Anthropology

Anthropology is a holistic study of humankind that encompasses archaeology, socio-cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and biological anthropology. It is highly interdisciplinary, drawing on the sciences, humanities and social studies. Students have opportunities to conduct fieldwork in any of the subfields. For majors, this can comprise a senior thesis. Grinnell's anthropology major prepares students for graduate school as well as careers domestically and internationally in such fields as museology, regional planning, journalism, business, social services, and more.

Anthropology 104 is the general introduction to the field and is normally a student's first course in the department and a prerequisite to most other courses in the department. For the major, students are required to take a minimum of 32 credits in anthropology with at least one course in archaeology or biological anthropology, one course in either cultural anthropology or linguistic anthropology, a methods course (ANT 290, 291, 292 or 293), Theories of Culture (ANT 280), and either two 300-level courses or one 300-level course and senior thesis (ANT 499). ANT 280 is offered every semester and is a prerequisite for all 300 and 400-level courses.

There are many ways to complete a major in anthropology. One possibility, which includes a semester of Off-Campus Study (OCS) is: