Anthropology and Geography: Geography Concentration, B.A.

Mission Statement

Anthropology and geography offer an interdisciplinary perspective bridging cultural and physical landscapes to current topics such as resource management, sustainability, globalization, and community resilience. Students in the program will use empirical and theoretical methodologies to understand the way in which humans interact with the world and how environmental factors influence human society. This approach provides a path to careers in cultural heritage, physical geography, geographic information systems (GIS), environmental science, cultural anthropology, and archaeology. As a unification of two complementary disciplines, this program prepares graduates for a global market where an understanding of the interactions between cultures and the physical environment can provide a significant competitive and functional advantage.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the requirements for the degree in Anthropology and Geography will be able to do the following:

1. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the cultural and physical attributes of specific regions, key environmental concerns, and the links between cultural and environmental change through multiple spatial and temporal scales.
2. Articulate concisely, through written and oral expression, the issues (e.g., social, cultural, physical, environmental, technical, and economic) common to research in anthropology and geography.
3. Demonstrate applied competency with core concepts and methods, and their applications in anthropological and geographical research.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of hands-on methods and skills in anthropology/archaeology and geography/GIS.

The curriculum integrates concepts and methods of anthropology and geography to give students a diverse, well-rounded education. Students must earn a ‘C’ or better in each of the major requirements.