Anthropology (BA)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2025-Spring 2026 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.

Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Anthropology
Academic Plan Code(s): ANTHBA

Program Information

The Anthropology major at the University of Louisville includes 200-level and 300-level courses in Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, and Cultural Anthropology; a Methods course in one sub-discipline; ANTH 475, which enables majors to apply Anthropology in real-world situations; and ANTH 508, the capstone course that provides a fundamental understanding of the ideas that underlie Anthropology.

Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department. 

Degree Summary

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Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework.

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.

Accelerated BA/MA in Anthropology 

Undergraduate students interested in participating in an accelerated dual bachelor’s/ master’s degree offered through the Soaring Scholar program must first meet with their Academic Advisor and be accepted into the program. Once accepted, students will receive an official admission letter outlining program policies and details. They will then work with their department and academic advisor to register for classes each semester, ensuring they meet the milestones and academic progress requirements of the Soaring Scholar program.

A Soaring Scholar student is considered an undergraduate student until their bachelor’s degree is conferred. In their final undergraduate semester, they are expected to apply for admission to their respective master's program.

Anthropology majors who are considering pursuing a master's degree (MA) in Anthropology can speed up the process by applying some of their undergraduate credit hours toward a master’s degree. Students accepted into the Accelerated BA/MA program take three graduate courses (9 credit hours) as an undergraduate that apply toward both the bachelor’s degree and the eventual master's degree.

Interested students should apply to the program during their Junior year (i.e., when they have accumulated 60-90 hours of credit). Students must complete both the department’s internal application for permission to participate in the accelerated BA/MA program and the Graduate School’s application for admission to the Master of Arts program. Students must have at least a minimum overall Anthropology GPA of 3.3 and meet all other requirements for admission to the Master of Arts in Anthropology program (including at least 18 credit hours of Anthropology with at least nine (9) hours at the 300 level or higher). Students must retain a 3.0 GPA in Anthropology during their senior year to remain in the program.

Department Admission Requirements

Admission to the BA in Anthropology requires a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.

The Change Major Request form can be found under the Academic Progress tile on ULink.

Accelerated BA/MA in Anthropology  

Students apply to the Accelerated BA/MA program toward the end of their junior year. Applicants should have completed at least 18 credit hours in Anthropology (ANTH) coursework, with at least nine (9) credit hours are the 300 level or higher. Students must have at least a 3.3 GPA in these and any other ANTH courses.

Students must first complete the internal application form requesting departmental permission to participate in the accelerated program. After obtaining the department's approval, the student applies for admission to the Graduate School.  Complete applications include:

1. GRE scores
2. Names of referees
3. Unofficial transcript
4. Statement of Purpose.

Upon admission to the accelerated program, students will select courses in consultation with their advisor and the Anthropology Director of Graduate Studies (DGS).

General Education Requirements

*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

 Program/Major Requirements*

At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above. 

*Students in the accelerated BA/MA program should visit the Flight Plan tab for more recommended courses in year 4.

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 Completion of the intermediate level of a single foreign language

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 In addition to courses counted toward General Education; 6 hours must be at 300 level or above

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May be incorporated into other degree requirements

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 15 hours must be at the 300-level or above.

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Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

Flight Plan

Accelerated BA/MA

The Flight Plan for the Accelerated BA/MA follows the first three years of the BA.

 NOTE: 1) Students in Soaring Scholar program may not take 608 or any of the 600-level research design courses.

NOTE: 2) 508 and all undergraduate culminating courses (509 -12) will not count toward Soaring Scholar Program.

The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years.  Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation.  Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.

To create these reports:

1. Log into your ULink account.
2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
3. Select the appropriate report.
   1. To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
   2. To create a What-if report, click on "What-if Advisement Report."
   3. To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.

Accelerated BA/MA in Anthropology  

Anthropology majors who are considering pursuing a master's degree (MA) in Anthropology can speed up the process by applying some of their undergraduate credit hours toward a master’s degree. Students accepted into the Accelerated BA/MA program take three graduate courses (9 credit hours) as an undergraduate that apply toward both the bachelor’s degree and the eventual master's degree.

Interested students should apply to the program during their Junior year (i.e., when they have accumulated 60-90 hours of credit). Students must complete both the department’s internal application for permission to participate in the accelerated BA/MA program and the Graduate School’s application for admission to the Master of Arts program. Students must have at least a minimum overall Anthropology GPA of 3.3 and meet all other requirements for admission to the Master of Arts in Anthropology program (including at least 18 credit hours of Anthropology with at least nine (9) hours at the 300 level or higher). Students must retain a 3.0 GPA in Anthropology during their senior year to remain in the program.