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Undergraduate Anthropology Program Overview

What is Anthropology?

Anthropology Field School, Colorado.

Anthropology is the integrated study of the human experience, including the study of human culture, history, and evolution. Our department integrates training in four subfields to produce graduates who are critical and holistic thinkers, broadly trained, and prepared to positively contribute to today's multicultural and globalized society.

Anthropology undergraduate student graduate.

Majors and Minors

We prepare undergraduate students to graduate with a B.A. degree in Anthropology (Anthropology) or a B.S. degree in Anthropology (Human Health and Biology) from our department.

In our general anthropology courses we introduce students to the theoretical and methodological tools used to understand humans in all capacities.  We also provide fieldwork and laboratory experiences that teach students how to observe and document anthropological and archaeologicaly relevent information, collect data and/or generate experimental data, reach scientific conclusions and how to put those conclusions into the broader context of understanding how humans engage with each other and the world around them in the present and past.

Our advanced courses provide deeper insights and understanding in general and within the various subfields. Most of these courses provide advanced theoretical and methodological experience to deepen understanding of the field and to provide practical skills that are needed to prepare students for research work or as practitioners upon graduation. The undergraduate coursework culminates with capstone experiences. We offer a number of capstone courses in the various subfields and research thesis options.

Advising

Anthropology undergraduate students face a series of difficult questions when designing their overall program of study and fulfilling their major requirements. How are general University requirements related to the anthropology department's requirements? Why are courses in all four subfields of anthropology required? What kinds of jobs are available for anthropology graduates? What courses will best prepare students for careers in anthropology? The advisory process will help answer these questions. The anthropology faculty takes this process very seriously, as should every anthropology major; please review this document carefully in order to be prepared for a rewarding educational experience in anthropology. 

There are several different advisors that you may wish to contact. Tyson Putthoff is our undergraduate advisor (through CAS). He can help undergraduate students in the selection of classes each semester, requirement progress, dual degree vs. double major differences, general education, enrollment issues including overrides, etc. He can provide some information about volunteer and research opportunities related to anthropology, summer internships, field schools, jobs, and applying to graduate school. 

For more specific information about graduate programs and careers in anthropology, we encourage you to speak with Anthropology department faculty members who work in that area. If you are interested in OU's Honors program, Dr. Samuel Duwe is the Honors Coordinator for anthropology.

There are two publications you should consult when planning your course schedule each semester: the University of Oklahoma's General Catalog, which includes a description of all courses offered by the University and degree requirements for OU and each department, and the Class Schedule Bulletin (available in the University Bookstore or online through the Enrollment page), which includes a list of classes being offered for the upcoming semester. 

The advisors will email each student two to three weeks before the pre-registration period begins. You need to set an appointment for advising early. Appointments are now set using iAdvise. An early appointment will improve your chances of gaining entry into space-limited classes. To obtain optimal benefits from your advisory session, we recommend that you: (1) prepare ahead of time by reviewing your choices of required and elective classes and make a tentative schedule, (2) write down any academic questions or concerns you would like to address during advising, and (3) plan to communicate your academic interests to your advisor so that that person may direct you into appropriate classes and possibly jobs and internships. 

Stop by the department frequently to check the bulletin boards and walls for notices about colloquia, seminars, special programs, scholarships, job announcements, and graduate school information. The Undergraduate Anthropology Society also advertises upcoming meetings and events that you might want to attend.

Advising for upcoming course enrollment begins approximately one month prior to each semester's enrollment, but students who have general questions may stop by the advising office any time.

 

Undergraduate Advisor: 

Phone: (405) 325-4411

Tyson Putthoff
tyson@ou.edu

 

Please Note: Students must be advised each semester before they can enroll.

When students come to the advising appointment, they should have an idea of the courses they want and need to take. Students must also familiarize themselves with their specific degree requirements. Degree sheets are available for download below. 

B025 - Anthropology, B.A. in Anthropology, Degree Requirements
B513 - Anthropology, B.S. in Human Health & Biology, Degree Requirements
N025 - Anthropology Minor, Checksheet

A025/F025 Q615 - Anthropology, B.A., Sociocultural Anthropology, M.A., Degree Requirements.

Bite-Sized Advice for Anthropology Majors

Tips from Senior Anthropology Majors

 

How to Get the Most Out of Your Degree, If Your Focus Is...

Archaeology

A field school is not strictly required but is a significant part of archaeological training. Getting additional lab work experience outside of class is also helpful. In fact this is almost mandatory to get into a competitive graduate school.

Talk to your professors! They see many opportunities in jobs and experiences that come across their emails every week, and they can help connect you. Also, it’s the best way to get a feel for what the subfield is all about. Talking to grad students is good, too.

Focus on your subfield, but try not to be myopic. Learning across anthropology, and further afield, will make you a more creative thinker and a better archaeologist.

Biological Anthropology

Different fields of biological anthropology benefit from different methods: human skeletal biology, molecular anthropology, forensics all need different training. Talk to faculty about the best way to get the training through classes and hands-on work.

Talk to your academic advisor about whether the BA or BS makes the most sense for you. 

Human Health and Biology

The BS in Anthropology: Human Health and Biology is a great choice for those who intend to go into medicine or other careers in the health sciences and want a strong grounding in human diversity, both cultural and biological. Such a background will help prepare students for the clinical challenges they will  face in an increasingly diverse world. Other students may be interested in health and human diversity but do not need the number of science courses required by the BS. All of the same medical anthropology courses are available to these students with the BA option. Talk to your academic advisor about whether the BA or BS makes the most sense for you.

Linguistic Anthropology

Here in Oklahoma, we have many unique opportunities to learn more about languages that many people only hear about in the movies. You might fulfill your language requirements with one of the four Indigenous Oklahoma languages offered at OU: Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, or Kiowa. You might also attend or volunteer at the annual Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair held at the Sam Noble Museum each spring. You could even volunteer to help process materials in the museum’s Native American Languages collection by contacting the collection manager.

Beyond OU’s walls, many Oklahoma nations have active language programs that include online courses. You might enroll in one of these to learn more about languages with structural features that are vastly different from languages you may have been exposed to. You could also visit cultural heritage centers to learn about how language and culture interact in a more hands-on way. If you’re a member of a tribe with a language revitalization and reclamation program you might use the tools and training you gain at OU to help expand language reclamation activities for your own heritage language.

Sociocultural Anthropology

There is a small section of Global Cultural Diversity (ANTH 2203) offered regularly which is recommended for those with a sociocultural focus.

Some sociocultural students may be interested in the 3+2 program where students graduate in 5 years with a BA in Anthropology and an MA in Anthropology with a Concentration in Socio-Cultural Anthropology. Applications are due at the end of fall in the junior year. Interested students should talk to Socio-Cultural faculty or the Anthropology academic advisor about their interest.

How to Prepare for Life after Graduation, if Your Path Is... 

A specific job field or industry in mind for after graduation

Seek out people who work in that field to talk to. Most are happy to talk to students and you can learn what kind of training is needed, what life is like in that career, and how best to get started.

Archaeology

Talk to faculty about career paths. There are different jobs available at the BA, MA, and PhD level.

Biological Anthropology

Talk to faculty, graduate students, and people in the field you are interested in pursuing as they can provide guidance about opportunities and paths to obtain your goals.

Linguistic Anthropology

The Linguistics Society of America’s website has great information about possible public and private sector jobs for someone with a degree in linguistics or linguistic anthropology. https://www.linguisticsociety.org/resource/linguistics-profession

Graduate/Professional School

Talk to faculty in your area about your interest and what graduate schools make sense to consider. As the time to apply approaches, pay attention to the application deadlines. Most graduate school applications are due around December and January before the fall when you intend to start, but you need to look at the programs you intend to apply to. Also, investigate whether the programs require an entry test. Many graduate schools traditionally require the GRE, but some have relaxed that recently. Some fields have additional subject tests.

 

Law School

Register with OU Pre-Law advising. Application deadlines can vary widely, but most are due soon after winter break the year before you intend to start. LSATS are usually required by then as well, but many sources advise students to take the LSAT in the summer before you intend to apply.

Medical School/Professional Health School

Register with the Pre-Med or Pre-Health advisors. Learn about the application process and deadlines in your area. For medical school, the application process starts two years before you intend to start (Junior year for many) when you register for MCAT in the fall and do interviews in the spring. The Pre-Med advisors are the best source for information about this process. For those starting the application in their junior year, we recommend you take Cornerstone III then.

Volunteer Opportunities

For those who are interested in volunteer opportunities after graduation, the OU Peace Corps Prep Program (https://www.ou.edu/cis/sponsored_programs/peace-corps-prep) through the College of International Studies might be of interest. Those who would like to stay closer to home, and who are interested in teaching, might explore the Teach for America program (https://www.teachforamerica.org/). If this is a path you’re interested in, you might also be interested in the TEACH grant program, which provides funding for future teachers who commit to teaching in Title I schools after graduation.

Careers in Anthropology

A major in anthropology provides an excellent liberal arts education, serving as a solid academic foundation from which to choose a career. Competency developed in the areas of research methods, foreign languages, statistics, computer technology, and written and verbal skills, coupled with anthropological course work, enables an anthropology major graduate to gain employment in a wide variety of professions, including contract archaeology, teaching, international relations, community planning, government (federal, state, and local), museums and other similar institutions, and social work. It also prepares you for graduate school, not only in anthropology, but also in library studies, law school, and medical school. While a major in anthropology can prepare you for a specific job, it also allows for flexibility in the job market that many other majors cannot match. The Anthropology Department advisors conduct a fall semester workshop specifically on "Careers for Anthropology Graduates;" announcements for this workshop are posted and mailed to our undergraduate students.

The Federal government employs people in a wide variety of occupations that require college degrees with a liberal arts focus. The American Anthropological Association is a good source for finding out more about job opportunities, internships, and other anthropology career-related information.  For more information on private sector employment, specifically with contract archaeology firms and environmental assessment companies, you should make an appointment to speak with the State Archaeologist, Kary Stackelbeck, at the Oklahoma Archaeological Survey on campus.

Research and Travel

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, or UROP, is a competitive program offering financial assistance to talented undergraduates for research, scholarly, and/or creative projects. These awards are given twice a year, with a maximum expense allowance of $1000. Potential applicants must first coordinate their research with a faculty member willing to act as a sponsor.

Undergraduate Research Day (URD)

Each spring semester, the Honors Program sponsors Undergraduate Research Day (URD) for undergraduates, whether in the Honors Program or not, to present their research in a professional and supportive environment. Cash prizes are awarded to the best presentation in each subject area. Application forms are available from the OU Honors Program.

OU Undergraduate Research Day 2019 shoring Anthropology student presenters and their mentors.

Summer Field School

Students excavating near Black Mesa, Oklahoma.

Field schools provide "hands-on" experience in anthropology, including archaeological projects, ethnographic studies, language programs, and museum studies. The OU Anthropology Department offers a summer Archaeological Field School each year for up to six credit hours. Archaeological and ethnographic field trips are often scheduled for credit hours by various faculty members and include excursions throughout the Plains and Southwest. These are usually offered only during Intersession; please review all course schedule booklets that are available each semester or discuss your interest in field schools with your advisor.

Fulbright Program

Students interested in the Fulbright Program should contact university Fulbright advisor Jaci Gandenberger (in International and Area Studies). The Fulbright scholarship is designed for seniors and graduate students wishing to study abroad. Please see the OU Fulbright program web page for deadlines and for more information. If you are interested in the Fulbright Program, then you must make an appointment with Maura McAndrew who advises the OU Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the university.

Study Abroad Program

The University sponsors many different Study Abroad programs. Study Abroad is an excellent way to have an anthropological experience and receive college credit at the same time. Application requirements tend to be demanding to match the demanding nature of Study Abroad, but students with the skills and desire should seriously consider studying for a semester or two in a foreign country. Please see your advisor for more information, or contact the Study Abroad Program, Office of International Programs.

Digital Camera

Undergraduate student Natalie Dickson visited Oldupai (Olduvai) Gorge, Tanzania during her study abroad experience in Tanzania

An aerial view of Machu Picchu, with mountains and clouds.

Dr. Tassie Hirschfeld led students to Peru on the Journey to Latin America program in 2011.

Internships in Anthropology

Come away from OU with more than a degree - enhance your experience with an internship!

The Anthropology Department offers undergraduate internships, allowing students to gain real world experience that applies what they have learned in the classroom. We have internships available in all four subfields plus museum studies.

Various museums in the United States and abroad offer internships for students interested in museology. For example, the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa sponsors internship positions in their various departments, and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., also supports a wide array of internship positions. You can contact these institutions directly or discuss your interests in museum studies with your advisor. Additionally, the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History offers exciting opportunities for students interested in museology, internships, and careers.

Due to the nature of the program, each internship is unique, and so it is difficult to describe a "typical" internship. Internship opportunities include:

  • Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
  • Oklahoma Archeological Survey
  • Oklahoma Historical Society
  • Community agencies or foundations
  • Local zoos
  • Literacy education and outreach
  • Community agencies or foundations
  • Applied medical anthropology and health
  • Linguistics research and fieldwork
  • Historic preservation
  • Other local nonprofit organizations
  • Local governments

Courses Offered

With permission, you can enroll in any of the following internships:

  • ANTH 3810 - Internship in Linguistic Anthropology
  • ANTH 3910 - Internship in Biological Anthropology
  • ANTH 3920 - Internship in Museum Anthropology
  • ANTH 3940 - Internship in Archaeology
  • ANTH 3950 - Internship in Sociocultural Anthropology

Requirements

  • Anthropology major with junior or senior standing
  • 3.0 GPA or above
  • Permission of the instructor

Responsibilities

Interns can enroll for 1 to 6 hours of credit, for a total of 6 hours (across all semesters). Most students take 3 hours, and several have repeated the internship for a second semester (for 6 hours total). Grading is Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U). As an intern, you are expected to make a commitment to showing up at your internship and completing the tasks assigned to you for the duration of the semester. There is no strict time requirement, but generally an intern enrolled for 3 hours of credit will work 6-9 hours per week at the internship. Students will keep a brief weekly journal, describing their activities, and write a paper synthesizing what they have read in the literature with what they have learned hands-on as part of the internship. Students typically interact both with a faculty internship advisor as well as a local supervisor on their internship.

For More Information

Contact Dr. Sam Duwe, Internship Coordinator, at duwe@ou.edu. You cannot register for an internship until you have spoken with Dr. Duwe.

If you are interested in an internship but are not sure if one of those listed above appeals to you, come in and talk with Dr. Duwe. A brief discussion may help identify an internship opportunity that best matches your interests and skills set.

Honors and Awards

Honors Program

The Honors College is a curricular program dedicated to providing academically talented students with the opportunity to develop their intellectual potential. Students who complete the Honors Program requirements and achieve a final cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher will earn a degree designation of cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude. These are the most prestigious undergraduate degree designations available and are noted on official transcripts and diplomas. If you are interested and eligible, please contact Dr. Duwe in Anthropology or the Honors College Office, 325-5291.

Leadership and Scholarship Programs

McNair Scholars Banquet

The University of Oklahoma offers a variety of leaders and scholars programs including the McNair Scholars program, Phi Beta Kappa, and the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences Withrow Leadership Scholars. For more information on these and other OU programs, as well information on scholarship opportunities, please see the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences Scholarships and Awards page and the University of Oklahoma scholarships page.  

Left: Dr. Sophia Bollin-Dills (McNair program director), recent anthropology graduate Natalie Dickson, and Dr. Tassie Hirschfeld at the 2014 McNair Banquet.

Student Awards

book by Morris Opler

Graduating senior awards are given to outstanding anthropology majors and are nominated by faculty members. These awards are given in the spring semester just prior to graduation ceremonies.

  • Iva Schmidt Springstead Award: The Springstead Award recognizes the best overall graduating senior in anthropology. The recipient's name is engraved on a plaque located in the department lounge. 
  • Graduating Senior Award for Achievement in Biological Anthropology: This is a merit award for outstanding endeavors in biological anthropology.
  • Graduating Senior Award for Achievement in Archaeology: This is a merit award for outstanding endeavors in archaeology.
  • William Bittle Award: This is a merit award for outstanding endeavors in linguistic anthropology.
  • Morris E. Opler Award: The Opler Award was established to recognize a graduating senior for outstanding endeavors in cultural anthropology. The recipient's name is engraved on a plaque located in the department lounge. 
  • Graduating Senior Award for Achievement in Anthropology: This award recognizes graduating seniors for merit in their anthropological endeavors. 
  • Rain Vehik Award: The Rain Vehik Memorial Fund honors archaeologist Dr. Rain Vehik. Dr. Vehik had a long and productive career in Plains archaeology that included positions at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, the University of North Dakota, and in Oklahoma. In Oklahoma, he served as head of the Archaeological Research and Management Center, worked with the Oklahoma Archeological Survey, and taught for the OU Department of Anthropology. The Rain Vehik Award offers funds to OU Anthropology majors to participate in scholarly conferences (i.e., paper, poster, or workshop participant. Higher priority is given to students attending the annual Plains Anthropological Conference, although awards for other conferences will be granted if sufficient funds are available. Each student is eligible for only one award per academic year. Awards may vary in amount depending on the level of participation.

Scholarships

The University of Oklahoma has a variety of scholarship opportunities. Please see the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences Scholarshis and Awards page and the University of Oklahoma scholarship page for more information including deadlines and application procedures.

There are two primary competitive departmental scholarships available to undergraduate anthropology majors: the Bowman Scholarship (awarded in spring) and the Rain Vehik Award (awarded in fall and spring). Other scholarships funds may be available from time to time.

Undergraduates can also apply for travel funds (for example, to conferences) through the College of Arts and Sciences' travel assistance program. The application deadline for CAS funds is 30 days prior to the start of travel.

To apply for the Bowman Scholarship, you must use the online University of Oklahoma scholarship page (CASH). The application portal opens on October 1. The deadline for applications is February 1. By applying for scholarships through CASH, students are also eligible for general University scholarships, departmental scholarships, college-wide scholarships, financial aid scholarships, Sooner Heritage scholarships, study abroad scholarships, Work Assistance, and other opportunities on campus. We encourage you to apply early to ensure that you have plenty of time to compose your essays and to request any letters of recommendation, if applicable.

Student Organizations

Undergraduate Anthropology Association Students standing and sitting while flintknapping.

Participation in campus organizations can be an important part of your academic learning experience, adding to the power of your resume in the job market. The University of Oklahoma sponsors a variety of events, activities, and more than 200 student organizations covering a wide range of interests. A listing of student organizations is provided here and also in the Student Handbook, which can be obtained in the Student Affairs Office.

Student Life has designed many programs, activities, and services (including study skill workshops) to meet the special needs of minorities, women returning to school, veterans, disabled, transfer, and returning students. Notices about these programs may be obtained from their office and are posted regularly in The Oklahoma Daily.

The Undergraduate Anthropology Society (UAS) is the undergraduate student organization that provides anthropology majors and minors an opportunity to meet, socialize, and learn more about anthropology. Look for announcements before meetings and special events in email, the UAS Facebook page, Dale Hall, and/or Dale Hall Tower, 5th floor.

AGSA mentorship program: The OU Anthropology Graduate Student Association (AGSA) sponsors a mentorship program between Anthropology graduate and undergraduate students. The program pairs students with similar interests who can meet to discuss graduate school, anthropology, field schools, and/or opportunities to help with research. Check back here for details about this program this academic year.

The Oklahoma Anthropological Society is an organization consisting of professionals, students, and laypersons interested in anthropology, with an emphasis on archaeology. They sponsor an archaeological survey and excavation each year and provide seminars and training programs.

The Oklahoma Archeological Survey is located on the Norman Campus and is the state agency that administers and oversees the cultural resources of Oklahoma. Because they are affiliated with the university, they often employ undergraduate and graduate students in various job positions. They also often accept volunteers.

University Policies: Undergraduate Anthropology Program

Sexual Harassment Policy

The University of Oklahoma explicitly condemns sexual harassment of students, staff, and faculty. Since some members of the University community hold positions of authority that may involve the legitimate exercise of power over others, it is their responsibility to be sensitive to that power. The University and the Department of Anthropology are committed to providing an environment of study and work free from sexual harassment and to insuring the accessibility of appropriate grievance procedures for addressing all complaints regarding sexual harassment. You may obtain a copy of the University's policy and grievance procedure as well as proceed with a grievance by contacting the Institutional Equity Office. You may also discuss your concerns with any anthropology faculty member or the department chair, who will assist you.

Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities

The University of Oklahoma will reasonably accommodate otherwise qualified individuals with a disability unless such accommodation would pose an undue hardship, would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the service, program or activity or in undue financial or administrative burdens. The term "reasonable accommodation" is used in its general sense in this policy to apply to employees, students and visitors.

Reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to:

  1. Making existing facilities readily accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities
  2. Job restructuring
  3. Part-time or modified work schedules
  4. Reassignment to a vacant position if qualified
  5. Acquisition or modification of equipment or devices
  6. Adjustment or modification of examinations, training materials or policies
  7. Providing qualified readers or interpreters
  8. Modifying policies, practices and procedure

Reasonable accommodation with respect to employment matters should be coordinated with Personnel Services and the disabled individual. Reasonable accommodation with respect to academic matters, including but not limited to faculty employment, should be referred to the Provost's office while all other issues of reasonable accommodation should be referred to the office of the Vice president for Administrative Affairs.

Department of Anthropology
455 West Lindsey
Dale Hall Tower Room 521
Norman, OK 73019

Updated 8/21/2024 by Department of Anthropology: anthropology@ou.edu