuing through the benchwork steps of DNA analysis and ending with statistical evaluation.
  3. Become familiar with courtroom procedures, specifically those relevant to criminal cases that include biological evidence, and deliver related testimony as they develop an understanding of the responsibilities and privileges of an expert witness.

Admissions for Forensic Anthropology - Minor

Admission Requirements

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

Coursework

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Program Requirements

Minor Requirements

Minor Requirements
ANTH 18230INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY 3
ANTH 28300INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC GENETICS 3
CRIM 12000INTRODUCTION TO JUSTICE STUDIES 3
Anthropology Electives, choose from the following:6
ANTH 38789
FACES: HUMAN HEAD ANATOMY WITH A FORENSIC ART FOCUS (ELR)
ANTH 48092
FORENSIC ARCHAEOLOGY FIELD SCHOOL (ELR)
ANTH 48225
ARCHAEOLOGY OF DEATH (ELR) (WIC)
ANTH 48300
ADVANCED FORENSIC GENETICS
ANTH 48550
FORENSIC SCIENCE IN THE COURTROOM
ANTH 48820
HUMAN MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM
Criminology and Justice Studies Elective, choose from the following:3
CRIM 22301
THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS
CRIM 33200
CRIMINAL LAW
CRIM 34200
CRIMINAL PROCEDURES AND EVIDENCE
CRIM 46200
CURRENT CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES
CRIM 47211
COURT FUNCTIONS
Minimum Total Credit Hours:18

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Minor GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
  • Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).
Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

What does delivery mean?

Anthropology - Minor

The Anthropology minor gives students a strong liberal arts background combined with an awareness and understanding of ethnic and cultural differences and similarities — skills sought after by businesses worldwide.

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Program Information for Anthropology - Minor

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Minor Requirements

Minor Requirements
Anthropology (ANTH) Elective3
Anthropology (ANTH) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level)9
Minor Electives, choose from the following:6
ANTH 18210
INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (KSS)
ANTH 18420
INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY (KSS)
ANTH 18630
HUMAN EVOLUTION (KBS)
Minimum Total Credit Hours:18

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Minor GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
  • Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).
Admissions for Anthropology - Minor

Admissions Requirements

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

What does delivery mean?

Anthropology - B.S.

Explore what it means to be human — past, present and future — with the Anthropology B.S. Choose from concentrations in archaeology or biological anthropology as you gain hands-on experience through fieldwork, lab research and real-world investigation of cultures and human evolution. Build practical skills and a global perspective that prepare you for diverse careers or graduate study in a rapidly changing world.

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Program Information for Anthropology - B.S.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology is for students who wish to acquire in-depth training in archaeology and biological anthropology. The program is more structured in terms of course requirements than the B.A. degree in Anthropology and provides students with methods and theory that will prepare them for graduate school and future careers in the discipline.

The Anthropology major comprises the following concentrations:

  • The Archaeology concentration provides students with in-depth training in analysis and field opportunities, as well as coursework in archeological theory and cultural ecology. The program emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of archaeology. Students take courses in geography, geology and mathematics; and have the option of chemistry or physics courses, depending on interests and aspirations. The program features hands-on training using the latest technologies, including morphometric analysis, material properties testing, artifact replication, digital recording and mapping equipment. Areas of specialization include experimental archaeology, Old World Paleolithic archaeology and North American archaeology.
  • The Biological Anthropology concentration trains students in aspects of evolutionary theory, human evolution and human variation. Coursework includes studies of living primates, their anatomy, behavior, ecology and conservation. Laboratory work for genetics, endocrinology, bone biology and neurobiology are available for undergraduate training. Additionally, the freshmen human evolution laboratory enhances the learning process in the biological aspects of human nature.

Examples of Possible Jobs and Salaries*

Anthropologists and archeologists

  • 3.7% about as fast as the average
  • 8,800 number of jobs
  • $64,910 potential earnings

Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary

  • 2.7% slower than the average
  • 6,500 number of jobs
  • $95,770 potential earnings

Admissions for Anthropology - B.S.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.

Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Acquire a foundational view of human cultures and an extensive knowledge base of diverse human behavior.
  2. Demonstrate broad skills in social, physical and biological sciences.
  3. Understand how social scientists think and apply their findings.

Graduates of the Archaeology concentration will be able to:

  1. Learn how anthropologists investigate the past combining the methods of social and natural scientists.
  2. Demonstrate comprehension of anthropology’s special role in making archaeology (particularly the study of the ancient Americas) come to life and become relevant for them.
  3. Gain a special appreciation of archaeology’s other mandate — the need to conserve the precious heritage of the archaeological record, both in the New World and the Old World.
  4. Demonstrate thorough knowledge of general chemistry and/or physics, fundamental mathematics, as well as specific areas of geology and geography.

Graduates of the Biological Anthropology concentration will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of biological anthropology as the most relevant evolution science, the one which gives them an appreciation of their place in nature.
  2. See the two dimensions of human evolution and adaptation: a global one (modern human variation) and a deep temporal one (human origins). Both dimensions require an appreciation of the neo-Darwinian theory of evolution, which includes both the process of natural selection and the roles which genetics and developmental biology play.
  3. Demonstrate thorough knowledge of general chemistry and fundamental mathematics, as well as specific areas in the biological sciences.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
ANTH 18210INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (KSS) 3
ANTH 18420INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY (KSS) 3
ANTH 18630HUMAN EVOLUTION (KBS) 3
ANTH 18631ISSUES IN HUMAN EVOLUTION (KBS) (KLAB) 1
ANTH 38440QUANTITATIVE ANTHROPOLOGY 3
ANTH 38480ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS (ELR) (WIC) 13
MATH 11022TRIGONOMETRY (KMCR) 3
MATH 12002ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) 5
Anthropology (ANTH) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level)15
Archaeology Elective, choose from the following:3
ANTH 48010
NORTH AMERICA'S ICE AGE HUNTERS
ANTH 48225
ARCHAEOLOGY OF DEATH (ELR) (WIC) 1
ANTH 48242
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CERAMICS
ANTH 48440
ARCHAEOLOGY OF ANCIENT OHIO
ANTH 48450
ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
Biological Anthropology Elective, choose from the following:3
ANTH 38680
PRIMATE SOCIETIES
ANTH 48330
PRIMATE ENDOCRINOLOGY
ANTH 48623
HUMAN VARIATION
ANTH 48820
HUMAN MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM
ANTH 48835
PRIMATE ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
Cultural Anthropology Elective, choose from the following:3
ANTH 48214
POLITICS OF CULTURE (ELR) (WIC) 1
ANTH 48220
CULTURAL ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
ANTH 48245
PSYCHOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 48250
MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Additional Requirements (course do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below)8
American Civic Literacy Requirement 23
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 26-9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) (cannot be ANTH) 20-3
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)18
Concentrations
Choose from the following:27
Archaeology
Biological Anthropology
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2

If students complete the American Civic Literacy requirement by taking HIST 12061, the course will apply to the Kent Core Humanities category. If they complete it with POL 10101, the course will apply to the Kent Core Social Sciences category.

Archaeology Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
CHEM 10062GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 11
or PHY 13021 GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB)
CHEM 10063GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 11
or PHY 13022 GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY II (KBS) (KLAB)
ESCI 11040HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS) 3
ESCI 11041HOW THE EARTH WORKS LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
ESCI 23063EARTH MATERIALS I 4
or ESCI 32066 GEOMORPHOLOGY
GEOG 10160INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY 3
Concentration Electives, choose from the following:6-7
GEOG 22061
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY (KSS)
GEOG 49070
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE
GEOG 49080
ADVANCED GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE
GEOG 49230
REMOTE SENSING
General Chemistry or Physics Electives, choose from the following: 18
CHEM 10058
& CHEM 10059
GENERAL CHEMISTRY FOR LIFE SCIENCES I (KBS)
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY FOR LIFE SCIENCES II
CHEM 10060
& CHEM 10061
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS)
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS)
PHY 13001
& PHY 13002
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I (KBS)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS II (KBS)
Minimum Total Credit Hours:27
1

Students take the lectures and associated labs in either chemistry or physics.

Biological Anthropology Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
ANTH 28300INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC GENETICS 3
or BSCI 30050 HUMAN GENETICS
or BSCI 30156 ELEMENTS OF GENETICS
BSCI 10120BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
BSCI 30140CELL BIOLOGY 4
CHEM 10062GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
CHEM 10063GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
Concentration Electives, choose from the following:6-7
BSCI 30360
GENERAL ECOLOGY
BSCI 30518
VERTEBRATE ANATOMY
BSCI 40163
EVOLUTION
BSCI 40430
ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY
BSCI 40558
MAMMALOGY
General Chemistry Electives, choose from the following:8
CHEM 10058
& CHEM 10059
GENERAL CHEMISTRY FOR LIFE SCIENCES I (KBS)
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY FOR LIFE SCIENCES II
CHEM 10060
& CHEM 10061
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS)
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS)
Minimum Total Credit Hours:27

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.S.

  • Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Sciences and Humanities must complete 8 credit hours of foreign language.1 
  • The following programs are exempt from this requirement: The Bachelor of Science in Cybercriminology and the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science.2
  • Minimum Elementary I and II of the same language
1

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 8 credit hours and two courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

2

The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science exemption exists under another college policy (Three-Plus-One Programs). The Bachelor of Science in Cybercriminology exemption is due to its extensive collaboration with and contribution from the Information Technology program in the College of Applied and Technical Studies, which does not have a foreign language requirement.

Roadmaps

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Roadmaps

Archaeology Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
!ANTH 18210
or ANTH 18420
 INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (KSS)
or INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY (KSS)
3
ESCI 11040 HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS) 3
ESCI 11041 HOW THE EARTH WORKS LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
MATH 11022 TRIGONOMETRY (KMCR) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Two
!ANTH 18210
or ANTH 18420
 INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (KSS)
or INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY (KSS)
3
MATH 12002 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) 5
American Civic Literacy Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours17
Semester Three
CHEM 10062
or PHY 13021
 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB)
or GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB)
1
Anthropology (ANTH) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
General Chemistry or Physics Elective 4
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
!ANTH 18630 HUMAN EVOLUTION (KBS) 3
ANTH 18631 ISSUES IN HUMAN EVOLUTION (KBS) (KLAB) 1
CHEM 10063
or PHY 13022
 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB)
or GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY II (KBS) (KLAB)
1
General Chemistry or Physics Elective 4
Foreign Language 4
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Five
!ANTH 38480
or ANTH 38440
 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS (ELR) (WIC)
or QUANTITATIVE ANTHROPOLOGY
3
GEOG 10160 INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY 3
!Archaeology Elective 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
!ANTH 38480
or ANTH 38440
 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS (ELR) (WIC)
or QUANTITATIVE ANTHROPOLOGY
3
!Biological Anthropology Elective 3
Concentration Elective 3-4
Cultural Anthropology Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
Anthropology (ANTH) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 6
Concentration Elective 3-4
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
ESCI 23063
or ESCI 32066
 EARTH MATERIALS I
or GEOMORPHOLOGY
4
Anthropology (ANTH) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 6
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours13
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Biological Anthropology Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
!ANTH 18210
or ANTH 18420
 INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (KSS)
or INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY (KSS)
3
BSCI 10120 BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
MATH 11022 TRIGONOMETRY (KMCR) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours17
Semester Two
!ANTH 18210
or ANTH 18420
 INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (KSS)
or INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY (KSS)
3
MATH 12002 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) 5
American Civic Literacy Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours17
Semester Three
CHEM 10062 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
General Chemistry Elective 4
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
!ANTH 18630 HUMAN EVOLUTION (KBS) 3
ANTH 18631 ISSUES IN HUMAN EVOLUTION (KBS) (KLAB) 1
CHEM 10063 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
General Chemistry Elective 4
Foreign Language 4
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Five
ANTH 38480
or ANTH 38440
 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS (ELR) (WIC)
or QUANTITATIVE ANTHROPOLOGY
3
BSCI 30140 CELL BIOLOGY 4
Cultural Anthropology Elective 3
General Electives 4
 Credit Hours14
Semester Six
ANTH 28300
or BSCI 30050
or BSCI 30156
 INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC GENETICS
or HUMAN GENETICS
or ELEMENTS OF GENETICS
3
ANTH 38480
or ANTH 38440
 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS (ELR) (WIC)
or QUANTITATIVE ANTHROPOLOGY
3
Archaeology Elective 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
Anthropology (ANTH) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 9
Concentration Elective 3-4
General Elective 2
 Credit Hours14
Semester Eight
Anthropology (ANTH) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 6
Biological Anthropology Elective 3
Concentration Elective 3-4
 Credit Hours12
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

What does delivery mean?

Examples of Possible Jobs and Salaries for Anthropology - B.S.

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

3+3 to a Law Degree

This program allows ANTH majors on the BA track to complete many of their university requirements and all of their ANTH courses in three years.  In year four, they go on to their first year law school courses, and if those are completed successfully, those are counted as completing their bachelor’s degree at Kent State.  Graduates then complete their last two years of law school to get their law degree.  This allows students to get both degrees within six years, saving both time and money.

Anthropology - B.A.

Looking for a fascinating new perspective on the world around you? Our Anthropology bachelor's degree program might just be for what you are looking. With a diverse array of courses and opportunities to participate in groundbreaking research, your journey of discovery starts today.

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Program Information for Anthropology - B.A.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology focuses on human cultural and biological diversity and the impact on past and present environments. Anthropology’s relevance to other areas of study — including sociology, social-psychology, biology and pre-medicine — links it to culture area studies, community planning and public health.

The Anthropology major provides in-depth area studies in cultural anthropology, archaeology and biological anthropology. Students who focus on the biological aspect of human evolution benefit from the freshman-level human evolution laboratory.

Examples of Possible Jobs and Salaries*

Anthropologists and archeologists

  • 3.7% about as fast as the average
  • 8,800 number of jobs
  • $64,910 potential earnings

Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary

  • 2.7% slower than the average
  • 6,500 number of jobs
  • $95,770 potential earnings

Admissions for Anthropology - B.A.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.

Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Learn how anthropologists investigate the past using the methods of social scientists.
  2. Demonstrate comprehension of anthropology’s special role in making archaeology, particularly the study of prehistoric Ohio, come to life and become relevant for them.
  3. Gain a special appreciation of archaeology’s other mandate — the need to conserve the precious heritage of the archaeological record — not only in Ohio, but also that of all the eastern woodlands and the Americas.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of biological anthropology as the most relevant evolution science; the one that gives them an appreciation of their place in nature.
  5. See the two dimensions of human evolution and adaptation: a global one (modern human variation) and a temporal one (human origins). Both dimensions require an appreciation of the neo-Darwinian theory of evolution, which includes both the process of natural selection and roles that genetics and developmental biology play.
  6. Achieve a holistic view of human cultures and an extensive knowledge base of diverse human behavior.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
ANTH 18210INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (KSS) 3
ANTH 18420INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY (KSS) 3
ANTH 18630HUMAN EVOLUTION (KBS) 3
ANTH 18631ISSUES IN HUMAN EVOLUTION (KBS) (KLAB) 1
ANTH 38440QUANTITATIVE ANTHROPOLOGY 3
or ANTH 48001 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS IN ANTHROPOLOGY
Anthropology (ANTH) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level)12
Archaeology Elective, choose from the following:3
ANTH 38480
ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS (ELR) (WIC) 1
ANTH 48010
NORTH AMERICA'S ICE AGE HUNTERS
ANTH 48225
ARCHAEOLOGY OF DEATH (ELR) (WIC) 1
ANTH 48242
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CERAMICS
ANTH 48440
ARCHAEOLOGY OF ANCIENT OHIO
ANTH 48450
ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
ANTH 48492
ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS (ELR)
Biological Anthropology Elective, choose from the following:3
ANTH 28300
INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC GENETICS
ANTH 38680
PRIMATE SOCIETIES
ANTH 48330
PRIMATE ENDOCRINOLOGY
ANTH 48623
HUMAN VARIATION
ANTH 48810
HUMAN PALEONTOLOGY
ANTH 48820
HUMAN MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM
ANTH 48835
PRIMATE ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
ANTH 48850
NATURAL SELECTION ACCORDING TO DARWIN
Cultural Anthropology Elective, choose from the following:3
ANTH 48150
RELIGION: A SEARCH FOR A MEANING
ANTH 48214
POLITICS OF CULTURE (ELR) (WIC) 1
ANTH 48220
CULTURAL ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
ANTH 48245
PSYCHOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 48250
MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 48262
PEOPLES AND CULTURES OF AMAZONIA
ANTH 48280
BEING HUMAN: SIGNS AND SYMBOLS
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below)10-16
American Civic Literacy Requirement 23
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 26-9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 20-3
Kent Core Basic Sciences3
Kent Core Additional3
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)48
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2

If students complete the American Civic Literacy requirement by taking HIST 12061, the course will apply to the Kent Core Humanities category. If they complete it with POL 10101, the course will apply to the Kent Core Social Sciences category.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree* in the College of Sciences and Humanities must complete the following:

  1. Elementary I and II of any language (or equivalent) and
  2. One of the following options:
    1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
    2. Elementary I and II of a second language
    3. Any combination of two courses from the following list:
      1. Intermediate I of the same language
      2. One to two college-level course(s) completed outside the United States
      3. Courses: ARAB 21401, ASL 19401, CHIN 25421, MCLS 10001, MCLS 20001, MCLS 20091, MCLS 21417, MCLS 21420, MCLS 22217, MCLS 28403, MCLS 28404

*The Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies is exempt from the foreign language requirement until fall 2028 due to its previous longstanding academic placement in the College of Communication and Information, which does not have a foreign language requirement.

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer courses. This may be accomplished in one of three ways:

  1. Passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level
  2. Receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University
  3. Demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language

Certain programs may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need a particular language proficiency.

 
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
!ANTH 18210
or ANTH 18420
 INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (KSS)
or INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY (KSS)
3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Two
!ANTH 18210
or ANTH 18420
 INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (KSS)
or INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY (KSS)
3
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Three
Anthropology (ANTH) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Foreign Language and/or General Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
!ANTH 18630 HUMAN EVOLUTION (KBS) 3
ANTH 18631 ISSUES IN HUMAN EVOLUTION (KBS) (KLAB) 1
Foreign Language and/or General Elective 3
American Civic Literacy Requirement 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours16
Semester Five
ANTH 38440
or ANTH 48001
 QUANTITATIVE ANTHROPOLOGY
or QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS IN ANTHROPOLOGY
3
Archaeology Elective 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
Cultural Anthropology Elective 3
Anthropology (ANTH) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
!Biological Anthropology Elective 3
Anthropology (ANTH) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
Anthropology (ANTH) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
General Electives 11
 Credit Hours14
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

What does delivery mean?

Examples of Possible Jobs and Salaries for Anthropology - B.A.

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
‘I truly believe that what makes Kent State great is the immediate and direct result of May 4, 1970’

Maureen McFarland Speaks at Veterans Day 2023

"I'm as proud to say I'm a Golden Flash as I am to say I'm a Marine." Maureen McFarland, Ph.D., said her 20-plus years of service at Kent State University, with its distinct history and commitment to values, have reinforced her decision to leave military service for higher education. McFarland, an associate dean of academic affairs for the College of Aeronautics and Engineering at Kent State and a retired lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Marine Corps, delivered the university's Veterans Day address. She told her fellow veterans that one of the aspects that led to her decision to bec...

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