CAS: Anthropology – Specialization in Biological Anthropology

Sample Pathway

Below is an example of a four-year plan of a College of General Studies student pursuing a degree in anthropology. Students will work with their CGS academic advisors and the CAS anthropology department to plan their own pathway to an anthropology degree.

Please refer to the BU Bulletin for more information on the CAS Anthropology Specialization in Biological Anthropology program requirements.

  Semester I Semester II
Freshman Year CGS RH 103
CGS SS 103
CGS HU 103
CAS AN 101		 CGS Required Courses (London or Boston-New England semester)
Sophomore Year CGS SS 201
CAS AN 102*
Any archaeology course (excluding CAS AR 100)
Elective**		 CGS HU 202
CGS NS 202
Linguistics (CAS AN 351, AN 521, or LX 250)
One additional 2xx or above course in Biological Anthropology (2xx or 3xx recommended at this level): CAS AN 233, 234, 263, 330, 331, 333, 335, 336, 337, 339, 534, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 558, 559, 588, 595, 597, 598
Junior Year One 200-level or higher course in Biological Anthropology or Biology: see the Bulletin for a detailed list of courses.
One additional 2xx or above course in Sociocultural Anthropology (2xx or 3xx recommended at this level): see the Bulletin for a detailed list of courses.
Elective**
Second Language (if needed)		 One 200-level or higher course in Biological Anthropology or Biology: see the Bulletin for a detailed list of courses.
One course in Biological Anthropology at 300-level or above: CAS AN 321, 330, 331, 333, 335, 336, 337, 339, 534, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 558, 559, 562, 574, 588, 595, 597, 598
Elective**
Second Language (if needed)
Senior Year One course in Biological Anthropology at 300-level or above: CAS AN 321, 330, 331, 333, 335, 336, 337, 339, 534, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 562, 558, 559, 574, 588, 595, 597, 598
One course in Biological Anthropology at 500-level or above: CAS AN 534, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 558, 559, 562, 588, 595, 597, 598
Elective**
Second Language (if needed)		 One course in Biological Anthropology at 500-level or above: CAS AN 534, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 558, 559, 562, 574, 588, 595, 597, 598
One additional course in Archaeology or Biology: see the Bulletin for a detailed list of courses.
Elective**
Second Language (if needed)

*Anthropology majors are required to take CAS AN 102 (Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution). This course can be taken in place of CGS NS 201. Please note that students who do not take NS 201 will owe one Hub unit in Quantitative Reasoning I.

Students planning to attend medical school should consult with advisors in the Pre-Professional Advising Office (100 Bay State Road, Room 428) for information on the selection and sequencing of courses.

**Choose your electives carefully to fulfill any remaining BU Hub requirements. You will find a list of all of the courses that carry Hub units on the University’s BU Hub website. External courses are not eligible for Hub general education credit. Anthropology courses by HUB Unit can be found on the Anthropology Department webpage.

Note that no more than 3 courses for the Biological Anthropology Specialization may be from outside of CAS Anthropology. 

College of General Studies Program Requirements

  • Two rhetoric courses: CGS RH 103 and CGS RH 104
    • CGS RH 104 is taken during the London semester
  • Two natural science courses: CGS NS 201 and CGS NS 202
  • Three social science courses:
    • CGS SS 104 is required and is taken during the London semester
    • Students select at least two additional SS courses and will work with their academic advisor to determine course selection
  • Three humanities courses:
    • CGS HU 104 is required and is taken during the London semester
    • Students select at least two additional HU courses and will work with their academic advisor to determine course selection

Major Requirements

The major in Biological Anthropology is 13 courses. All courses for the major must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or higher. For required courses, please see the CAS Bulletin.

For more information, please see the Anthropology Department webpage. Please contact Mackenzie Arnolds (kenzea@bu.edu) with any questions about the major.

Continuation Requirements

  • Completion of the CGS required coursesand appropriate electives
  • Cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.00

Graduation Requirements

Boston University students completing a degree in CAS must also complete the following requirements.

  • BU Hub requirements
    • Students who take the specific CGS courses noted on the pathway above will fulfill all BU Hub requirements except the units listed below. These remaining Hub units will be fulfilled through the courses you take for your major and/or other electives. You will find a list of all of the courses that carry Hub units on the University’s BU Hub website.
    • Creativity/Innovation (1 unit)
    • Quantitative Reasoning I (1 unit) and Quantitative Reasoning II (1 unit)
    • Scientific Inquiry I (1 unit) will be fulfilled by CAS AN 102
    • Teamwork/Collaboration (1 unit)
    • Writing-Intensive Course (1 unit)
  • CAS requirements:
  • Biological anthropology specialization requirements
  • CAS requires a minimum of 128 credits, excluding PDP, ROTC, and CAS FY and SY courses.

This is a sample pathway to be used in consultation with your CGS Academic Advisor.

 It is subject to change according to course availability and individual circumstances.

Last revised: 04/09/2024