Anthropology

Professor David L. Carrasco, Head Tutor

Anthropology brings global, comparative, and holistic views to the study of the human condition, exploring an enormous range of similarities and differences across time and space. It includes the study of how Homo sapiens evolved as well as the study of how language, culture, and society have shaped and continue to shape human experience.

As a comparative discipline that takes both scientific and humanistic approaches to human evolution, human biology, society, culture, economics, politics, the arts, psychology, history, and language, anthropology is uniquely holistic in its understanding and outlook; that is, it is interested in the whole of the human condition. Anthropology's distinctive humanistic tradition of cross-cultural understanding includes both Western and non-Western societies. Its commitment to exploring the long sweep of time over which humans have evolved makes it a broad, global science. Through its subdisciplinary specialties (biological, social, linguistic, medical, applied anthropology, and archaeology), anthropology has developed a true multidisciplinary character and has forged strong links to many of the sciences, humanities, and arts.

At Harvard the Anthropology Department is divided into three wings, each concerned with one of the main branches of anthropology: Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, and Social Anthropology.

Archaeology investigates past human ways of life primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material remains of ancient peoples. It studies past societies using customized approaches and techniques of the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities in the context of archaeological methods and theoretical frameworks. Goals of archaeology include understanding such developments as the origins of modern humans, the beginnings and spread of agriculture and the rise of complex societies. Biological Anthropology examines human biology, growth and development, and long-term physical evolution as revealed by the fossil record. It also studies the behavior of non-human primates, and modern humans and human behavioral evolution. Social Anthropology provides comparative and critical perspectives on human thought, practice, and diversity by looking at societies around the globe. It shows that assumptions about human experience and action based on knowledge of a single society are limited and inadequate, and views Euro-American social and cultural orders with the same critical eye it brings to the study of other societies.

Because of the diversity of the field, Anthropology is not the same endeavor for all its concentrators. All students are encouraged to gain a basic knowledge of the three subfields. Beyond this, most students focus their studies within one of the three subfields, meeting the concentration requirements set forward by that wing of the department. Some students may choose to pursue a combined focus on two of the three subfields, meeting reduced concentration requirements for both wings.

The requirements for honors eligibility and tutorials are also distinguished by wing. In Biological Anthropology and Social Anthropology certain honors recommendations are possible without a thesis, but not to students pursuing a combined focus in two subfields. In Archaeology, honors recommendations require a thesis. Senior theses are generally supervised within a single wing as well, and the tutorials concentrate on problems of research in each subfield. Anthropology concentrators may, however, take tutorials for credit in more than one wing. Field and laboratory research is encouraged although not necessarily required. Some funds are available for honors concentrators planning to carry out research between their junior and senior years.

The structure of the concentration provides students with an introduction to anthropology as a whole, and a broad and solid knowledge of their chosen subfield or subfields. While wing specialization is the most common pattern of study, the program also encourages interdisciplinary work either across subfields or between anthropology and other disciplines. The Anthropology Department allows students to arrange joint concentrations when appropriate. Such programs are ordinarily restricted to honors candidates and culminate in an interdisciplinary thesis. Each student's joint concentration should involve an individual coherent plan of study approved by both departments. The number of required Anthropology courses and basic wing requirements may be reduced. Students pursuing such interests are encouraged to work closely with the Wing Tutors to take advantage of both the structure and flexibility that the concentration offers.

REQUIREMENTS
Archaeology
Basic Requirements: 10 half-courses

1. Required courses:
1. Wing requirements: Six half-courses plus tutorials (below).
1. Anthropology 1010.
2. Area: Old World.*
3. Area: New World.*
4. Topical/method & theory.
5. Research seminar.
6. Archaeological science.
   
   *Anthropology 1000 may substitute for either the Old World or New World area requirement.
   
   
2. Courses in other wings: One half-course in either Biological Anthropology or Social Anthropology.
3. Reading and related courses: One half-course.
2. Tutorials:
1. Sophomore year: Anthropology 97x, sophomore tutorial in Archaeology (half-course, spring term).
2. Junior year: Anthropology 98xa, junior tutorial in Archaeology (half-course, fall term).
3. Thesis: None.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Other information:
1. Pass/Fail: Two half-courses may be taken Pass/Fail and counted toward concentration. These ordinarily include courses from the reading and related courses category. All anthropology tutorials are letter-graded.
2. Languages: The department itself has no language requirement. However, the importance of modern languages for research in all branches of anthropology cannot be too highly stressed. Concentrators who expect to do work in anthropology beyond the AB degree are most strongly urged to develop their language skills as undergraduates.
3. Statistics: Concentrators in Archaeology are encouraged to take courses in statistics and/or computer science. Competence in handling quantitative data is extremely important in anthropological research, and such competence is best obtained through formal training in statistics.

Archaeology
Requirements for Honors Eligibility: 13 half-courses

1. Required courses: Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Tutorials:
1. Sophomore year: Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Junior year: In addition to Anthropology 98xa (fall term junior tutorial), archaeology honors candidates enroll in Anthropology 98xb, an individual pre-thesis research junior tutorial, normally taken spring term.
3. Senior year: Anthropology 99 (full course, letter-graded), culminating in the submission of a senior thesis, followed by an oral examination on the thesis.
3. Thesis: Required.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Other information: Same as Basic Requirements.

Biological Anthropology

(for students entering the college before September 2005,
please consult the Head Tutor)

Basic Requirements: 10 half-courses

1. Required courses:
1. One half-course in genetics (normally Life Sciences 1a, freshman year).
2. One half-course in human evolution and morphology (e.g., Science B-27, HEB1360, HEB 1420).
3. One half-course in human/primate behavioral ecology (e.g., Science B-29, HEB1310, HEB 1360).
4. One half-course in social anthropology.
5. One half-course in archaeology.
6. One half-course in evolutionary/organismic biology.
7. Two additional half-courses in related fields.
2. Tutorials (all letter-graded):
1. Sophomore year: Sophomore tutorial (spring term). This seminar integrates the field with modules on each of the major sub-fields within the discipline; it also provides a joint experience for all concentrators in an intimate seminar environment.
2. Junior year: Junior research seminar. A small, intensive research course, normally to be taken in the junior year, which includes some independent research component and is taught by a member of the faculty.
3. Thesis: None.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Other information:
1. Pass/Fail: Two half-courses may be taken Pass/Fail and counted toward concentration. These ordinarily include courses in related fields. All anthropology tutorials are letter-graded.
2. Languages: No requirement, but proficiency in a foreign language is recommended for students planning to pursue a PhD in anthropology.

Biological Anthropology
Requirements for Honors Eligibility: 13 half-courses

THESIS TRACK

1. Required courses:
   

   a-g.

   Same as Basic Requirements.

2. Tutorials (all letter-graded):
1. Sophomore year: Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Junior year: Thesis honors candidates must take a thesis research-related course, either a junior research seminar or a supervised reading and research course (91r).
3. Senior year: Anthropology 99 (full course, letter-graded), culminating in the submission of a senior thesis, followed by an oral examination on the thesis.
3. Thesis: Required.
4. General Examination: The department will administer to each student a one-hour examination covering the substance of the thesis as well as general knowlege of the field.
5. Other information: Same as Basic Requirements.

NONTHESIS TRACK

1. Required courses:
   

   	a-g.	Same as Basic Requirements.
   	h.	Three additional half-courses in human evolutionary biology approved by the Head Tutor. These courses are ordinarily advanced lecture or supervised reading courses on a focused topic. They may not include HEB 99 (senior tutorial).

2. Tutorials (all letter-graded):
1. Sophomore year: Sophomore tutorial. Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Junior year: Junior tutorial. Same as Basic Requirements.
3. Senior year: None.
3. Thesis: None.
4. Submission of written work and general examination: Prior to reading period in the eighth term, each student will submit to the department a substantive piece of writing in the field, ordinarily a term paper or report on original research, as well as an essay assigned by the department that integrates the advanced courses selected for the focused honors topic. The department will then administer to the student a general examination covering the substance of the honors essay as well as general knowledge of the field.
5. Other information: Same as Basic Requirements.

Social Anthropology
Basic Requirements: 10 half-courses

1. Required courses:
1. Wing requirements: Seven half-courses plus tutorial (see item 2).
1. Anthropology 1600.
2. Two half-courses in ethnographic analysis.
3. One half-course in theoretical approaches.
4. Two additional half-courses in social anthropology.
5. One additional half-course in anthropology (any wing).
2. Courses in other wings: One half-course in either archaeology or human evolutionary biology.
3. Reading and related courses: One half-course.
2. Tutorial: Anthropology 97z, sophomore tutorial in social anthropology (half-course, spring term).
3. Thesis: None.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Other information:
1. Pass/Fail: Two half-courses may be taken Pass/Fail and counted for concentration credit. These ordinarily include courses from the reading and related courses category. All anthropology tutorials are letter-graded.
2. Languages: The department itself has no language requirement. However, the importance of modern languages for research in all branches of anthropology cannot be too highly stressed. Concentrators who expect to do work in anthropology beyond the AB degree are most strongly urged to develop their language skills as undergraduates.
3. Statistics: Competence in handling quantitative data is extremely important in anthropological research, and such competence is best obtained through formal training in statistics.

Social Anthropology
Requirements for Honors Eligibility: 13 half-courses

THESIS TRACK

1. Required courses: Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Tutorials:
1. Sophomore year: Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Junior year: Anthropology 98z (junior tutorial, letter-graded). Students are ordinarily restricted to one term of junior tutorial in the fall.
3. Senior year: Anthropology 99 (full course, letter-graded), culminating in the submission of a senior thesis, followed by an oral examination on the thesis.
3. Thesis: Required.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Other information: Same as Basic Requirements.

NONTHESIS TRACK

Students may be eligible for Honors recommendations (but not High Honors or Highest Honors) by pursuing the nonthesis track in Social Anthropology. Students must declare their intention to pursue this track by the beginning of their seventh term. Students doing a joint concentration or combined wing concentration are not eligible for honors recommendations without a thesis. These students may pursue an honors recommendation via the thesis track only.

1. Required courses: Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Tutorials:
1. Sophomore year: Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Junior year: Anthropology 98z (junior tutorial, letter-graded). Students are ordinarily restricted to one term of junior tutorial in the fall.
3. Two additional half-courses in anthropology approved by the Wing Tutor.
4. A 30-page paper.
5. An honors-level grade point average in the concentration, calculable by the Department at the beginning of the last term.
6. Other information: Same as Basic Requirements.

Combining Two Wings
Basic Requirements: 10 half-courses

1. Required courses:
1. Courses in the third wing: One half-course in the remaining wing.
2. Wing requirements: Six half-courses plus tutorials (below). Three in each wing. Consult the Wing Tutors.
3. Reading and related courses: One half-course.
2. Tutorial: Both Anthropology 97 courses, sophomore tutorials taught in each wing (two half-courses, spring term).
3. Thesis: None.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Other information:
   

   	a-b.	Same as Basic Requirements for each wing.
   	c.	Statistics: Biological Anthropology concentrators are specifically encouraged to take Statistics 100 or 102 to fulfill their Quantitative Reasoning Core requirement. Concentrators in Archaeology are encouraged to take courses in statistics and/or computer science. Competence in handling quantitative data is extremely important in anthropological research, and such competence is best obtained through formal training in statistics.

Combining Two Wings
Requirements for Honors Eligibility: 13 half-courses

Nonthesis honors are not available to students doing a combined wing concentration. These students may pursue honors via the thesis track only. Consult the Wing Tutors.

ADVISING

Advising in the Department of Anthropology is carried out by Wing Tutors, faculty members at all levels, senior graduate students, and the Undergraduate Coordinator. The Wing Tutors, one each in Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, and Social Anthropology under the direction of the Head Tutor, have overall responsibility for the academic progress of undergraduates and for supervising sophomore and junior tutorials. These individuals are available by appointment for advice on academic and administrative matters. The Undergraduate Coordinator also provides information on departmental and College requirements and on administrative matters. Starting in the junior year and depending on their interests, undergraduates often begin to work more closely with individual faculty members or with senior graduate students within the tutorial system. Choice of a faculty adviser is made by the Wing Tutor through consultation between student and faculty members and depends largely upon the academic and research interests of the student.

RESOURCES

The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography contains one of the finest collections of its kind in the country. In it are located the laboratories of biological anthropology and archaeological research. Adjacent to it stands the Alfred P. Tozzer Memorial Library, containing a collection of 200,000 volumes, as well as current holdings of a wide range of the most important anthropological periodicals. The Social Anthropology Wing offices and many of the Social Anthropology faculty offices are located in William James Hall. In addition to those on the staff of the department and the museum, there are anthropologists associated with the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, the Harvard-Yenching Institute, the East Asian Research Center, the Committee on Latin American Studies, and the Faculties of Medicine, Public Health, and Education. From time to time distinguished visiting scholars hold teaching appointments in the department. Harvard students have access to an exceptionally large number of professional anthropologists.

FIELD WORK

Field work may be taken for credit through an approved university. Although concentrators will register directly with the other university, they must first obtain permission from the Department of Anthropology at Harvard, and apply for credit through the Committee on Education Abroad. Upon completion of this work and receipt of the official transcript, the department will make a recommendation to the Committee on Education Abroad regarding the amount of concentration credit to be granted toward the AB degree.

HOW TO FIND OUT MORE

The Undergraduate Office is located in William James Hall, Room 352 (617-495-3814). Elizabeth Rew is the Undergraduate Coordinator. The department's website address is www. fas.harvard.edu/~anthro. The Wing Tutor for Archaeology is Dr. Richard Meadow, Peabody Museum 35B, 617-495-3354, meadow@fas.harvard.edu. The Wing Tutors for Biological Anthropology are Professor Daniel Lieberman, Peabody Museum 53, 617-495-5479, danlieb@fas. harvard.edu, and Professor David Pilbeam, Peabody Museum 51B, 617-495-4736, pilbeam@ fas.harvard.edu. The Wing Tutor for Social Anthropology is Professor Mary Steedly, William James 440, 617-495-3730, msteed@wjh.harvard.edu.

ENROLLMENT STATISTICS


Number of Concentrators as of November

Concentrators	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Anthropology	135	149	126	151	195
Anthropology + another field	11	9	10	11	14
Another field + Anthropology	10	8	7	5	6