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Earn a Bachelor's in Anthropology

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Earn your degree online and gain skills to enhance your employment marketability. Our online Anthropology degree teaches you to think critically, so you can better understand and function in our multicultural world.

What will this program offer me?

A well-rounded education
Develop an understanding of social, political, economic and environmental systems within cultures.

The option to attend a summer field school in person
Supplement your education and gain valuable, hands-on experience in paleontology, archeology, or ethnographic research.

The ability to set your own school schedule
Complete your coursework at a pace that fits your busy life with our flexible, online program designed to meet the needs of today's working professional.

Degree at a glance

DeliveryOnline
On-campus attendance is not required to complete this program.
Credits120 credits
Previous college credit must be transferred into the program.
Tuition$444 per credit
Includes Student Services
Fees assessed separately
Financial aid is available; eligibility determined on an individual basis
Time frameVaries based on intensity of study and previous coursework
Degree AwardedBachelor of Arts in Anthropology
Offered byCollege of Liberal Arts

What will I learn?

Transfer in your previous college credits, and take additional credits to earn your degree in Anthropology.This online program helps you broaden your knowledge of human history, cultures, biology, and geography. Courses cover topics including:

  • Applied Medical Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Biological Anthropology
  • Cultural Anthropology
  • Cultural Geography
  • Cultures and the Global System
  • Gender and Anthropology
  • Geography
  • History of Anthropological Thought
  • Human Ecology
  • Human Origins and Variation
  • Indians of North America
  • Indigenous Ecologies and the Modern World
  • Modernization and Development
  • Prehistory
  • Primate Behavior and Ecology

In addition to the above courses, you can take electives in the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities.

What career opportunities will I have?

A Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology will help you develop critical thinking skills and a broad set of cultural perspectives — which are valued by employers in nearly every industry. The particular skills you develop with this degree will prepare you to pursue careers in:

  • Archeology
  • Cultural brokering, and other areas of government
  • Education
  • Health sciences
  • International development
  • Museum curation
  • Public policy representation
  • Cultural brokering, and other areas of government

Demand for Employees with a Bachelor’s Degree is Rising

There is more need than ever for employees with bachelor’s degrees, as employers may soon face a shortage of job-seeking college graduates. According to a 2015 Bloomberg Business report, demand for positions in the “knowledge economy” (i.e. jobs that require an education) grows by 3 percent each year, while higher education meets only 1 percent of that growth.


Application Deadlines

Fall Semester June 1
Spring Semester November 1
Summer Semester May 1

Note: Online applications must be submitted before 5 p.m. (Mountain Time) on the deadline date.

If you miss the application deadline, you may still register for courses to begin your program of study as a non-degree student. Students seeking Federal financial aid must be admitted prior to enrolling.

1 Review Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Previous college credit must be transferred into the online anthropology bachelor's degree completion program, and minimum credits required can vary depending on previous coursework completed.
  • 2.0 cumulative GPA (2.5 cumulative GPA preferred) from all coursework previously completed
  • Satisfy admission requirement in mathematics
  • High school graduation or equivalent

Degree completion program applicants are held to the same University admission standards as applicants for on-campus degree programs.

2 See How Your Credits Transfer

The anthropology bachelor's degree completion program requires you to transfer in previous college credits. The minimum credits required varies depending on previous coursework completed. You are encouraged to complete any outstanding general education courses and lower-division prerequisites as you pursue formal admission to Colorado State University.

You have the option to use the TransferologyTM website to conduct a self-review of your potential transfer courses. This tool will assist you in seeing how your previous college coursework may transfer to CSU.

3 Apply Online

  1. Complete Colorado State University's online undergraduate application form and pay the $50 nonrefundable application processing fee (payable online).

    • Select "Anthropology—Distance (transfer students only)" when choosing the program of study, and "Online-distance" when choosing the site.
  2. Submit your application materials to the CSU Admissions office.

4 Apply for Financial Aid

If you wish to apply for Federal financial aid, please complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Additional financial aid information is also available.

After You Apply

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis and may take up to six weeks during high volume application periods.

Once your application is processed, you will be notified by email and can check your application status online.

Apply Now

Download the program brochure »

Why choose Colorado State University?

As a student in CSU’s online anthropology bachelor’s program, you receive the same education, learn from the same faculty, and earn the same regionally accredited degree as students on campus. Additionally, you can expect: :

  • A Degree with Broad Applicability: Develop your understanding of people and their cultures, as well as the social, political, economic, and environmental systems in which they operate. With this knowledge, you become an asset to any industry that requires an understanding of cultural differences.
  • A Program with an Interdisciplinary Approach: By combining the humanities with social and natural sciences curriculum, we teach you to apply social and cultural lenses to issues and use critical thinking and argumentation skills to address them.
  • Optional Summer Field School Opportunities: Complete a hands-on summer field school experience in one of three areas: ethnography, paleontology, or archaeology. This optional experience provides you with the opportunity to apply what you learn in the online classroom to a real-world scenario.
  • A Quality Learning Experience: With an average class size of 21 students, this program gives you the opportunity to interact closely with your instructors and your peers.
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