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Anthropology Major  
Archaeology Emphasis
This is a major for students who wish to pursue careers in research, environmental impact assessment, education, museum work, historic preservation, the Park Service, or professional archaeology. Archaeologists study the material remains of ancient peoples and cultures in order to deduce information about culture, lifestyles and cultural change. Historical archaeology deals with cultures for which there are written records and is closely allied with the field of history. Prehistoric archaeology deals with the remains of cultures for which there are no written records and uses the remains of tools, structures and of plants and animals to reconstruct the history of the human species.

Skills Developed in this Degree

The archaeology emphasis provides students with a foundational knowledge of the theory and methods underlying modern archaeology, and a general understanding of New and Old World culture growth. Students learn how archaeologists reconstruct past behavioral systems through the analysis of material remains, and they develop skills in field and laboratory methods through hands-on experience. The ability to find out information, think critically about it, and to communicate that information through writing and speaking are the necessary skills for many careers in today’s culturally diverse world.


Requirements
Be sure to consult a departmental advisor to clarify your graduation requirements. This page is not an official university document and is provided for your convenience only. Click here to view the official Catalog entry.
Core
All Anthropology Majors at SJSU are required to take a set of five Core anthropology courses (15 units).  These classes are integral to the students' understanding of anthropology.  Anth_011, Anth_012, and Anth_013 lay the foundation for all other anthropology courses.  Anth_131 provides a theoretical framework will be complemented by the research methods course taken in the emphasis.  Anth_191 is the capstone course that allows students to integrate their anthropological understanding and prepares them for a career or further graduate work.
Anth 011
 Anth 012
 Anth 013
 Anth 131
 Anth 191
 
Research
Methods
Anthropology Majors with an archaeology emphasis must take one of the three archaeology research methods classes offered (3 units).
  Anth 168A Anth 168B Anth 169    
 
Statistics
All Anthropology Majors are required to take a statistics class in support of the major (3 units).  Although the Department of Anthropology does not offer its own class in statistics you may select one of these courses offered by other departments.
  Stat 095 Soci 015 Soci 102 Soci 103  
 
Foundation
Electives
Student may elect to take three or four Foundation courses to deepen their understanding of  archeology (9-12 units). To complete the major you must take a total of seven (7) elective courses, foundational and breadth, for a total of 21 units.
Note: Elective courses may not be offered every semester, see the Projected Course Rotation Schedule for the availability of individual classes.
  Anth 160 Anth 161 Anth 162 Anth 164 Anth 168A
  Anth 168B Anth 169 Anth 180 Anth 184 Anth 187
  Anth 195
ANTH 180, ANTH 184, ANTH 187, and ANTH 195 are special courses and may only be taken as appropriate and with the approval of your advisor.
 
Breadth
Electives
Student may elect to take three or four Breadth courses to expand their understanding of anthropology (9-12 units).  Even when you are studying an ancient civilization it is still human behavior.  By appreciating the variations in how people act, both in the past and the present, you may come to better understand the world around you.
Note: Only three units of advanced GE courses may be used to fulfill the electives requirement.
  Anth 102 Anth 105 Anth 108 Anth 114 Anth 115
  Anth 117 Anth 122 Anth 125 Anth 126 Anth 127
  Anth 133 Anth 135 Anth 140 Anth 141 Anth 142
  Anth 143 Anth 145 Anth 146 Anth 147 Anth 148
  Anth 152 Anth 153 Anth 155 Anth 156 Anth 157
  Anth 170 Anth 172 Anth 173 Anth 175 Anth 176
  Anth 180 Anth 184 Anth 187 Anth 195  
   
ANTH 180, ANTH 184, ANTH 187, and ANTH 195 are special courses and may only be taken as appropriate and with the approval of your advisor.
 
Completing
Your
Bachelor's
Degree
In addition to the 42 units for the major listed here, you must also complete 42 general education units, 2 physical education units and 34 more elective units (120 total units) to complete the requirements for a BA degree.
Note: Of the 51 general education units required by the university 9 may be satisfied by specific major and support requirements. Double counting of transfer units may also change the number of elective units needed. Consult your major advisor for details.
 
Writing
Area Z of the General Education requirements is a Writing course (e.g. Anth_100W).  The Department of Anthropology strongly recommends that students majoring in anthropology take Anth_100W to fulfill this requirement.  The 100W courses offered by the different departments are tailored to provide students with writing experiences in that particular discipline's writing style.
  Anth 100W Psyc 100W Soci 100W    

Programs and Resources

Students are able to participate in local research projects as available. Students may also participate in laboratory analysis of artifacts and in an oral history project, as well as field projects, as available.

Faculty:

Archaeology Emphasis Checklist

Major and Minor Resources

Course Rotation        Advising Schedule        Office Hours