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Department of Geography-Anthropology

BA in Geography-Anthropology (Anthropology Concentration)

The program leading to a major in geography-anthropology emphasizes the integration of the two disciplines. Among the elements that are integrated in the major are common interests in the relationship between human populations and their natural environments, decision-making strategies of human groups, and the health and nutritional status of human societies. The major is an interdisciplinary program wherein students are expected to take courses from both geography and anthropology.

While the bachelor of arts degree is in geography-anthropology, students must select either a concentration in geography or a concentration in anthropology. Many students choose to concentrate in both areas. All majors share a set of foundation courses, but each concentration has its own requirements.

The program of study beyond the basic requirements should be planned carefully, in close consultation with the student's departmental advisor, and should be approved by the latter. Such an arrangement allows for flexibility according to the student's interests while also providing close guidance and a control of educational quality by the Department.

Courses & Requirements

To receive a bachelor's degree with a concentration in anthropology, students must take at least 44-50 credits of geography and anthropology courses, as well as fulfill all other university requirements.

Of these 44-50 credits, students are required to take ANT 101 (Anthropology: The Cultural View), ANT 103 (Introduction to Archaeology), GEO 101 (Human Geography), GEO 102 (Physical Geography), and GYA 210 (Perspectives on Environment, Society and Culture since 1750) and MAT 120 (Introduction to Statistics).

In addition, students are required to three topical, regional or ethnography courses from a minimum of 2 different professors (list below); one techniques or applied course (list below); and 9 additional credit hours, 3 of which must be ANT courses at or above the 300 level, and 3 of which must be GEO courses at or above the 200 level.

Students must complete at least 3 credit hours in a geography or anthropology field course. A supervised 3 credit minimum internship in geography or anthropology may be substituted for the field course.

Additionally, all geography-anthropology majors are required to demonstrate writing competence by completing either two research papers or one research paper and one research product (e.g., poster, media project) in the major with grades of C or better, from two different professors, circulated and reviewed by the Department at least one semester prior to graduation.

The maximum hours of internships, field experience, and/or independent study that can be applied to the major requirements is 9 hours. All students must meet with their advisor before registering for courses each semester.

Any additional credits earned above and beyond the required 44-50 will be applied towards general elective credits.

Topical, Regional, Ethnography Courses

 ANT 102 Biological Anthropology w/Lab
ANT 201 Human Origins
ANT 202 Origins of Civilization
ANT 213 Human Ecology
ANT 220 North American Indians
ANT 222 Peoples of the North
ANT 230 Hunters and Gatherers
ANT 232 The Anthropology of Sex and Gender
ANT 233 Food and Culture
ANT 250 Archaeology of South America
ANT 302 Medical Anthropology
ANT 450 Topics in Anthropology

Techniques/Applied Courses

ANT 306 Analysis of Archaeological Materials
ANT 308 Environmental Archaeology
ANT 315 Ethnography: Methods, Ethics and PracticeANT 355 Public Interpretation in Anthropology
ANT 360 Public Archaeology
GEO 208 Cartography I
GEO 305 Remote Sensing
GEO 308 GIS Applications I

 Geography Courses

GEO 103 (Human-Environmental Geography); GEO 108 (GIS Applications); GEO 120J (Geography of Maine); GEO 203J (Urban and Regional Development); GEO 207J (Maps: Knowledge, Technology, Society, Culture); GEO 209 (Introduction to Land Use Planning); GEO 210 (Planning Maine Communities: Current Issues and Directions); GEO 255 (Making a Living: Workers in a Global Economy); GEO 302 (Gender, Work, and Space); GEO 303 (Economic Geography); GEO 320 (Conservation of Natural Resources); GEO 350 (Geography of International Development); GEO 402 (Urban Geography); GEO 408 (GIS II); GEO 450 (Topics in Geography); GEO 455 (Gender “Race” and Class in the City); GEO 458 (Research Applications in GIS).

*No course may be used to fulfill more than one category.