Requirements

Major Requirements

A minimum of ten courses will constitute the major; at least eight of these courses (and all the core courses listed in the tracks below) must be fall and spring courses taught at Middlebury (e.g., not winter term courses or transfer credits). For a degree in anthropology, the major must complete the following requirements:

1. Introduction and Exploration
   • Any two (2) of the following introductory courses: ANTH 103, 107, 109,  and 159 (students may take the courses in any order or concurrently);
   • Any two (2) of the 200-level courses offered by the department;
2. Foundations
   • History of Anthropological Thought: ANTH 306 (or SOCI 305 with approval from the Department Chair)
   • Any one (1) of the following Research Methods courses: ANTH 302, 396, and 492.
3. Application and Synthesis
   • One 400-level seminar.
   • Three electives (no more than one at 100-level; anthropology courses from other departments can count as electives with approval from the Department Chair). Note: students pursuing senior projects (see below) may only count one semester toward their elective requirement.

Optional Senior Project in Anthropology

To be eligible for departmental honors, students must complete an independent research project of at least one semester. This typically consists of either a one-semester senior project (ANTH 0700, one credit, usually 25-40 pages) or a two-semester senior project (ANTH 0710, two credits, usually 60-100 pages). Students who wish to work on a project for more than one semester must present their progress for review by two professors who will decide whether the project qualifies for extended study. A one-semester project can be either in the fall or spring semesters; a two- semester project is usually in the fall and winter semesters or in the winter and spring semesters. Variation from these patterns is possible by permission from the department. Senior project requirements for joint majors and other special circumstances will be approved in consultation with both departments.

An ANTH 0700 project requires a project advisor. If the advisor thinks that the project may deserve an A- or A, a second reader must evaluate the project. An ANTH 0710 project requires a committee including the project advisor and a second reader from within the Anthropology Department. It may also include an optional, third reader from another part of the College or the local community. Upon completion of the ANTH 0710 project, there will be an oral defense.

Departmental Honors

Students who earn an A- or higher on a 0700 or 0710 project and average an A- or higher in all Anthropology courses receive departmental honors.

Anthropology Minor Requirements

Any 100-level Anthropology course and four elective courses, no more than one of which can be at the 0100-level and no more than one of which can be a SOCI course. All courses must be taken at Middlebury College. Any exceptions to these rules must be approved by the Anthropology chair.

Applied Anthropology Minor Requirements

Any 0100-level course; ANTH 302, ANTH 396, or ANTH 492; and three elective courses from the list below. All courses must be taken at Middlebury College.  Any exceptions to these rules, including anthropology courses taken in other departments, must be approved by the Anthropology chair.

ANTH 211 Environmental Anthropology (Sheridan)

ANTH 270 Anthropology of Global Corporations (Stoll/Nguyen)

ANTH 287 Medical Anthropology (Bright)

ANTH 329 Refugees or Labor Migrants? (Stoll)

ANTH 340 The Traveling Tonic (Bright)

ANTH 345 Anthropology of Food (Oxfeld)

ANTH 235 City and its People (Tran)

ANTH 274 Global Migration (Tran)

ANTH 351 Education and Social Policy (Tran)

ANTH 395 Environmental Communication (Nevins)

ANTH 450 Anthropology of Development (Sheridan)

SOAN 215 Sociology of Education (Tran)

Joint Majors in Anthropology

Joint majors consist of seven courses in Anthropology. Students must take one (1) course at the 100-level, two 200-level courses, 302 or 392 or 396, 306, one 400-level seminar, and one elective. No more than one course may be taken outside of the regular fall and spring semesters at Middlebury (e.g., as a winter term course or transfer credit).

Joint Major in Anthropology and Sociology

The joint major in Anthropology and Sociology consists of twelve classes. The core courses are ANTH 103, SOCI 105, SOCI 301 or ANTH 302 or ANTH 396, and SOC 305 or ANTH 306. Students must also take one 400-level SOCI course, one 400-level ANTH course, and six electives. A 700-level course in ANTH or SOCI can replace one of the 400-level courses. No more than two electives may be taken outside of the regular fall and spring semesters at Middlebury (e.g., as winter term or transfer credit courses).