Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology Major
The mission of the Bachelor of Arts (4-year) is to strengthen your critical and creative thinking by offering a broad range of social, political, and cultural programs of study. A liberal arts education from Athabasca University is designed to broaden your perspective on local and global affairs, encourage community and social involvement, and prepare you for lifelong learning and occupational diversity.
The Bachelor of Arts (4-year) provides students with a broad, flexible education that allows them to develop, understand, and disseminate knowledge, to think critically, and to build on these abilities. In addition, the four-year degree fully prepares students for most graduate programs. Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts (4-year) with a Major are expected to have gained sufficient analytical and critical thinking skills to be able to engage in independent research in their chosen major. Athabasca University does not offer an Honours BA.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts (3-year) program who wish to transfer to the Bachelor of Arts (4-year) program must complete a new Undergraduate General Application Form. Previous education will be reassessed and students will be notified of the results.
Anthropology Major
As a graduate of Athabasca University’s Anthropology program, you will gain an in-depth appreciation for the four fundamental subfields within Anthropology (archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology), and their strong interrelationships. In particular, you will gain familiarity with the sub-disciplines of archaeology, biological anthropology, and cultural anthropology, which make up the current strengths of faculty and course offerings. The objective of the anthropology program is to provide students with a broad understanding of the physical and cultural diversity of people throughout the world, leading to and fostering a comparative and holistic approach to understanding and appreciating humanity, past and present.
Planning your program
Our online program plans can assist you in selecting the courses needed to fulfill your program requirements.
Athabasca University has developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating.
Program requirements
Students complete the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment.
Although you may change majors, a major must be selected when you enrol in the Bachelor of Arts (4-year) program.
You are strongly encouraged to register in ENGL 255 early in your program. The English writing skills requirement is waived for students enrolling in the second undergraduate degree.
The degree conversion provision is available to Athabasca University students who have been awarded a three-year AU degree and wish to convert to a four-year degree. For more information about this regulation, please review the Undergraduate Degree Conversion From Three- to Four-Year Program Policy
Students must meet the following English writing skills requirement:
- hold credit in ENGL 255 (Students are strongly encouraged to register in ENGL 255 early in their program.);
or - have a grade of B- (70 per cent) or better in an Athabasca University English course above the preparatory (100) level;
or - receive credit for an English course in which a grade of B- or better was achieved.
Students in the Bachelor of Arts (4-year) program, as either a first or second undergraduate degree, generally have the option to combine two majors if they wish. Students who undertake double majors must fulfill all requirements for both majors. Depending upon the majors chosen, this may greatly restrict course selection (particularly in the second undergraduate degree program) or require the completion of more than 120 credits. Students considering enrolling in double majors should consult with an Athabasca University advisor for assistance in selecting their programs and courses.
You may change majors at any time. You will be placed in the current regulations. If you wish to remain in the regulations that were in effect at the time of your original enrolment, contact Admissions and Evaluations Services. Please reference the appropriate Calendar, e.g., 2012-2013 regulations. To request a change of major, complete and submit a new Undergraduate General Application Form. No fees are required.
In the Bachelor of Arts (4-year), students have the option of taking a minor in addition to their major. Although students must declare a major when they become BA (4-year) program students, they may declare a minor at any point in their studies. A BA minor comprises 30 credits distinct from the major in a related discipline in the Humanities or Social Sciences offered at Athabasca University. At least 15 of the 30 minor credits must be at the 300 or 400 level. If they choose a minor, students must still complete all requirements of the major. No course can be used to complete requirements for both the major and the minor. The minor will be recorded on the transcript. Available BA minors are:
Program structure
| Total credits in the program | 120 |
| Minimum credits required | |
|---|---|
| At the senior (300 or 400) level (including 18 credits at the 400 level) | 75 |
| In the major (compulsory) * may be higher depending on the specific requirements of the major | 45* |
| Minimum senior-level credits in major (including a minimum of 12 credits at the 400 level) | 30 |
| Arts (Humanities and social sciences) | 96 |
| 18 18 |
| Science | 6 |
| Residency requirement. A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University. | 30 |
| Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. | 24 |
| Minor (optional) | |
| Minimum credits in the minor (including a minimum of 15 credits at the 300 and 400 level) | 30 |
| Students may not apply a course to both the major and the minor. | |
| Maximum credits allowed | |
| In any one discipline | 60 |
| Applied studies | 18 |
| At the preparatory level | 6 |
| At junior level in any one discipline | 15 |
| Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition credits | 9 |
Additional Anthropology Major requirements
Requirements in addition to the general program requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (4-year) with Major:
- A minimum of 45 credits from major courses including 30 senior (300 or 400) level credits (a minimum of 12, 400-level credits).
- 9 junior (200) level Anthropology credits.
- 3 senior-level credits in the history of Anthropology.
| ANTH 434 – The History of Anthropological Thought | (3) |
| ANTH 476 – Archaeological Theory | (3) |
- 6 senior-level credits in research methods. For example:
| ANTH 402 – Ethnographic Research Methods | (3) |
| SOSC 366 – Research Methods in the Social Sciences | (3) |
| ANTH 390 – Community Based Research Methods | (3) |
- 3 senior-level credits in linguistic Anthropology. For example:
| ANTH 354 – Language and Culture | (3) |
- Electives (select 24 credits from the following)
| All ANTH courses |
Second Undergraduate Degree
Students are not permitted to obtain a second undergraduate degree in the same field or related field as their first undergraduate degree. Students who have completed a previous undergraduate degree must enter the second undergraduate Bachelor of Arts (4-year) degree and follow these regulations. The English writing skills requirement is waived for students enrolling in the second undergraduate degree.
Program structure
| Total new credits not applied from a previous degree * May be higher depending on the specific requirements of the major. | 60* |
| Minimum credits required | |
|---|---|
| At the senior level (including 18 credits at the 400 level) | 48‡ |
| ‡ May be higher depending on the specific requirements of the major. | |
| Arts (Humanities and social science) | 48 |
| 9 9 | |
| Science | 6 |
| Residency requirement. A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University. | 30 |
| Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. | 24 |
| Maximum credits allowed | |
| In any one discipline | 45 |
| Applied studies | 12 |
| At the preparatory level | 0 |
| At junior level in any one discipline | 12 |
| Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits ** A maximum of 39 PLAR credits is allowed if you declare a Labour Studies major. | 9** |
| Major (compulsory) | |
| Minimum senior (300 or 400) level credits in major (including 12 credits at the 400 level) | 30 |
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Updated July 14, 2025 by Office of the Registrar