Academic Catalog

Anthropology

On This Page

Program Description

Literally meaning "the study of humankind," anthropology sits on the boundaries between the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities, and ponders basic questions about what it means to be human. Anthropology focuses on the diverse ways people around the world and through time have interacted with their environments, communicated with each other, organized their social lives, made sense of their world, and responded to emerging conflicts and challenges. In this program we introduce students to the importance of cultural awareness in our globally-interconnected lives, and we challenge colonial frameworks in academia and beyond. Our program prioritizes experiential learning and research both locally and internationally, through archaeological and ethnographic field programs run by our faculty. Our broad course offerings give students the opportunity to study in all fields of anthropology, including archaeology, biological and medical anthropology, forensics, cultural anthropology, linguistics, religion and belief systems, social constructs of race and ethnicity; and the capacity to build narratives of understanding and connection among people.

Learn more about the program on the Anthropology website.

Associate Degree for Transfer

This program also offers an Associate Degree for Transfer. Learn more and review the degree requirements on the Anthropology AA-T listing.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to understand and apply cultural relativism; they will be able to convey an understanding of multiple cultural perspectives.
  • Students will demonstrate a core knowledge base in anthropology, appreciating and reflecting on human diversity in the past and present.
  • Students will integrate their knowledge and understanding of anthropological concepts and methods to creatively and ethically solve real-world human problems at the local, regional, and global scales.
  • Students will be able to articulate key concepts and events in the process of human evolution and demonstrate knowledge, skills, and abilities toward that end.
  • Students will be able to critically assess the important role that the past plays on the present, and, conversely, the important role that the present has on the past from both local, regional, national, and worldwide perspectives.

Career Opportunities

Anthropology serves as a basic springboard for understanding and working within the global arena. Anthropology graduates find opportunities in colleges, universities, and museums as teachers and researchers, and in federal and state governments as community planners, social science and public health analysts, archaeologists, and education officers. There are also employment possibilities with the United Nations, UNESCO, and World Health organizations. International corporations with offices and plants overseas need anthropologists, as do consulting firms that deal with both private corporations and governments. With the basic anthropology courses, the student can transfer to most of the universities in the country. The student may want to add statistics and business principles to enhance employment possibilities. Please visit the Anthropology website for further information.

Award Type(s)

  • AA = Associate in Arts Degree
  • CP = Certificate of Proficiency [Non-Transcriptable]

Units Required

  • Major: 36
  • Certificate(s): 4-20

Additional Information

Note: Students having difficulty attaining an associate degree because of timing or availability of classes should consult with a counselor to submit a petition for course substitution.

Associate Degree Requirements

English Proficiency
Select one of the following:
ENGL 1ACOMPOSITION & READING5
ENGL 1AHHONORS COMPOSITION & READING5
ESLL 26ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING5
or equivalent
Mathematics Proficiency
College-level math course at or above the level of Intermediate Algebra


A minimum of 90 units is required1 to include:

  • Completion of one of the following general education patterns: Foothill General Education, CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
  • Core courses (12 units)
  • Support courses (24 units)
1

Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.

Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. In addition, a grade of "C" or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree.

Core and Support Courses

Core Courses
ANTH 1INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY4
or ANTH 1H HONORS INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 2ACULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY4
or ANTH 2AH HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 8INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY4
or ANTH 8H HONORS INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY
Support Courses
Select 12 units from the following:12
ANTH 1L
PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY LABORATORY
or ANTH 1HL
 HONORS PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY LABORATORY
ANTH 2B
PATTERNS OF CULTURE
ANTH 3
WORLD PREHISTORY: THE RISE & FALL OF EARLY CIVILIZATIONS
ANTH 4
FIRST PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA
ANTH 5
MAGIC, SCIENCE & RELIGION
ANTH 6
PERSPECTIVES FROM AFRICA
ANTH 12
APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 13
INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 13L
FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY LABORATORY
ANTH 14
LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 15
MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY: METHODS & PRACTICE
ANTH 16L
BASIC ARCHAEOLOGY LABORATORY
or ANTH 17L
 INTERMEDIATE ARCHAEOLOGY LABORATORY
ANTH 20
NATIVE PEOPLES OF CALIFORNIA
ANTH 22
THE AZTEC, MAYA, INCA & THEIR PREDECESSORS: CIVILIZATIONS OF THE AMERICAS
GEOG 1
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
or GEOG 2
 HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
GLST 1
INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL STUDIES
GLST 2
GLOBAL ISSUES
PSYC 7
STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
or SOC 7
 STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
PSYC 10
RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
or SOC 10
 SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
And 12 units from the following: 112
ANTH 51
ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY
ANTH 52
ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS
ANTH 55
APPLIED CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY FIELD METHODS
ANTH 56
APPLIED PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY FIELD METHODS
ANTH 57
APPLIED ARCHAEOLOGY FIELD METHODS
ANTH 67A
CULTURES OF THE WORLD: ECUADOR
ANTH 67B
CULTURES OF THE WORLD: BELIZE
ANTH 67C
CULTURES OF THE WORLD: BRITISH ISLES
ANTH 70R
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 71R
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 72R
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 73R
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ANTHROPOLOGY
BIOL 1C
EVOLUTION, SYSTEMATICS & ECOLOGY
BIOL 10
GENERAL BIOLOGY: BASIC PRINCIPLES
ETHN 1
INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC STUDIES
ETHN 2
INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
ETHN 3
INTRODUCTION TO LATINX STUDIES
ETHN 4
INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES
ETHN 5
INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES
GIST 11
INTRODUCTION TO MAPPING & SPATIAL REASONING
or GEOG 11
 INTRODUCTION TO MAPPING & SPATIAL REASONING
GIST 12
INTRODUCTION TO GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY
or GEOG 12
 INTRODUCTION TO GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY
HIST 4A
HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION TO 800 CE
HIST 8
HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA
HIST 18
INTRODUCTION TO MIDDLE EASTERN CIVILIZATION
HUMN 1
CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: THE ANCIENT WORLD
or HUMN 1H
 HONORS CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: THE ANCIENT WORLD
SOC 30
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
or PSYC 30
 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
SOC 40
ASPECTS OF MARRIAGE & FAMILY
WMN 5
INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S STUDIES
Total Units36
1

Students may also use courses listed in the first section of support courses to fulfill the requirement for the second section of support courses.

Certificate Requirements

Cultural Resource Management Certificate of Proficiency

  • Units: 19-20 [Non-Transcriptable]

There are no English or mathematics proficiency requirements for this certificate.

ANTH 8INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY4
or ANTH 8H HONORS INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY
ANTH 16LBASIC ARCHAEOLOGY LABORATORY1-2
or ANTH 17L INTERMEDIATE ARCHAEOLOGY LABORATORY
ANTH 51ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY2
ANTH 52ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS4
And eight units from the following:8
ANTH 3
WORLD PREHISTORY: THE RISE & FALL OF EARLY CIVILIZATIONS
ANTH 4
FIRST PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA
ANTH 12
APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 20
NATIVE PEOPLES OF CALIFORNIA
ANTH 22
THE AZTEC, MAYA, INCA & THEIR PREDECESSORS: CIVILIZATIONS OF THE AMERICAS
ANTH 55
APPLIED CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY FIELD METHODS
ANTH 56
APPLIED PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY FIELD METHODS
ANTH 57
APPLIED ARCHAEOLOGY FIELD METHODS
GIST 11
INTRODUCTION TO MAPPING & SPATIAL REASONING
or GEOG 11
 INTRODUCTION TO MAPPING & SPATIAL REASONING
GIST 12
INTRODUCTION TO GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY
or GEOG 12
 INTRODUCTION TO GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY
Total Units19-20

Medical Anthropology Certificate of Proficiency

  • Units: 16-17 [Non-Transcriptable]

There are no English or mathematics proficiency requirements for this certificate.

ANTH 1INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY4
or ANTH 1H HONORS INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 2ACULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY4
or ANTH 2AH HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 15MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY: METHODS & PRACTICE4
And one course from the following:4-5
ANTH 5
MAGIC, SCIENCE & RELIGION
ANTH 12
APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 14
LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY
COMM 12
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Total Units16-17

Applied Anthropology Certificate of Proficiency

  • Units: 17 [Non-Transcriptable]

There are no English or mathematics proficiency requirements for this certificate.

ANTH 1INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY4
or ANTH 1H HONORS INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 2ACULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY4
or ANTH 2AH HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 12APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY4
And one course from the following:1
ANTH 55
APPLIED CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY FIELD METHODS
ANTH 56
APPLIED PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY FIELD METHODS
ANTH 57
APPLIED ARCHAEOLOGY FIELD METHODS
And four units from the following:4
ANTH 13
INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 14
LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 15
MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY: METHODS & PRACTICE
Total Units17

Cultural Anthropology Certificate of Proficiency

  • Units: 16 [Non-Transcriptable]
Select 12 units from the following:12
ANTH 2A
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
or ANTH 2AH
 HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 2B
PATTERNS OF CULTURE
ANTH 4
FIRST PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA
ANTH 5
MAGIC, SCIENCE & RELIGION
ANTH 6
PERSPECTIVES FROM AFRICA
ANTH 12
APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 14
LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY
And four units from the following:4
Any course not used above
COMM 12
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
GEOG 2
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
GEOG 12
INTRODUCTION TO GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY
or GIST 12
 INTRODUCTION TO GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY
GLST 1
INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL STUDIES
GLST 2
GLOBAL ISSUES
HUMN 1
CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: THE ANCIENT WORLD
or HUMN 1H
 HONORS CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: THE ANCIENT WORLD
HUMN 2
CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: OF EMPIRES & CONFLICT
MUS 8
MUSIC OF AMERICAN CULTURES
or MUS 8H
 HONORS MUSIC OF AMERICAN CULTURES
SOSC 20
CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES FOR A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY
Total Units16

Forensic Anthropology Certificate of Proficiency

  • Units: 14 [Non-Transcriptable]

There are no English or mathematics proficiency requirements for this certificate.

ANTH 1INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY4
or ANTH 1H HONORS INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 1LPHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY LABORATORY1
or ANTH 1HL HONORS PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY LABORATORY
ANTH 13INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY4
ANTH 13LFORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY LABORATORY1
ANTH 15MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY: METHODS & PRACTICE4
Total Units14

Physical Anthropology Certificate of Proficiency

  • Units: 13 [Non-Transcriptable]
ANTH 1INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY4
or ANTH 1H HONORS INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 1LPHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY LABORATORY1
or ANTH 1HL HONORS PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY LABORATORY
And eight units from the following:8
ANTH 13
INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 13L
FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY LABORATORY
ANTH 15
MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY: METHODS & PRACTICE
ANTH 55
APPLIED CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY FIELD METHODS
ANTH 56
APPLIED PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY FIELD METHODS
ANTH 57
APPLIED ARCHAEOLOGY FIELD METHODS
BIOL 1C
EVOLUTION, SYSTEMATICS & ECOLOGY
BIOL 10
GENERAL BIOLOGY: BASIC PRINCIPLES
BIOL 12
HUMAN GENETICS
SOC 30
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
or PSYC 30
 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
SOC 40
ASPECTS OF MARRIAGE & FAMILY
WMN 5
INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S STUDIES
Total Units13

Archaeology Certificate of Proficiency

  • Units: 12 [Non-Transcriptable]

There are no English or mathematics proficiency requirements for this certificate.

Select eight units from the following:8
ANTH 3
WORLD PREHISTORY: THE RISE & FALL OF EARLY CIVILIZATIONS
ANTH 4
FIRST PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA
ANTH 8
INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY
or ANTH 8H
 HONORS INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY
ANTH 16L
BASIC ARCHAEOLOGY LABORATORY
ANTH 17L
INTERMEDIATE ARCHAEOLOGY LABORATORY
ANTH 51
ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY
ANTH 52
ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS
And four units from the following:4
Any course not used above
ANTH 20
NATIVE PEOPLES OF CALIFORNIA
ANTH 22
THE AZTEC, MAYA, INCA & THEIR PREDECESSORS: CIVILIZATIONS OF THE AMERICAS
ANTH 55
APPLIED CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY FIELD METHODS
ANTH 56
APPLIED PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY FIELD METHODS
ANTH 57
APPLIED ARCHAEOLOGY FIELD METHODS
GEOG 1
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
GEOG 12
INTRODUCTION TO GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY
or GIST 12
 INTRODUCTION TO GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY
HIST 8
HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA
HIST 18
INTRODUCTION TO MIDDLE EASTERN CIVILIZATION
HUMN 1
CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: THE ANCIENT WORLD
or HUMN 1H
 HONORS CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: THE ANCIENT WORLD
HUMN 2
CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: OF EMPIRES & CONFLICT
Total Units12

Archaeological Field School Certificate of Proficiency

  • Units: 4-12 [Non-Transcriptable]
ANTH 51ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY2-4
or ANTH 52 ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS
And select 2-8 units from any combination of the following courses:2-8
ANTH 12
APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 16L
BASIC ARCHAEOLOGY LABORATORY
or ANTH 17L
 INTERMEDIATE ARCHAEOLOGY LABORATORY
ANTH 55
APPLIED CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY FIELD METHODS
ANTH 56
APPLIED PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY FIELD METHODS
ANTH 57
APPLIED ARCHAEOLOGY FIELD METHODS
ANTH 67B
CULTURES OF THE WORLD: BELIZE
ANTH 67C
CULTURES OF THE WORLD: BRITISH ISLES
Total Units4-12