Undergraduate Anthropology

The Biocultural option focuses on the ways evolutionary biology, political-economy, ecology and culture interact to influence human health and behavior, over time and in cross-cultural perspective. This option prepares students to engage in ethical fieldwork, laboratory work and data analyses, to ultimately understand the intersections of biomarkers and other indicators of human health status, demographic processes, social relationships, cultural norms and political and economic inequalities. Option Code: 864

The Cultural/Linguistic option focuses on the diversity of living cultures, in terms of their subsistence practices, sacred and secular rituals, economies, technology, arts, language and social institutions. This concentration prepares the student to engage in ethnographic research and to follow ethical and professional standards for cultural sensitivity in interpersonal and cross-cultural interactions. Option Code: 855

Food is more than simple nourishment. It is part of a system of communication firmly rooted in individual and group identities within cultures around the world. When and how we eat, what is considered acceptable to eat, how we prepare it and how we learn about producing and eating food are all fascinating questions to explore by humanists and social scientists. Histories of particular food commodities and changes in the way people think about sustaining healthy bodies richly contextualizes our present practices. Cultural analyses of food and food production lead us to question the level of social justice within the local and global food systems. Community food security is a condition in which all community residents obtain a safe, culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes community self-reliance and social justice. Students who complete this certificate will not only have a clear idea of the cultural bases of food and food production, but will obtain some experience working towards community food security.

Are you intrigued by the nature of human languages and the central role of language in human culture? OSU undergraduates have the opportunity to focus their coursework in Language in Culture while pursuing the major of their choice. Students may enroll in this program in either Anthropology or World Languages and Literatures. They will then follow a coherent body of coursework in multiple departments and receive recognition of this fact on their transcripts and diploma. Students will learn about linguistic diversity, first and second language acquisition and the ways in which communication patterns vary from cultural group to cultural group. The application of sociolinguistic research to real life problems is a cornerstone of the program.

This certificate program can easily be completed within a 4 year B.A. degree since certificate credits can be concurrent with both major requirements and Baccalaureate Core requirements. Baccalaureate Core requirements, however, cannot be taken within the major department.