Anthropology, B.A.

Study Humanity with Purpose

The Anthropology, B.A. program at Miami University offers a comprehensive exploration of what it means to be human. Students integrate scientific, social science, and humanities approaches to study humanity’s origins, material culture, sociocultural practices, language, belief systems, and the ways cultures adapt and change over time.

To prepare for careers in cultural, archaeological, and physical anthropology, students participate in immersive field-based learning, hands-on research, and community partnerships that build real-world skills and professional experience. For those considering an anthropology major, comparing anthropology programs, or seeking a strong undergraduate pathway into advanced study or applied work, Miami University provides an academically rigorous and experience-driven anthropology degree grounded in discovery and global understanding.

Curriculum and Courses

The Anthropology major at Miami University provides a comprehensive, hands-on education in the holistic study of humanity, integrating archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Students gain a strong foundation in anthropological theory and methods while exploring human origins, culture, language, health, sustainability, and technology. Designed for flexibility and depth, the curriculum prepares students for global citizenship, research, graduate study, and careers across the social sciences, health fields, education, policy, and beyond.

All anthropology majors receive broad training across the discipline through required core courses:

• ATH 212: Introduction to Archaeological Theory and Methods (4 credits)
• ATH 231: Investigating Culture: Theories and Methods in Cultural Anthropology (3 credits)
• ATH 255: Introduction to Biological Anthropology (3 credits)
• ATH 265: Language and Culture (3 credits) or ATH 248: Medical Anthropology (3 credits)
• ATH 321: Paths with Anthropology (3 credits)
• ATH 421: Senior Seminar in Anthropology (3 credits)

Students then pursue focused study through Course Clusters, choosing at least three courses from one cluster and at least one course from each of the remaining two clusters, for a total of 19 credit hours, including one practicum course:

• Evolution, Health, and Bio-Behavioral Change
• Sustainable Worlds
• Technology, Design, and Communication

With more than 30 upper-level anthropology courses, Miami students tailor their degree to interests such as artifact management, medicine, politics, primate behavior, religion, and global regions including Latin America, Native America, South Asia, and the Middle East. Opportunities for labs, fieldwork, research, and applied learning ensure graduates leave with practical skills, critical insight, and a global perspective on the human experience.