Anthropology

The curriculum in Anthropology encompasses two overlapping and yet distinct "tracks": (i) cultural and social anthropology and (ii) biological anthropology, arch aeology, and material culture studies.

Cultural and social anthropology explores the social orders and meanings that human actors create. Although in the past, cultural and social anthropologists typically carried out research overseas, today cultural and social anthropologists also work in their own societies, and our course offerings reflect this global and inclusive approach. In addition, the curriculum in cultural and social anthropology reflects the discipline's longstanding practice of joining together the study of how people understand their own experiences with cross-cultural comparison.

The curriculum in cultural and social anthropology examines a broad range of issues from a number of theoretical perspectives. Our courses examine societies of diverse cultural traditions and economic forms, as well as the movements of people, objects, and ideas among them. We examine such topics as race and ethnicity, medicine, science, gender, sexuality, the environment, religion, law, popular culture, and politics. And we pursue comparisons that look across both history and geography.

The second curricular track—in biological anthropology, archaeology, and material culture (BAM)—focuses on human physical and cultural evolution, modern human diversity, and the material cultures of historical and contemporary ethnic groupos. The BAM track includes courses from Classics and Environmental Studies, as well as Anthropology. In conjunction with these courses, students gain hands-on experience working with fossil hominid skeletal casts and artifacts from a wide variety of prehistoric and modern cultures in the collections of the Jean M. Pitzer Archaeology Laboratory.

Both tracks in anthropology (cultural and social anthropology and BAM) are offered within the joint undergraduate program in Anthropology of Pitzer and Scripps Colleges.

Requirements for the Major

The major in Anthropology requires a minimum of ten courses. Anthropology includes a variety of subfields, which are incorporated in the major. It is the goal of the major to introduce students to all subfields. However, students often develop special areas of interest within anthropology. To accommodate this diversity, the major offers two alternative tracks. Students interested in combining anthropology with the study of medicine, education, public policy, linguistics, art, or other fields are encouraged to talk to one of the anthropology advisors for recommended courses.

1. The Sociocultural Track requires:

  • A. All of the following courses:
    1. Introduction to Archaeology and Biological Anthropology
    2. Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology
    3. Language, Culture, and Society (or another course in linguistic anthropology)
    11. The World Since 1492
    105. Field Methods in Anthropology Theory
    153. History of Anthropological Theory
  • B. A minimum of four electives in Anthropology. Courses taken on Pitzer Study Abroad programs may be eligible, if they are approved by the Anthropology Field Group.

2. The Human Evolution, Prehistory and Material Culture Track requires:

  • A. All of the following courses:
    1. Introduction to Archaeology and Biological Anthropology
    2. Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology
    11. The World Since 1492 101. Theory and Method in Archaeology (or Anth 110PO, Field Methods in Archaeology, or an approved summer Field School)
    101. Theory and Method in Archaeology (or Anth 110PO, Field Methods in Archaeology, or an approved summer Field School)
  • B. Two upper level courses selected from the following:
    101. Theory and Method in Archaeology (cannot satisfy two requirements)
    102. Museums and Material Culture 103. Museums: Behind the Glass
    110. Field Methods in Archeology (Pomona)
    111. Historical Archaeology
    128. Pre-history of the Americas (Pomona) 161. Greek Art and Archaeology
    164. North American Archaeology 168. Prehistoric Humans and Their Environments
    170. Human Evolution
    Classics 125. Ancient Spectacle Classics
    150. Archaeology in the Age of Augustus. Classics
    162. Roman Art and Archaeology. Classics
    164. Pompeii and the Cities of Vesuvius.
  • C. A minimum of four electives in anthropology.

A student may substitute a comparable course for a required course with the permission of the field group. Students majoring in anthropology should consult with their adviser to select for the fulfillment of their formal reasoning requirement a course suited both to their interests in anthropology and their background in mathematics. Normally, courses in the student's major cannot be taken on a pass/ no credit basis. As part of their Pitzer experience, students are encouraged to undertake internships or Pitzer Study Abroad. In the senior year, students may undertake a senior exercise with the guidance of the Anthropology faculty.

Students planning to continue studies on the graduate level should pay particular attention to the need for faculty consultation, especially with respect to preparation in statistics and foreign languages.

Combined Major

A combined major in anthropology (Sociocultural Track) requires at least seven courses, including Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology (Anth 2), Language, Culture and Society (Anth 3) and The World Since 1492 (Anth 11). In addition, students will normally take Introduction to Archaeology and Biological Anthropology (Anth 1) or one course primarily in archaeology, biological anthropology, or material culture. A course on field methods (e.g., Anth 105) is strongly recommended. At least two courses for the combined major should be ones at an advanced level in anthropology that are particularly suited to the interdisciplinary major of the student.

A combined major in anthropology (Human Evolution, Prehistory and Material Culture Track) requires at least eight courses, including Introduction to Archaeology and Biological Anthropology (Anth 1), either Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology (Anth 2) or the World Since 1492 (Anth 11), Theory and Method in Archaeology (Anth 101 or the PO field methods course, or an approved summer field school). In addition, students will take two courses from the advanced courses listed in the catalog for the major; normally, this will include Historical Archaeology (Anth 111). Finally, students will take at least three other courses in anthropology, chosen in consultation with the adviser.

For either track, up to two courses may be counted for both fields of the combined major. Where no specific courses are listed in the above requirements, the adviser and student will make a determination of what courses will be taken and the adviser will then circulate that outcome to the field group for approval.

Minor in Anthropology

Students who wish to graduate with a minor in anthropology must satisfactorily complete at least six graded anthropology courses, at least two of which are listed in the requirements for one or both of the anthropology tracks.

Honors

Students who compile extraordinary records in field group and other Pitzer courses and whose senior exercise is deemed outstanding, will be recommended for honors in anthropology.