Requirements for a Major in Anthropology

All Anthropology majors are required to complete 54-55 Units to fulfil the major:

• Required courses:
  • Introduction to Anthropology (a survey course) – 5 Unit
  • Ethnography (a methods class) – 5 Unit
  • The Anthropological Imagination (a theory/history class) – 5 Unit
• Electives (6 required, 2 of which must be 4000 level courses)
  • Electives are selected from a list of anthropology and related approved courses. Two of them can be advanced or intermediate language classes that are relevant to the capstone project; the 4000 level courses must be taken at Yale-NUS – 30 Unit

• Capstone seminar and project. During the fourth year, students will take the capstone seminar. During the first semester, students will carry out a research project, and during the second semester, students will complete the project and write a capstone report – 10 Unit

Study Abroad

With the Head of Studies’ approval, students may petition to count courses taken while on a summer or semester study abroad as Anthropology major electives, except for the two required 4000 level courses, which must be taken at Yale-NUS.

In addition, students may petition to count a study abroad course as an equivalent of one of the following three core required courses: Introduction to Anthropology, Ethnography, or The Anthropological Imagination. The Head of Studies will review the study abroad course to determine if it meets the criteria to count as one of these three core requirements. In short, students are required to fulfil these three core requirements but only two out of the three must be taken at Yale-NUS; one may be taken through a study abroad programme with approval from the Head of Studies.

Students are encouraged to consult with the Head of Studies prior to taking study abroad courses to determine if they will count toward Anthropology degree requirements.

Click below to see a visual representation of your pathway through the major.

Requirements for a Minor in Anthropology

To earn a minor, a student must complete 25 Units or 5 courses.  Students who wish to minor in Anthropology must take the following courses:

• Two required courses – (1) Introduction to Anthropology and (2) either Ethnography or Methods in the Social Sciences
• Two elective courses
• One 4000 level course or Anthropological Imagination