Anthropology Department

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Undergraduate

Anthropology prepares you for a wide range of careers in nonprofits, government agencies, academia, and business.

Our major and minor provide both a general grounding in three subfields of anthropology (biological, archaeology and sociocultural anthropology) and a detailed focus on a particular area of concentration. As an anthropology, you'll also take a methods course to practice linking theory to research and data, as well as "Practicing Anthropology" to learn ways anthropology addresses real-world problems related to development, environment, human health, cultural resource management, conflict and more.

Program Details about this content
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Pathways in Anthropology

Explore pathway options that best fit your interests and goals. For each pathway, we list potential careers, recommended courses and internship opportunities.

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Anthropology Major/Minor

A bachelor’s degree in anthropology at PSU gives you a foundational understanding of how humans operate and interact from a global perspective.

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Anthropology Bachelor's + Master's

If you're already pursuing a B.A. or B.S. in anthropology, you may be able to be admitted directly into the parallel master’s program and share up to 20 graduate-level credits (five 4-credit courses) between your bachelor's and master’s degrees. 

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Courses at a Glance

Take a look at what courses we're offering in summer, fall, winter and spring terms.

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Internships

Internships are a great way for you to make contacts in the community, gain hands-on experience in a field of interest, and learn about anthropology in a "real-world" setting.

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Field Schools

Field schools are another way you can gain knowledge and experience outside of the classroom.

ADVISING

Academic Advising

Anthropology is part of the Language, Culture and Meaning Pathway. You're assigned to an advisor based on the last two digits of your PSU ID number. Advisors help you develop a course plan to ensure that all the courses you take meet degree requirements or satisfy your academic goals. 

To make an appointment with an advisor, please visit the Language, Culture, and Meaning Pathway page.

For general advising questions, email lcmadvising@pdx.edu.

Department Advising

We also strongly encourage Anthropology majors and minors to connect with a faculty member for mentoring and career planning. All of our full-time faculty (Shelby Anderson, Michele Gamburd, Charles Klein, Jeremy Spoon, Mrinalini Tankha, and Natalie Vasey) are knowledgeable about major requirements and are happy to help you plan your course work to achieve your academic and professional goals. 

If you have narrowed your interests to one of the sub-fields, try to find an advisor whose background matches your main interests and meet with them once or twice per academic year.

Transfer Students

We want to help you make your transition to PSU as seamless as possible. If you're coming from any
of the Portland area community colleges, we strongly recommend that you take the required 100-level anthropology courses (Anth 101, 102, 103) before you come.

If you’re earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, take your two years of foreign language before you come.

If you’re earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree, take the required 200-level statistics course (Stat 244 [and pre-requisite 243]) before you come.

Any questions at all? Visit the Anthropology Transfer Advising Guide and get in touch with us in Anthropology at anthdept@pdx.edu.

Post-baccalaureate Students

We will help you build a course plan for a career in anthropology or preparation for graduate school. Contact us at anthdept@pdx.edu for an appointment. Visit Advising & Career Services for general post-baccalaureate degree requirements.

Honors Students

If you're an anthropology major in the University Honors College, you will be writing an honors thesis related to anthropology in your senior year.  

As you take anthropology courses and identify your key interests, consider which of our faculty would fit well with those interests. Meet with our faculty, discuss possible projects as early as possible, ideally during your junior year. Anthropology faculty often have project ideas that they can suggest. Please don’t hesitate to contact us as you develop your plan.