About the Program

Requirements
Professor Christopher Lindner works with a student in Bard's Archaeology Field School. Photo by Claire Debost

Requirements

Anthropology majors can design a course of study in various topical, area, and theoretical orientations. Prior to Moderation, students must complete an introductory course and at least two 200-level courses in anthropology. For courses cross-listed in anthropology, and primarily listed in another program, a maximum of one course may count toward Moderation requirements. All students moderating into anthropology must have a 3.0 or above average in their anthropology courses. In consultation with their Moderation board, students shape their plan of study in the Upper College to include at least four additional courses in anthropology, including the methodology course on “doing ethnography” or archaeological methods (if doing a Senior Project in archaeology); two 300-level courses; and the Senior Project. One of the 300-level courses required is a seminar on contemporary cultural theory that involves each member of the anthropology faculty.

Moderation
Photo by Scott Barrow

Moderation

All moderated anthropology students submit a proposal for the Senior Project at the end of their junior year. A Senior Project may be ethnographic (based on fieldwork), historical (using archival or secondary sources), comparative/theoretical (exploring a theory or phenomenon across two or more contexts), or archaeological (involving excavations). Students intending to pursue postgraduate study or ethnographic research in a non-English-speaking area are encouraged to study a foreign language to at least the 200 level.

Affiliated Programs

Anthropology encourages and maintains crucial ties to other disciplines across campus. Many anthropology students complement their interests with courses that explore similar theoretical and topical themes in historical studies, religion, literature, political sciences, sociology, environmental studies, and history and philosophy of science, and the Human Rights Program. Anthropology students also enhance their study of identity formations with courses in gender and sexuality studies, Jewish studies, and the comparative and critical studies of race. Courses in African and African diaspora studies, Asian studies, and Latin American and Iberian studies provide students with increased historical and cultural depth in a particular area of the world.