Program Requirements

About Mercer’s Anthropology Major

To earn a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from Mercer, students must complete 27 hours of coursework. This will allow students to easily complete a second major. Some pairings might include biology, French, global development studies, global health studies, international affairs, or Spanish. The major is also well-suited for students on a pre-health track who wish to take a more social scientific approach.  

The anthropology major includes three required courses:

  • Introduction to General Anthropology
  • Reading Ethnography
  • Anthropological Theory

In addition, students will take their choice of an ethnography research methods course and 15 hours of electives. These classes may include:

  • Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology
  • Medical Anthropology
  • From Rage to Love: Emotions and the Body
  • Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion
  • Anthropology and Activism

About Mercer’s Anthropology Minor

An anthropology minor consists of 15 semester credit hours, including two 300-level courses or above. 

Departmental Honors

The Department of International and Global Studies (IGS) encourages its students, including those in anthropology, to deepen their knowledge of the field through its departmental honors program. Eligible students will have the opportunity to explore various topics in anthropology that are of particular interest to them, work more closely with departmental faculty, and develop skills in research and thesis preparation. To be eligible for departmental honors, an IGS student must:

  • Be a declared major in anthropology, global development studies or global health studies
  • Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3
  • Have a cumulative major GPA of at least 3.5
  • Write a thesis that is approved by a faculty member of the department, with a grade of at least B