The Coordinator of Anthropology is Dr. Sharlotte Neely who can be reached at her office in 230 Landrum or by phone at 859-572-5258 or 5259 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .   The anthropology advisor for freshmen and sophomores is Dr. Douglas W. Hume who can be reached at his office in 228 Landrum or by phone at 859-572-5702 or 5259 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  The anthropology advisor for juniors and seniors is Dr. Barbara J. Thiel who can be reached at her office in 248 Landrum or by phone at 859-572-5524 or 5259 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .      

Anthropology majors are encouraged to participate in the Student Anthropology Society.

Anthropology majors have many opportunities for study in the broader world outside the classroom--locally, nationally, and internationally.  Also, every April anthropology faculty and alumni host an Anthropology Careers Day program to assist students.

Your options for the anthropology major:

There are two options from which to choose, the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts.

Bachelor of Science (option one)

The major in Anthropology, leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science, consists of 44 semester hours and requires the completion of the following:

• Eight core courses (20 semester hours--Students must make at least a "C" in the core courses, except ANT 480 in which a grade of "A" is required.)
  • ANT 100 Cultural Anthropology (every semester)
  • ANT 110 Introduction to Archaeology (every semester)
  • ANT 202 Introduction to Physical Anthropology (every spring)
  • ANT 202L Introduction to Physical Anthropology Lab (every spring)
  • ANT 210 Introduction to Archaeological Method and Theory (every fall)
  • ANT 275 Language and Culture (every fall)
  • ANT 312 Social Organization (every fall)
  • ANT 480 Advanced Anthropological Concepts (every semester)
    • The course is an absolute requirement for all anthropology majors who first enrolled at NKU fall 2001 or later and who will graduate spring 2005 or later--all other anthropology majors must take the ANT 480 test but do not have to take the course
• Two of the following topical courses (at least one of these must be at the 300 or 400 level) (6 semester hours)
  • ANT 215 Archaeological Field Methods (summer intersession)
  • ANT 231 Modern American Indians (every spring)
  • ANT 273 Race, Gender, and Culture (every spring)
  • ANT 294 Topics: Studies in Anthropology (sometimes counts as a topical course--see schedule of classes--may be taken more than once if the topic is different each time)
  • ANT 301 World Patterns of Race and Ethnicity (every fall)
  • ANT 307 Museum Methods (every spring)
  • ANT 308 Cultural Resource Management (spring in even-numbered years)
  • ANT 310 African Arts (fall in even-numbered years)
  • ANT 317 Ecological Anthropology (spring in odd-numbered years)
  • ANT 318 Prehistoric Ecology (fall in odd-numbered years)
  • ANT 320 Religion and Culture (spring in even-numbered years)
  • ANT 325 Applied Anthropology (every spring)
  • ANT 330 Women, Gender, and Culture: A Global Perspective (every fall)
  • ANT 331 Women in Prehistory (spring in odd-numbered years)
  • ANT 335 Advanced Archaeological Field Methods (summer intersession)
  • ANT 336 Historical Archaeology (spring in odd-numbered years)
  • ANT 340 Ethnographic Methods (every spring)
  • ANT 342 Quantitative Methods in Anthropology (fall in odd-numbered years)
  • ANT 345 Environmental Anthropology (fall in even-numbered years)
  • ANT 350 North American Archaeology (fall in odd-numbered years)
  • ANT 352 Archaeology of Mesoamerica (fall in even-numbered years)
  • ANT 355 Archaeological Laboratory Analysis (fall in even-numbered years)
  • ANT 358 Art and Culture (fall in odd-numbered years)
  • ANT 363 Language and Thought (spring in even-numbered years)
  • ANT 371 Psychological Anthropology (spring in even-numbered years)
  • ANT 372 Peasant Societies (every winter session)
  • ANT 374 Celtic and Viking Archaeology (spring in odd-numbered years)
  • ANT 375 Anthropology of Aging (spring in odd-numbered years)
  • ANT 376 Irish Society through Film (every summer)
  • ANT 380 Origins of Civilization (spring in even-numbered years)
  • ANT 392 Research Topics in Archaeology (independent study)
  • ANT 394 Topics in Anthropology (see schedule of classes--may be taken more than once if the topic is different each time)
  • ANT 401 Culture Theory (spring in odd-numbered years)
  • ANT 410 Archaeological Theory (spring in even-numbered years)
• Two of the following ethnographic area courses (6 semester hours)
  • ANT 201 World Cultures (every semester)
  • ANT 230 North American Indians (every fall)
  • ANT 240 Peoples of Africa (every spring)
  • ANT 245 Peoples of Latin America (every fall)
  • ANT 270 Native Australia and Oceania (every spring)
  • ANT 294 Topics: Studies in Anthropology (counts as an ethnographic area course if it focuses on a geographic/cultural area--see schedule of classes--may be taken more than once if the ethnographic area is different each time)
  • ANT 360 Mesoamerican Indians (every spring)
  • ANT 370 Celtic Europe (every fall)
  • ANT 385 Peoples of East and Southeast Asia (fall in even-numbered years)
• One course in methods (3 or 4 semester hours)
  • ANT 215 Archaeological Field Methods (summer intersession)
  • ANT 307 Museum Methods (every spring)
  • ANT 335 Advanced Archaeological Field Methods (summer intersession)
  • ANT 340 Ethnographic Methods (every spring)
  • ANT 342 Quantitative Methods in Anthropology (fall in odd-numbered years)
  • ANT 355 Archaeological Laboratory Analysis (fall in even-numbered years)
• One course in theory (3 semester hours)
  • ANT 401 Culture Theory (spring in odd-numbered years)
  • ANT 410 Archaeological Theory (spring in even-numbered years)
• Two electives in anthropology (at least one of which must be at the 300 or 400 level) (6 semester hours)
• Each student must demonstrate competency in the use of computers. This may be done in one of two ways
  • INF 101 Computer Literacy & Informatics (formerly CSC 150 Computer Concepts and Applications) with a grade of "C" or better
  • Pass a test on computer use given by Dr. Douglas Hume of the anthropology faculty.

Bachelor of Arts (option two)

The major in Anthropology, leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts, consists of 55 semester hours and requires the completion of the following:

• The above requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree (44 semester hours).
• A minimum of eight (8) semester hours in a modern foreign language (for example: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, or Swahili)
• At least 3 semester hours in statistics
  • STA 205 Elementary Statistics (every semester)

Sequence of Courses for Anthropology Majors

To graduate in four years (eight semesters) without taking any summer courses, one must take at least 16 hours of course work every semester. A total of at least 45 hours must be in 300 or 400-level courses. The following is the recommended sequence of courses for anthropology majors:

• Freshman year

  • ANT 100 Cultural Anthropology
  • ANT 110 Introduction to Archaeology
  • INF 101 Computer Literacy & Informatics (or pass the anthropology computer test--see Dr. Douglas Hume)
  • General studies (gen ed) courses (several of which can be anthropology courses)
  • Any needed remedial courses (for example, MAH 090, 095, 097, and/or 099 and/or ENG 090)
  • Think about choosing a minor or an area of concentration or a second major

• Sophomore year

  • ANT 202 Introduction to Physical Anthropology (spring)
  • ANT 202L Introduction to Physical Anthropology Laboratory (spring)
  • ANT 210 Introduction to Archaeological Method and Theory (fall)
  • ANT 275 Language and Culture (fall)
  • Another 200-level anthropology course
  • General studies (gen ed) courses

• Junior year

  • ANT 312 Social Organization (fall)
  • ANT 401 Culture Theory or ANT 410 Archaeological Theory (spring) (or take in senior year if taught then)
  • Other 300 and 400-level anthropology courses (Be aware that most 300 and 400-level courses are taught only once every two years. You need to plan ahead for this and take some courses your junior year and others your senior year.)
  • Some 200-level anthropology courses may be taken (for example, ethnographic area courses)
  • Finish any general studies (gen ed) requirements
  • Prepare a resume and consult with Career Development Center
  • Attend NKU Anthropology Careers Day (spring)
  • Attend NKU Grad School Talk (fall)

• Senior year

  • ANT 480 Advanced Anthropological Concepts (take your last semester.)
  • 300 and 400-level anthropology courses
  • Get your major certified (see the anthropology coordinator)
  • Apply to graduate (by October 8 for May graduation and by April 8 for December graduation--see the registrar)
  • Get information from grad schools early in the fall
  • Apply to grad school late fall
  • Take the GRE or LSAT exam in the fall

One of a kind!

At about 100 students, NKU has more undergraduate anthropology majors than any other public or private college or university in the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati tri-state region.

For all sorts of anthropology resources, click here.