Anthropology is based on cross-cultural, biocultural, and holistic approaches to the scientific understanding of human behavior and society, both past and present. The discipline, noted for its considerable theoretical and methodological diversity, encompasses four major sub-fields: social and cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, archaeology, and linguistic anthropology. Moreover, the emphasis on increasing knowledge in these areas of inquiry is complemented by a strong commitment to the application of anthropological knowledge to the solving of human problems.
In recent years, graduates have pursued advanced training in anthropology and related disciplines, while others have entered the professions (medicine, law, and teaching) and diverse public and private sector careers. The Anthropology major provides an excellent background for a variety of jobs and vocations.
The Anthropology major is designed to offer breadth in the discipline. In addition to six specifically required courses, students majoring in anthropology must take a minimum of three electives chosen on the basis of individual interest, in consultation with their advisor. An approved statistics course and a senior exercise are also required. Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses that count toward the major. All six specifically required courses must be taken at Pomona College. Electives may be taken elsewhere. Anthropology majors are required to plan their programs in close consultation with a member of the Pomona Anthropology Department.
Though not required, Anthropology majors are encouraged to participate in the College's Study Abroad Program or a summer field program in order to gain experience in a culture other than their own. The senior exercise may be based on library research or original fieldwork that may be conducted as a part of a semester abroad. The senior exercise must be done in the same subfield as the subfield of the student’s methods course.
a. Social Anthropology (51);
b. Archaeology (59);
c. Methods in Anthropological Inquiry (105) or Field Methods in Archaeology (110);
d. Theory in Anthropology (109);
e. Two courses from: Human Sexuality (52); Language, Thought and Culture (53); either Applied Anthropology (102, when available), or Medical Anthropology (107).
Any anthropology course at the Claremont Colleges may be chosen as an elective (three minimum), excluding courses having substantial overlap with the required courses listed above. Courses offered through other departments will be considered for elective credit on a case-by-case basis, as will transfer courses and courses taken through study abroad.
Students are required to take a full course in statistics chosen from an approved set of options, e.g., Economics 57, Mathematics 58, Politics 90, and Psychology 158.
A senior exercise is required of all students. By the end of the junior year, each student must submit a senior exercise plan. The senior exercise requirement may be met by completing a thesis (Anthropology 191) or a project, such as a video or exhibition (Anthropology 192, or by participating in a Senior Apprenticeship involving collaborative work on a faculty-student project. Normally work on the senior exercise will begin in the fall of the senior year.
Students interested in careers in which their anthropological training is applied to problems of public policy may choose to major in Public Policy Analysis with an emphasis in Anthropology. The requirements for this major include the five-course Public Policy sequence and an approved statistics course (see Public Policy Analysis Program), and the following courses in Anthropology: Anthropology 51, 102, 109 and 105 or 110, and two of the following: Anthropology 52, 53, 55, 59; and one elective.
A minor in Anthropology requires that students pass six courses: three required courses (Anthropology 51, 109, and 105 or 110, all at Pomona College) and three approved electives in the discipline. Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses that count toward the minor. Students whose major requires a significant number of anthropology courses (e.g., PPA/Anth) cannot also minor in anthropology.