Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
The Anthropology and Geography major provides students with the skills for understanding and examining patterns of human activity and resource utilization across space and time, as well as the interactions between humans and the natural environment. Interdisciplinary in nature, this program focuses on the applied areas of cross-cultural studies, international development, ecological research design and method, the evolution of humans, environmental assessment, and sustainability. Courses in Anthropology and Geography train students to examine human ecology from the ancient past to the modern present through courses in biological evolution, cultural adaptations, behavioral ecology, environmental impacts, and the ecology of human health and disease. In addition, students gain an understanding of the physical environment in which humans are placed, through courses in physical geography, resource management, biogeography, and climatology. Students are trained in relevant skills, including Geographic Information Systems, remote sensing, and quantitative methods.
Students interested in this major should be curious about the relationships between humans and the environment (including biology, behavior, climate and landscapes) from a broad hands-on perspective. Our students typically have an interest in study abroad and involvement in international opportunities.
The program offers a four-year curriculum leading to a BS degree that prepares students for careers in environmental and regional planning, cultural resources management, archaeology, international development, climatology, science education, international health research, non-governmental organizations, and federal government work in behavioral analysis.
Internship or Study Abroad Requirement
As a means of promoting relevant job skills, hands-on learning, and field experience, Anthropology-Geography majors are required to complete either an approved internship or study abroad program. Students who do an internship will receive a minimum of 2 units of credit (ANT 4465 or GEOG 4465 ). The department will assist students in identifying suitable internships. However, students are encouraged to explore options for themselves based on their interests. In place of an internship, students may choose to participate in a study abroad program. Two units of approved coursework taken while studying abroad can be substituted for the internship course requirement.
Concentrations
Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
Provides students with an understanding of human environmental relationships, resource utilization, and human impact on the Earth. Current environmental issues are explained and evaluated in a global and historical context. Students learn the importance of sustainable land use practices and techniques for their successful implementation. Applied and technical skills important to assessing the environment and promoting sustainability are emphasized.
Global Studies and International Development
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
Provides students with the theoretical knowledge and applied skills necessary for the study and practice of international development in cross-cultural settings. Students attain an in-depth knowledge of the social, political, economic, and ecological dimensions of international development and gain practical skills through research projects, international study, and applied internships. The concentration provides expertise and training for internationally focused careers, including public and private development institutions, the Peace Corps, the public health field, education, and numerous other careers where cross-cultural and international understanding are essential.
Human Ecology
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
Students learn about the natural environment, human behavioral and cultural systems, and the complex interrelationships between the three. Major concepts and practice emphasize broad spatial and temporal perspectives. Students acquire knowledge and skills related to global and regional climate and physical geography, human evolution, cultural ecology, behavioral ecology, prehistoric and recent environmental change, indigenous cultures of the New World, methods for analyzing climate change and related human responses in the past and present.
Individualized Course of Study
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
An Individualized Course of Study will consist of 16 units, with at least 8 units at the 3000-4000 level (except for students entering with a Anthropology or Geography Associates Degree for Transfer). Courses are selected by the student in consultation with an advising faculty member. The student must also provide a written justification for the courses and the way they constitute a cohesive, integrated course of study. The list of courses is a contract between the student and the Department. If students are completing a minor, courses from the minor may also be applied the ICS concentration.
Program Learning Objectives
- Understand and appreciate the cultural and physical attributes of major world regions, key regional issues and linkages between regions, the processes that shape cultural change and interaction, and international development issues.
- Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of human ecology with specific emphasis on the ecological, demographic, genetic, developmental, and epidemiological dimensions of modern human adaptations and their evolutionary foundations over time and space.
- Comprehend the historical place of humans around the globe and apply acquired skills for cultural resource management and conservation.
- Analyze the processes that shape the earth’s physical environment (e.g., climate, landforms, water, soils, biota, and ecosystems), the distributions of natural resources, and the ways in which humans utilize natural resources and impact the environment with an emphasis on sustainability.
- Apply scientific research methodology and design, including the ability to collect, synthesize, and interpret qualitative and quantitative cultural and ecological data using a variety of methods including the utilization of geospatial technologies (GIS, remote sensing, and GPS).
- Critically analyze issues from multiple perspectives and communicate results effectively.
- Synthesize information and utilize acquired skills locally and globally to improve the state of the environment and the human condition by applying cultural, ecological, and spatial knowledge, methods, and techniques.
Degree Requirements and Curriculum
In addition to the program requirements listed on this page, students must also satisfy requirements outlined in more detail in the Minimum Requirements for Graduation section of this catalog, including:
- 40 units of upper-division courses
- 2.0 GPA
- Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR)
- U.S. Cultural Pluralism (USCP)
Note: No Major, Support or Concentration courses may be selected as credit/no credit. In addition, no more than 12 units of cooperative or internship courses can count towards your degree requirements.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MAJOR COURSES | ||
| ANT 2201 | Cultural Anthropology (4B) 1 | 3 |
| ANT 2202 | World History Before Writing | 3 |
| ANT 2250 | Biological Anthropology (5B) 1 | 3 |
| ANT 3360 | Human Cultural Adaptations (Upper-Division 4) 1 | 3 |
| ANT/GEOG 3384 | Professional Preparation for Anthropologists/Geographers | 2 |
| ANT/GEOG 4455 | Anthropology-Geography Research Design and Methods | 4 |
| ANT/GEOG 4465 | Internship 2 | 2 |
| GEOG 1150 | Human Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 2218 | Applications in GIS | 3 |
| GEOG/ERSC 2250 | Physical Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 3308 | Global Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 3350 | The Global Environment (Upper-Division 2/5) 1 | 3 |
| Methodological Elective | ||
| Select from the following: | 3 | |
| Archaeological Field Methods | ||
| Archaeological Laboratory Methods | ||
| Action-oriented Ethnography | ||
| Applications in Remote Sensing and GIS | ||
| Advanced Applications in Geospatial Technologies | ||
| Regional Geography Elective | ||
| Select from the following: | 3 | |
| Geography of California | ||
| Geography of Latin America | ||
| Geography of the Caribbean | ||
| Select any 3000-4000 level ANT courses | 6 | |
| Select any 3000-4000 level GEOG course | 3 | |
| Select any 3000-4000 level ANT, GEOG, or SOC course | 3 | |
| Select from the following: | 3 | |
| Senior Project I and Senior Project II | ||
| Senior Project I and Senior Project II | ||
| Concentration or Individualized Course of Study | ||
| (See list of Concentrations and Individualized Course of Study below) | 16 | |
| SUPPORT COURSES | ||
| STAT 1110 | Applied Statistical Concepts and Methods (2) 1 | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION (GE) | ||
| (See GE program requirements below) | 28 | |
| FREE ELECTIVES | ||
| Free Electives 3 | 17 | |
| Total Units | 120 | |
- 1
Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.
- 2
Approved study abroad course may substitute.
- 3
If a General Education (GE) course is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
Concentrations
Environmental Studies and Sustainability
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| Select from the following: | 3 | |
| Climate and Humanity | ||
| Global and Regional Climatology | ||
| Applied Meteorology and Climatology | ||
| Select from the following: | 3 | |
| Applications in Remote Sensing and GIS | ||
| Advanced Applications in Geospatial Technologies | ||
| GEOG 4435 | Biodiversity and Biogeography Methods | 3 |
| Problems and Issues Courses | ||
| Select from the following: | 7 | |
| Principles of Organic Crop Production | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Resources Management | ||
| Plant Diversity and Ecology | ||
| Energy for a Sustainable Society | ||
| Sustainable Environments | ||
| Introduction to Air Pollution | ||
| Climate and Humanity | ||
| Geography of International Development | ||
| Global and Regional Climatology 1 | ||
| Applied Meteorology and Climatology 1 | ||
| Physical Geology | ||
| Natural Resource Ecology and Habitat Management | ||
| World Food Systems | ||
| Energy, Society, and the Environment | ||
| Sociology of the Environment | ||
| World Population Processes and Problems | ||
| Introductory Soil Science | ||
| Total Units | 16 | |
- 1
Course may be taken if not used to satisfy a requirement listed above.
Global Studies and International Development
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| ANT 4401 | Culture and Health | 4 |
| GEOG 4408 | Geography of International Development | 3 |
| Problems and Issues Courses | ||
| Select from the following: | 6 | |
| Indigenous South Americans | ||
| Human Behavioral Ecology | ||
| Climate and Humanity | ||
| Applications in Remote Sensing and GIS | ||
| Geography of Latin America | ||
| Geography of the Caribbean | ||
| Advanced Applications in Geospatial Technologies | ||
| Select from the following: 1,2 | 3-4 | |
| Intermediate Chinese Language and Culture I 2 | ||
| Cities in a Global World | ||
| Macroeconomics | ||
| Intermediate French Language and Culture I 2 | ||
| Intermediate German Language and Culture 2 | ||
| Intermediate Italian I 2 | ||
| Intermediate Japanese I 2 | ||
| Intermediate Spanish I 2 | ||
| World Food Systems | ||
| Sociology of the Environment | ||
| Global Race and Ethnic Relations | ||
| Migration | ||
| World Population Processes and Problems | ||
| Engaging in Sustainable Global Development | ||
| Collaboratively Developing Sustainable Technologies Globally | ||
| Intermediate World Language and Culture I 2 | ||
| Humanities in World Cultures | ||
| Total Units | 16 | |
- 1
Units in excess of total will be applied towards major's free electives.
- 2
Credit for a comparable level of proficiency may be substituted up to 3 units max.
Human Ecology
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| ANT 3345 | Human Behavioral Ecology | 3 |
| ANT 3309 | Elements of Archaeology | 3 |
| or ANT 3320 | California's Indigenous Past | |
| ANT 4401 | Culture and Health | 4 |
| GEOG/ERSC 3325 | Climate and Humanity | 3 |
| or GEOG 4408 | Geography of International Development | |
| Select from the following: 1 | 3-4 | |
| Archaeological Field Methods | ||
| Archaeological Laboratory Methods | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Resources Management | ||
| Indigenous South Americans | ||
| Indigenous North Americans | ||
| Meaning, Gender, and Identity in Anthropological Theory | ||
| Geography of California | ||
| Geography of Latin America | ||
| Sociology of the Environment | ||
| Migration | ||
| World Population Processes and Problems | ||
| Total Units | 16 | |
- 1
Units in excess of total will be applied towards major's free electives.
Individualized Course of Study
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
An Individualized Course of Study will consist of 16 units, with at least 8 units at the 3000-4000 level (except for students entering with a Anthropology or Geography Associates Degree for Transfer). Courses are selected by the student in consultation with an advising faculty member. The student must also provide a written justification for the courses and the way they constitute a cohesive, integrated course of study. The list of courses is a contract between the student and the Department. If students are completing a minor, courses from the minor may also be applied the ICS concentration.
General Education (GE) Requirements
- 43 units required, 15 of which are specified in Major and/or Support.
- If any of the remaining 28 Units is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
- See the complete GE course listing.
- A grade of C- or better is required in one course in each of the following GE Areas: 1A (English Composition), 1B (Critical Thinking), 1C (Oral Communication), and 2 (Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning).
| Lower-Division General Education | ||
| Area 1 | English Communication and Critical Thinking | |
| 1A | Written Communication | 3 |
| 1B | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| 1C | Oral Communication | 3 |
| Area 2 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning | |
| 2 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (3 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| Area 3 | Arts and Humanities | |
| 3A | Arts | 3 |
| 3B | Humanities: Literature, Philosophy, Languages other than English | 3 |
| Area 4 | Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.) | |
| 4A | American Institutions (Title 5, Section 40404 Requirement) | 3 |
| 4B | Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| Area 5 | Physical and Life Sciences | |
| 5A | Physical Sciences | 3 |
| 5B | Life Sciences (3 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| 5C | Laboratory (may be embedded in a 5A or 5B course) | 1 |
| Area 6 | Ethnic Studies | |
| 6 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| Upper-Division General Education | ||
| Upper-Division 2/5 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning or Physical and Life Sciences (3 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| Upper-Division 3 | Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| Upper-Division 4 | Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.) (3 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| Total Units | 28 | |
- 1
Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.