The Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology provides students with a broad, integrated knowledge of the subject. Through its four major fields - Cultural Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology and Archaeology - Anthropology explores all aspects of human life, both ancient and modern, from cradle to grave. By creating a strong balance between humanistic and scientific approaches, this degree offers a holistic comparative understanding of Anthropology and therefore provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies as well as careers in Anthropology and other areas such as teaching, social work, curatorial work, and international affairs.

Graduates majoring in Anthropology at Mount Royal will acquire an extensive knowledge of all four major fields - Cultural Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Archaeology - and the interconnections among them. Anthropological training will uniquely prepare graduates to engage competently and critically with the major issues of globalization, multiculturalism, and cultural heritage in the larger context of the human experience. This program will also foster proficiency in the methods of research, analysis, and scientific reasoning that distinguish Anthropology as an interdisciplinary realm within the social sciences.

Students with a major interest in Cultural Anthropology or Linguistic Anthropology should take related courses in subjects such as Economics, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, and Sociology.

Students with a major interest in Archaeology should take related courses in subjects such as Art History, History, Geography, Geology, and Chemistry.

Students with a major interest in Biological Anthropology should take related courses in subjects such as in Biology, Psychology, and Sociology.

Students who are contemplating a specialization in a particular geographical region should take related courses in subjects such as Geography, History, Political Science, and the language of that region.

Mount Royal’s BA in Anthropology aims to provide students with the following competencies:

1. foundational knowledge in the historical development, philosophical and theoretical trends, methodology, and practice of the discipline of Anthropology;
2. the ability to utilize and value the holistic and interdisciplinary approaches that are fundamental to Anthropology;
3. solid cross-cultural understanding of the nature and diversity of present and past cultures;
4. the ability to recognize the biases that societies carry in their understanding of human cultures and how anthropological training can help to overcome these biases;
5. an open-minded and culturally sensitive appreciation of different cultures and their relevance in the contemporary world;
6. solid competency in locating, reading, and comprehending primary and secondary sources;
7. strong analytical and critical thinking skills;
8. mastery of multiple methodologies and the scientific method;
9. the ability to formulate and communicate cogent arguments;
10. specific skills in managing, evaluating, and interpreting data derived from past and present cultures;
11. the ability to work and communicate effectively in collaborative group projects;
12. the ability to articulate points of view clearly and persuasively to others;
13. the ability to view situations reflectively by seeing oneself as both subject and object;
14. the ability to engage in participant-observation and promote cultural curiosity through experiential fieldwork;
15. the ability to engage in and evaluate both humanistic and scientific approaches through critical thinking and rigorous logical thought processes;
16. the ability to contextualize biological and cultural phenomena in terms of both local and global perspectives.