Major map compass icon
2023-2024

Anthropology, Bachelor of Science

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Arts (Richard Bland College of William and Mary)
Richard Bland College
Richard Bland College
Associate degree
Program description

The Bachelor of Science in Anthropology champions a holistic comparative approach to the study of the emergence, evolution, and diverse development and expression of humanity. The program provides students with the knowledge and skills to investigate and understand the nature of human beings as they interact with and transform their social and natural conditions of existence. Students develop a deep appreciation for the diversity and unity of humanity and acquire the knowledge, experience, and skills to interact effectively with diverse populations and support mutually beneficial relations.


The degree introduces students to the methods of investigation and analysis used by scholars in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences and to anthropology’s sub-disciplines of archaeological, biological, linguistic, and socio-cultural anthropology. In doing so, the B.S. in Anthropology provides a well-rounded understanding of the interacting complexity of forces that we shape and which shape who we are. The Anthropology degree provides a strong foundation in the theories and practices of anthropology and flexibility for students to pursue their own course of study. As is true with World Studies’ degrees in Foreign Languages, International Studies, and Religious Studies, Anthropology offers students opportunities to engage in real world learning through internships, lab-based and field research, and study abroad programs.

Career opportunities

Students of anthropology acquire many skills relevant in today’s increasingly globalized economy in which the ability to communicate across cultures, think creatively, and see the world from diverse perspectives are vital to career success and life satisfaction. Anthropology majors are well prepared to work in public and private educational and cultural institutions, such as museums and preservation sites, as well as multinational corporations. All rely on persons with knowledge of human development and expression over time and place, have an appreciation for diverse forms of human experience and expression, and can understand and interact with diverse employees and customers.


Furthermore, students focusing on biological anthropology often follow professional paths in collection management, forensic science, or zoology. Anthropology majors graduate with excellent verbal and written communication skills transferable to a wide range or professions, making Anthropology majors especially valuable to growing businesses that seek to expand their operations into new areas requiring creativity, translating across cultures, and appreciation for human differences. Earning a B.S. in Anthropology is also considered an excellent foundation for advanced degrees in medicine, dentistry and other health-related fields.


We encourage students to double-major in Anthropology and one of the other majors degrees in the School of World Studies: Foreign Languages, International Studies or Religious Studies, as doing so strengthens their cumulative knowledge, experience, academic record and resume for success in whatever path they choose after graduation.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • City and Regional Planning Aids
  • Claims Examiner
  • Collection Management Assistant
  • Community Health Worker
  • Customer Service Representative
  • Geographer
  • Historian
  • Journalist
  • Legal Assistant
  • Mapping Technician
  • Marketing Research Analyst
  • Marketing Specialist
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Archaeologist
  • Archivist
  • Higher Education Administrator
  • Librarian
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 131
  • STAT 210
Science required
  • 1-2 additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.25+ major GPA

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2023-2024

Anthropology, Bachelor of Science

Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Arts)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Attend cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
Experience Year 2
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU School of World Studies.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Continue learning a foreign language or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or School of World Studies-related events.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships or job experiences before your senior year of college.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU School of World Studies.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Apply to VCU.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Continue learning a foreign language or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or School of World Studies-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships or job experiences before your senior year of college.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2023-2024

Anthropology, Bachelor of Science

Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Arts)

Richard Bland College of William and Mary courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
Students who earn this associate degree before enrolling at VCU will be eligible for a waiver of VCU's general education requirements.
ENGL 101 Rhetoric and Research I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENGL 102 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
ENGL 102 Rhetoric and Research II UNIV 200 3 General education
MATH 110 Contemporary Mathematics MATH 131 3 Major (Ancillary)
MATH 217 Introductory Statistics STAT 210 3 Major (Ancillary)
FREN or SPAN Two Courses in Foreign Language as per Placement VCU equivalents 6 to 8 General education
BIO 101 General Biology BIOL 101 3 Major (Ancillary)
Complete general education and elective requirements for associate degree VCU equivalents 39 to 41 General education
Richard Bland credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Your GPA Doesn't Transfer With You Although you worked hard to earn your grades at your current institution, they will only be considered by VCU for an admission decision. Once you enroll at VCU, your GPA will reset to 0.0, and your new GPA will be determined by your level of success in your classes at VCU.
ANTH 103 Introduction to Anthropology (consider taking in the summer prior to fall enrollment at VCU) 3 Major (Ancillary)
ANTH 105 Introduction to Archaeology 3 Major (Ancillary)
ANTH 301 Human Evolution 4 Major
ANTH 302 Archaeological Theory 3 Major
ANTH 399 Junior Seminar 1 Major
ANTH 454 Theory in Cultural Anthropology 3 Major
ANTH 490 Anthropology Senior Capstone 3 Major
ANTH Select two from: ANTH 210, ANTH 220, or ANTH 230 6 Major
ANTH Methods requirement. Select two from: ANTH 303, ANTH 315, or ANTH 328 6 Major
Major electives (see VCU advisor for course options) 6 Major
WRLD 495 World ePass Portfolio 0 Major (Ancillary)
Experiential learning requirement. Students must fulfill an experiential learning requirement through an approved internship, service-learning course or study abroad program. See VCU advisor for options. 0 to 3 Major (Ancillary)
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses): consider a minor or a second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 22 Elective
REAL The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3 or 4 or through an approved “REAL” co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. See VCU advisor for options. 0 Major
Credits completed at VCU 60
Bachelor's degree total 120