Anthropology is dedicated to understanding humankind’s diversity as well as what makes us uniquely human. Through the specific perspectives and methods of socio-cultural, archaeological, and biological anthropology, students learn how the human experience (past and present) is constituted through the interaction of social, cultural, political, material, historical, environmental, and biological factors. Anthropology strives for a holistic understanding of humankind and, depending on the questions asked and the means used to discover answers, anthropological knowledge can straddle the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences.
The undergraduate major in Anthropology emphasizes how topics and issues central to the human experience such as migration, gender, power, health, kinship, race, and identity are examined and understood through diverse anthropological methodologies. In upper division courses, students explore particular socio-cultural, archaeological, and biological perspectives on such issues in greater depth, and these courses may specifically engage perspectives from two or more sub fields. Other courses may consider a range of topics within a specific geographical area, while acknowledging certain limitations to the area studies configuration of knowledge.
Undergraduate majors in Anthropology develop critical skills in thought, written and oral expression, and the application of knowledge, as well as a valuable understanding of human cultural diversity. In an increasingly globalized world in which interaction with people of diverse cultures is becoming the norm, developing a cross cultural understanding about the complexities of human societies past and present is what makes Anthropology an ideal education for the 21st century. A bachelor’s degree in Anthropology is valuable preparation for a career in law, medicine, education, business, government, museums, and various areas of non profit, public, and international service, including public policy and cultural resource management. The Anthropology program also provides a strong foundation for graduate study in any sub field of anthropology. By offering undergraduate majors opportunities to work with faculty research and apply knowledge and skills to local communities, agencies, and business through service learning and internships, students are further prepared for advanced study and successful careers.
For additional information on the Anthropology major at UC Merced, please visit the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts main website, or the Anthropology website.
Anthropology Four Year Major Plans
Below, please find four year plans for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology. Students should choose the plan that corresponds to the catalog year in which they matriculated to UC Merced. For more information on catalog rights, please click here.
Anthropology Major Planning Guides
Below, please find planning guides for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology. Students should choose the planning guide that corresponds to the catalog year in which they matriculated to UC Merced. For more information on catalog rights, please click here.
2014-2015
2013-2014
2012-2013
2011-2012
2010-2011
2009-2010
2008-2009
Interdisciplinary Thematic Courses
The following courses meet the requirement for "Interdisciplinary Thematic Course" for the Anthropology major at UC Merced.
Indigeneity, Race, Ethnicity, and the Nation-state
- ARTS 100/GASP 103: History of World Art
- ARTS 122: African American Music of the 20th Century
- COGS 150: Language, Cognition and Interaction
- ECON 155: Political Economics
- GASP 102: Asian American Art
- GASP 121: Asian Pacific American Music
- GASP 135: African American Music
- GASP 175: Race and Nationalism in American Art
- HIST 112: History of Islamic Art and Architecture
- HIST 116: History of Decolonization in the Twentieth Century
- HIST 117: Topics in Regional or State History
- HIST 121: Asian Pacific American Music
- HIST 124A: African American History to 1877
- HIST 124B: African American History 1877 to Present
- HIST 125: African American Music
- HIST 126: Race and Nationalism in American Art
- SPAN 111: Empire, the Postcolonial and Representation: Reading East and West
- SPAN 123: Spanish Penninsular 20-21 Centuries
- SPAN 140: Latin American Colonial Literature
- SPAN 143: Latin American Literature since Independence
- SPAN 144: Carribean Literature and Cultures
- SPAN 145: Novel of the Latin American Dictator
- SPAN 154: Hispanic Drama and Performing
- PHIL 107: Philosophy of Religion
- PHIL 108: Political Philosophy
- POLI 127: Race, Gender and Politics
- POLI 130: Comparative Political Institutions
- POLI 135: Comparative Political Beha
- POLI 140: Democratization
- POLI 142: Contemporary Chinese Politics
- PSY 150: Psychological Perspective on Cultural, Racial and Ethnic Diversity
- PSY 151: The Psychology of Stereotyping and Prejudice
- PSY 152: Psychological Perspectives on Cultural, Racial and Ethnic Diversity
- PUBP 100: Political Process and Institutions
- PUBP 150: Race, Ethnicity and Public Policy
- SOC 110: Social Movements, Protest and Collective Action
- SOC 115: Political Sociology
- SOC 180: Advanced Issues in Race and Ethnicity
Transnationalism, Migration, and Demography
- ECON 140: Labor Economics
- ECON 150: Economic Development
- HIST 192: Topics in the History of Migration and Immigration
- PUBP 140: Immigration and Public Policy
- SOC 180: Chicanos in U.S. Society
- SPAN 113/ENG 113: US Latino Literature
- SPAN 115/ENG 115: Chicano/a Literature
- SPAN 130: The Transatlantic Baroque
- SPAN 131: Transatlantic Modernismo
- SPAN 151: Diasporas and Exiles in Latin America
- SPAN 153: Bilingualism and Borders in Hispanic Literatures
Health, Nutrition, and the Environment
- BIO 123: Human Parasitology
- BIO 145: Introduction to Population and Community Ecology
- BIO 149: Conservation Biology
- BIO 162: Evolutionary Constraints of Physiology
- BIOE 117: Lab on a Chip: Developing 3rd World Diagnostics for Global Health
- ECON 120: Economics of the Environment and Public Policy
- ECON 145: Health Economics
- ENG 122: Nature Writing of the Environment
- ENGR 141: Economics of the Environment and Public Policy
- ENVE 118: Global Change
- ENVE 140: Water Resources Planning and Management
- ENVE 132: Air Pollution Control
- ENVE 152: Remote Sensing of the Environment
- ENVE 160: Sustainable Energy
- ESS 124: Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology
- ESS 141: Environmental Science and Policy
- ESS 149: Conservation Biology
- GEOG 141: Environmental Science and Policy
- GEOG 142: Geography of Resource Management
- HIST 110: Climate Change and World History
- HIST 118: Topics in Environmental History
- PH 100: Introduction to Epidemiology
- PH 105: Introduction to US Health Care System
- PH 125: Emerging Public Health Threats
- PH 185: Introduction to Health and Biomedical Ethics
- PSY 120: Health Psychology
- PSY 123: Alcohol, Drugs, and Behavior
- PUBP 120: Health Care Policy
- PUBP 130: Environmental Policy
Heritage, Tourism, and Public Culture
- ARTS 100: History of World Art
- ARTS 103: History of Ethnic Costume
- ARTS 130/GASP 104: History of World Architecture
- ARTS 141/GASP 141/HIST 141: History and Practice of Photography
- HIST 138: Museums and Art Controversies
- GASP 151: Museums and Art Controversies
- WH (All Upper Division Courses)
