Anthropology of Globalization (BA)

Anthropology of Globalization Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology: Globalization stands as an innovative option within the Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, offering students a unique exploration into the multifaceted dimensions of today’s interconnected global landscape. It presents an exciting opportunity for those eager to delve into the complexities of our globally integrated world.

This option delves into various aspects of our contemporary, interconnected world, encompassing economic transactions, the impact of new media, human migration patterns, and the dissemination of knowledge. What sets our program apart is our dual focus on present-day multicultural exchanges and an in-depth examination of the historical underpinnings of these processes across human evolution. Emphasizing the intersection of social practices and historical insights, our program seeks to enrich perceptions of modern global exchange.

Our curriculum amalgamates diverse approaches. Sociocultural anthropology investigates global trends from diverse geographic perspectives, scrutinizing prevalent structures of power and mobility using ethnographic data and historical analysis. Archaeology contextualizes contemporary phenomena by examining material evidence of human existence, deciphering long-term patterns in power dynamics, identity, and social interaction pivotal in understanding modern global practices. Biological anthropology traces the global movement of people, genes, and diseases, unraveling ancient migration paths and human diversity that influences various traits, including disease susceptibility.

The interdisciplinary blend of sociocultural, archaeological, and biological anthropology equips students with a distinctive toolkit to study multiculturalism, diversity, and global exchanges. It primes them to actively engage in an increasingly interconnected world. Students at UW bring diverse global experiences, and Seattle’s historical role as a pivotal point in Pacific and American coast exchanges enriches this narrative. The Anthropology of Globalization option contextualizes students’ individual encounters with globalization within broader global transformations.

Courses in archaeology, sociocultural anthropology, and biological anthropology illuminate cross-border exchanges of artifacts, knowledge, migration patterns, legal frameworks, and genetic influences. These explorations, anchored in historical and regional contexts, enrich students’ comprehension of emerging global circulation dynamics.

BA Anthropology of Globalization Requirements - 55 credits total

Note: not all courses are offered regularly. The Anthropology Curriculum Forecast tool provides tentative course offerings for ANTH, ARCHY and BIO A classses. Check the Time Schedule for all current course offerings. 

Core Requirements (20 credits)

• 5 credits: BIO A 201 – Principles of Biological Anthropology
• 5 credits: Any 200-level ARCHY course
• 5 credits: Any 200-level ANTH course
• Statistics course chosen from:
  • CS&SS / SOC / STAT 221 – Statistical Concepts and Methods for the Social Sciences (5 cr)
  • STAT 220 – Statistical Reasoning (5 cr)
  • STAT 311 – Elements of Statistical Methods (5 cr)
  • Q SCI 381 – Introduction to Probability & Statistics (5 cr)
  • BIOST 310 – Biostatistics for the Health Sciences (4 cr)
  • EDPSY 490 – Basic Educational Statistics (3 cr)
  • PSYCH 315 – Understanding Statistics in Psychology (5 cr)
  • QMETH 201 – Introduction to Statistical Methods (4 cr)
  • Occasionally other basic statistics courses may be accepted. Contact Advising for approved courses.

Upper Division Electives (20 credits)

Any 300–400 level ANTH, BIO A, and/or ARCHY courses. Certain AIS courses may apply (AIS 317, 330, 335, 340, or 443).

Additional Electives (15 credits)

Any 200-level or above ANTH, BIO A, and/or ARCHY courses. Certain AIS courses may apply (AIS 202, 203, 209, 210, 311, 330, 335, 340, 425, 443, or 480).

Anthropology of Globalization Option Requirements

20 credits from the department-approved list

• ANTH 280 – Cultural Anthropology
• ANTH 304 – Anthropological Perspectives on the United States
• ANTH 305 – Anthropological Perspectives on Women
• ANTH 311 – Anthropology of Global Inequality
• ANTH 314 – Anthropology of Global Health
• ANTH 321 – Anthropology of Religion
• ANTH 323 – Anthropology of Development
• ANTH 356 – Anthropology of Food
• ANTH 360 – Medical Anthropology
• ANTH 361 – Anthropology of Global Health Inequalities
• ANTH 362 – Anthropology of the Body
• ANTH 363 – Anthropology of Human Rights
• ANTH 371 – Anthropology of Violence
• ANTH 375 – Anthropology of Media
• ANTH 407 – Anthropology of International Migration
• ANTH 423 – Anthropology of the State
• ANTH 428 – Anthropology of Capitalism
• ANTH 429 – Anthropology of Labor
• ANTH 442 – Anthropology of Environmental Crisis
• ANTH 446 – Anthropology of Global Environmental Politics
• ANTH 449 – Anthropology of Global Health and Development
• ANTH 450 – Anthropology of NGOs and Humanitarianism
• ANTH 461 – Anthropology of Globalization
• ANTH 463 – Anthropology of Borders and Citizenship
• ANTH 471 – Anthropology of Conflict and Peace
• ANTH 473 – Anthropology of Law and Justice
• ANTH 476 – Anthropology of Humanitarianism
• ANTH 497 – Special Topics in Anthropology
• ANTH 498 – Special Topics in Anthropology
• ARCHY 304 – Archaeology of Global Inequality
• ARCHY 312 – Archaeology of Colonialism

How the Anthropology of Globalization option courses appears in DARS

Anthropology of Globalization options courses appear in a separate option block in DARS. Many of these courses also apply toward Upper Division and Additional Elective requirements. This overlap is intentional and allows students to complete the option within the 55-credit BA total with careful planning.

Additional Requirements for the Major

• At least 25 credits in the major must be completed with a minimum grade of 2.5 in each course
• At least 15 credits of upper-division (300–400 level) ANTH, ARCHY, or BIO A coursework must be completed in residence at UW
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in courses applied to the major
• Note: a limited number of Independent Study credits may be applied to the major - up to 12 credits of ANTH 499, ARCHY 499, and/or BIO A 499; up to 18 credits for departmental Honors courses