Academic Programs | Anthropological Sciences

Learn more about Claire Percoco, an anthropological sciences student, and why she made Radford University her choice.

Courses in Anthropological Sciences generally fit within the closely related subfields of Biological and Archaeological Anthropology. Majors are trained in both of these areas, with additional specialization available through elective coursework. The Program also features a concentration in Forensic Anthropology. The Anthropological Sciences Program in the College of Science and Technology is a revision of the former Anthropology Program in the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences. This revised degree program was approved by all Radford University curriculum committees and the State Council on Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV) in the spring of 2010.

Required Classes

ANSC 101 Human Origins and Biocultural Evolution (3 cr)
ANSC 201 Introduction to Anthropological Research (2 cr)
ANSC 301 Principles of Archaeology/Lab (4 cr)
ANSC 302 Principles of Biological Anthropology/Lab (4 cr)
ANSC 303 Quantitative and Computer Methods (4 cr)
ANSC 401 Anthropological Theory (3 cr)

Concentrations

Majors must choose one of the two concentrations outlined below:

General Anthropology Concentration (21 semester hours)

The General Anthropology Concentration is designed for students who wish for a broader foundation in anthropology. This concentration is recommended for students interested in careers and/or graduate programs in biological anthropology, cultural and heritage resource management, and archaeology. Students are encouraged to take a variety of biological and archaeological anthropology coursework in order to build an interdisciplinary understanding of the field. In addition to the Required Anthropological Sciences Courses listed above, students in the General Anthropological Concentration must complete the following:

Biological Anthropology Requirement

Students must take at least 2 courses from among the following options:

ANSC 320 Human Osteology (4 cr)
ANSC/BIOL 330 Primatology (3 cr)
ANSC 420 Advanced Forensic Anthropology (4 cr)
ANSC 430 Bioarchaeology (3 cr)
ANSC 410 Paleoanthropology (3 cr)
ANSC 496 Seminar in Biological Anthropology (3-4 cr)

Archaeological Anthropology Requirement

Students must take at least 2 courses from among the following options:

ANSC 321 Archaeological Field and Lab Methods (3 cr)
ANSC 333 World Prehistory (3 cr)
ANSC 361 Human Impacts on Ancient Environments (3 cr)
ANSC 493 Archaeology Field School (3-6 cr)
ANSC 497 Seminar in Archaeological Anthropology (3-4 cr)

Anthropological Sciences Electives

The remainder of the credit hours necessary for the General Anthropology concentration may be taken from the classes listed above (in the Biological and Archaeological Anthropology Requirement lists) or from the additional courses listed below:

ANSC103 Ancient Worlds of the Maya, the Aztec and the Inka (3 cr)
ANSC/FOSC 210 Introduction to Forensic Anthropology) (3 cr)
ANSC/FOSC 211 Introduction to Forensic Archaeology (3 cr)
ANSC 495 Seminar in the Anthropological Sciences (1-4 cr)
ANSC 498 Independent Study (1-6 cr)
ANSC 499 Internship (3-6 cr)

Forensic Anthropology Concentration (20 semester hours)

Students interested in specializing in Forensic Anthropology have the option of choosing a Forensic Anthropology Concentration. This pre-professional concentration prepares students for graduate-level study of recent unidentified human remains in a medico-legal context. In addition to the Required Anthropological Sciences Courses listed above, students in the Forensic Anthropology Concentration must complete the following:

Required Courses

ANSC/FOSC 210 Introduction to Forensic Anthropology) (3 cr)
ANSC/FOSC 211 Introduction to Forensic Archaeology (3 cr)
ANSC 320 Human Osteology (4 cr)
ANSC/FOSC 420 Advanced Forensic Anthropology (4 cr)

Biological Anthropology Courses

Students must take one (1) of the following:

ANSC/BIOL 330 Primatology (3 cr)
ANSC 430 Bioarchaeology (3 cr)
ANSC 410 Paleoanthropology (3 cr)
ANSC 496 Seminar in Biological Anthropology (3-4 cr)

Archaeological Anthropology Courses

Students must take one (1) of the following:

ANSC 321 Archaeological Field and Lab Methods (3 cr)
ANSC 333 World Prehistory (3 cr)
ANSC 361 Human Impacts on Ancient Environments (3 cr)
ANSC 493 Archaeology Field School (3-6 cr)
ANSC 497 Seminar in Archaeological Anthropology (3-4 cr)

Core Curriculum Requirements (43-45 cr)

All majors in Anthropological Sciences must complete STAT 200, which is approved for Core Curriculum credit (College Core B: Mathematical or Natural Sciences), and SOCY 121, which is approved for Core Curriculum credit (University Core B: Social and Behavioral Sciences, College Core A: Global Perspectives).

B. A. Requirements (6-12 cr)

The Bachelor of Arts degree requires completion of the B. A. language requirements described in the RU Undergraduate Catalog.

B. S. Requirements (8 cr)

The Bachelor of Science degree requires complete of an additional 8 credit hours chosen from the list of classes below. In addition, these 8 hours must include at least one lab science course worth 4 or more credits. This requirement is in addition to classes used to fill University General Education or Core Curriculum Requirements.

BIOL: 103, 104, 105, 131,132, and any class numbered 200 or above
CHEM: 101, 102, 120, and any class numbered 200 or above
GEOL: 105, 106, and any class numbered 200 or above
GEOS/GEOG: 130, 250, 270, 305, 315, 334, 335, 336, 350, 380, 410, 412, 425
ITEC: 120, or any class numbered 200 or above
MATH: 151, 152, 251, 252, 260
PHYS: 111, 112, and any class numbered 200 or above
STAT: any class numbered 200 or above, except for STAT 200

Graduation Requirements

Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all Anthropological Sciences courses which are counted toward the major.

Total Credits Needed for Degree (B.A. or B.S.): 120