Undergraduate
Anthropology is a broad-based discipline because it is the study of everything about human beings--past civilizations, living people throughout the world, human biology and behavior, and language. The major subfields of anthropology reflect these topics: archaeology, cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Specific areas of interest that are explored in depth within our program include topics such as border health issues, food, folk healing, sexuality, race, prehistoric archaeology and Spanish colonial archaeology.
The anthropology faculty members welcome all students to our Department of Anthropology at UTRGV. This program offers three majors and three minors in anthropology as well as an interdisciplinary masters degree through the Master of Arts Interdisciplinary Studies program (M.A.I.S.). Links to all of the degree programs are located here: https://utrgv.smartcatalogiq.com/2020-2021/Undergraduate-Catalog/College-of-Liberal-Arts/Department-of-Anthropology
Students trained in our program will acquire oral and written communication skills, research skills, and "people" skills which qualify them well for careers in international business, government, politics, criminal justice, social work, and medicine or other health-related professions (See Useful Links).
Major Degree Plans
Degree plans vary depending on the year a student matriculates.
The three degree plans for 2020-21 are linked below:
B.A. Anthropology
https://utrgv.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2020-2021/Undergraduate-Catalog/College-of-Liberal-Arts/Department-of-Anthropology/Anthropology-Bachelor-of-Arts
B.A. Anthropology, concentration in Archaeology
https://utrgv.smartcatalogiq.com/2020-2021/Undergraduate-Catalog/College-of-Liberal-Arts/Department-of-Anthropology/Anthropology-Bachelor-of-Arts-Archaeology
B.A Anthropology, concentration in Global Migration & Health
https://utrgv.smartcatalogiq.com/2020-2021/Undergraduate-Catalog/College-of-Liberal-Arts/Department-of-Anthropology/Anthropology-Bachelor-of-Arts-Global-Health-and-Migration
Minor Degree Plans
https://utrgv.smartcatalogiq.com/2020-2021/Undergraduate-Catalog/College-of-Liberal-Arts/Department-of-Anthropology/Anthropology-Minor
https://utrgv.smartcatalogiq.com/2020-2021/Undergraduate-Catalog/College-of-Liberal-Arts/Department-of-Anthropology/Archaeology-Minor
https://utrgv.smartcatalogiq.com/2020-2021/Undergraduate-Catalog/College-of-Liberal-Arts/Department-of-Anthropology/Global-Health-and-Migration-Minor
Course Offerings
The Covid-19 pandemic impacted the delivery of our course offerings. Please consult the current Course Schedule in Assist for accurate information about times and delivery of anthropology courses. (MAG, July 2021)
NOTE: Upper-division courses are NOT offered every semester. In some cases, upper-division courses are offered once a year or every two/three years.
UTRGV Archaeology Field School in Ecuador
UTRGV Archaeology Field School in Ecuador
Student Organizations
The UTRGV Department of Anthropology also supports an active Anthropology Club as well as a chapter of Lambda Alpha, the Anthropology Honor Society.
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| Anthropology Club bench, Edinburg campus | Anthropology Club trip to Washington, DC |
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| Anthropology undergrad Ethan Portillo presenting a research poster at an SBS Research Conference in 2014 with Dr. Servando Hinojosa. |
Undergraduate participants with in "Mexican American Folk Medicine in Testimony and Art" panel organized by Dr. Servando Hinojosa at the SBS Curanderismo Conference in Spring 2015. |
“What could I do with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology?”
A major or minor anthropology is especially appropriate for professionals closely involved with people. Our graduates acquire skills useful in many careers rather than skills applicable to one job. Our program is strong in health, especially involving the US-Mexico border, and archaeology. Several of our faculty members are actively engaged in research projects on border issues such as politics, health, cultural heritage, and archaeology. Collaboration with other faculty members in the university who have similar interests makes this research particularly timely and important. Students are exposed to these issues through their classes and also by their inclusion in the research projects themselves. Through their participation in classes and research projects, students are uniquely qualified and well trained to help businesses flourish in the rapidly changing demography of the US where Mexican-origin populations are becoming increasingly important both in terms of economics and politics.
See the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for Anthropologists and Archeologists for more information. It is an excellent resource. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/Life-Physical-and-Social-Science/Anthropologists-and-archeologists.htm