<p>What are some pros and cons of the Anthro program at UCB for those interested in archaeology and biological anthropology?</p>
<p>In general, our anthropology department splits between cultural anthro and archaeology (with medical anthro sort of thrown in there as well). Both of these sub-departments are very strong, but biological anthro gets a little lost between the two of them. From what I’ve heard there are a lot of interesting archaeology courses offered every semester (I’m an anthro major, but I’m more into the cultural dimension of it). So I guess that counts as a pro especially if you’re really interested in archaeology. However, the offerings for bio anthro are pretty slim. They typically offer one upper division course every semester, and they are more general classes taught in large lectures (as opposed to the relatively smaller settings of the cultural and archaeological courses). From what I can tell the bio courses are taught, and for the most taken, solely to fulfill the biological core requirement.</p>
<p>Oh, and there are also lots of research opportunities in archaeology, but not so much in bio anthro.</p>
<p>My recommendation: If you’re really interested in archaeology go with the anthro major. If you really want more of a focus on biological anthro maybe consider doing a minor, take the one or two courses the department offers, and look into courses in line with your interests in the IB department.</p>
<p>Thanks! That is exactly the kind of information I’m looking for.</p>
<p>Okay UCB is definitely off my list.</p>
<p>I have a preference against interdepartmental biological anthro programs. For me - as important as the biological part is - anthropology is what I’m looking for.</p>
<p>Neither, just a high school student, searching early is really encouraged at my school; they just handed out packets with tips and stategies to sophomores.</p>
<p>And yes, I know that three- or four-field departments are hard to find, but I really disagree with universities - especially top ones like Harvard and Columbia - moving biological anthropology into other departments. Biological anthropology is anthropology even if it is less social science focused than other subfields.</p>
<p>What I’m looking for is a good university (not necessarily in California) that offers one of the best programs in anthropology that doesn’t flop in biological or just shove it off into a different department. Other schools I’m looking at are UMich, UPenn, NYU, WUStL, and BostonU.</p>
<p>U Washington and UIUC, huh? Well, I’ll keep those in mind. Is NYU really that awesome? The computer lab at my school has tons of their foreign campus posters, so they must have a decent abroad program.</p>
<p>I might not double major in biology just because I will probably do a pre-med program. And evolutionary is not exactly what I’m looking for; if I do graduate school in anthropology I’ll be looking for physical anthropology (which seems pretty great at NYU).</p>
<p>So even is a department says evolutionary, it doesn’t mean its limited to huamn evolution, primate behavior, and the like? Ok that’s understandable, at least its part of anthropology, but I think my list can’t really get more complete than the nine I already have.</p>