Select one of the options below:
Find out what makes humans tick with this online bachelor's in anthropology. Use an evolutionary lens to learn about our biological, social, economic, and cultural world.
Build a nuanced understanding of cultural differences, start thinking more critically about the world around you, and gain the skills to work with underserved populations.
Broaden your knowledge of people and cultural systems. Gain a thorough understanding of humanity’s place in our natural world through a curriculum built on cultural relativism. Learn about:
Enhance your overall learning experience by attending one of three in-person field schools during the summer:*
*Note: In-person field school is not required to meet graduation requirements.
Further specialize your knowledge with an optional minor. Choose from more than a dozen options, including:
Do you enjoy working with others and consider yourself to be an independent thinker and self-starter? If so, an anthropology degree could be just what you need to propel your career forward. Prepare for a career that requires sensitivity to cultural differences. Learn to physically and mentally adapt to challenging situations.
The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics projects careers in anthropology to grow five percent through 2029.
Companies across the globe working with minority populations or multiple foreign cultures need professionals with a background in anthropology. Relevant employment opportunities include:
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of anthropologists is expected to grow 4% between now and 2032. This is because anthropology majors receive broad academic training and acquire skills that are in high demand and suitable for careers the public and private sectors. An anthropology degree offers skills in critical thinking and communication, scientific research and analysis, laboratory techniques, archaeology survey & cataloguing, design survey, and awareness of the role of culture in shaping human reactions and perceptions which is critical to working in a multicultural world. Participating in internships and cooperative education opportunities is highly recommended to enhance students’ practical training and development.
Graduates in archaeology have the skills to build careers in government agencies, cultural resource management (CRM), historical preservation, law, public education, and museum curation.
Careers in archaeology include:
The graduate in biological anthropology has skills in data analysis, critical thinking, writing, and oral presentations. Graduates pursue careers in health and medicine, criminal investigation, sports medicine, biology and science education, zoology, genetics, conservation biology, and museum curation.
Common career paths for individuals who earn a degree in biological anthropology include:
Graduates in cultural anthropology have the knowledge and the skills to approach and value cultural differences that are desirable and useful in a wide range of careers and fields. Cultural anthropology students are prepared to succeed at jobs in international development, public health and healthcare, government relations, conservation, non-profit leadership, and global business. Common career paths for individuals who earn a degree in cultural anthropology include:
See how the flexible, online curriculum allowed Zach to pursue his passion for studying other cultures, while maintaining a full-time job and living in a location he loves.
A nontraditional student, Berland decided to return to school at the age of 24 as a promise to her father, who passed away from pancreatic cancer. She earned her associate’s in anthropology and then transferred to CSU to complete her bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology.
“Don’t be afraid to try something that you never thought you would want to try. … I think a lot of people come into college with the idea of what they’re going to do, but they don’t know the possibilities of stepping outside those boundaries.”
Read more about Hayley’s story on Source
Emily Wilson, Ph.D., Anthropology Senior Instructor, has been named CSU Honors Professor of the Year for the 2024-25 academic year.
“The award means a ton since it is both student nominated and student chosen,” Wilson said. “I’ve had the great good fortune to teach a bunch of fun, engaged and engaging, and interested students over the years and it seems like the feeling is mostly mutual, which is extraordinarily gratifying, especially since most of the students are not Anthropology or History majors.”
Wilson teaches online sections of several Anthropology courses with a focus on classical archaeology and cultures. Wilson has also developed and co-leads several study-abroad classes that bring students to historic sites such as Hadrian’s Wall in northern England and Pompeii in Italy to study at ancient archaeological sites before continuing coursework online.
Explore the fascinating world of ancient Roman food in ANTH 356: Archaeology of Ancient Roman Food. Dive into the material culture of sites like Pompeii, experiment with Roman recipes, and discover how food shaped Roman society, connecting them to their land, animals, and each other over 2,700 years ago. Read more about the course in this Source article.
Instructor and Academic Success Coordinator Keri Canada’s "Beer, Brewing, and Culture" (ANTH 321) provides a fascinating look at the anthropological significance of beer. Students explore how beer intersects with culture, geography, and history, covering themes such as the health benefits of fermentation and global brewing diversity.
This course emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of anthropology, showing how everyday practices like brewing are deeply tied to human culture and societal development. It’s an inspiring example of how education can bridge past traditions with modern understanding.
A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this degree. This includes:
The number of courses needed for completion of the program depends on:
The curriculum listed below is intended to inform prospective students about the overall theme of the program and should not be used as an example program of study. Students need to consult their advisor to develop a degree completion plan based on the credits transferred into this program. 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.
Students should consult their advisor to ensure that the courses chosen will meet the degree program requirements.
Students are strongly encouraged to select AUCC courses in consultation with their academic advisor. The following courses are required as part of the 31 required AUCC credits for the anthropology degree:
In consultation with your academic advisor, choose courses in any discipline.
Electives
In consultation with your academic advisor, choose courses in any discipline. Students must earn a total of 42 upper division (300 and 400-level) credits.
Admitted students are required to contact their academic advisors when they intend to declare a major. Advisors can provide guidance on major requirements, help students understand the declaration process, and ensure they meet any necessary prerequisites before officially declaring their chosen field of study.
Anthropology is the study of humanity. As an Anthropology major, you will join a community dedicated to understanding all aspects of the human condition, past and present. Undergraduate students can pursue a general Anthropology degree focused on an appreciation of human diversity from a broad and holistic perspective or declare a concentration specializing in Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, or Cultural Anthropology.
Students in the Archaeology concentration learn how past societies interacted with each other and shaped the landscapes and environments they inhabited by excavation and analysis of their material culture. Our students acquire theoretical and foundational knowledge in the classroom and acquire practical skills via experiential learning through lab work and our Archaeology Field School and can earn a certificate in Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies. With a concentration in archaeology students learn how to preserve, catalogue, and manage cultural resources, use technologies such as LiDAR and remote sensing, and learn methods based in geoarchaeology and geophysics to understand past populations and relay that knowledge to the greater archaeology and general public.
Faculty also provide many opportunities to work in labs and research centers including: the Archaeological Repository, Center for Archaeology and Remote Sensing, the Archaeology Lab, the Center for Mountain and Plains Archaeology (CMPA), the Center for Research in Archaeogeophysics and Geoarchaeology (CRAG) and Center for the Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML).
Students in the Biological Anthropology concentration study humanity from a biological and evolutionary perspective. Two broad themes exist within our department. The first emphasizes evolutionary theory and morphological transformations, and the second is concerned with adaptations that are the product of the interaction between human biology and culture. Current faculty research and teaching address these themes through various foci including 1) examining how extinct humans interacted with their environment by researching their feeding behaviors, biology, spatio-temporal distribution and palaeoecological patterning, 2) examining how the biology and stress impact health outcomes in living populations, and 3) examining how skeletal anatomy can be used to reconstruct past and living populations and individuals including within forensic contexts.
With a concentration in biological anthropology our students acquire theoretical and foundational knowledge in the classroom. They also acquire practical skills via experiential learning through lab work and our Paleontology Field School in Wyoming, and can earn a minor in Forensic Anthropology. Transferable skills include scientific research design and analysis, laboratory techniques and forensic analysis, conducting paleontological survey and analysis, critical thinking and communication, and statistical analysis and ability to synthesize complex information.
Cultural anthropology is the study of human groups and cultural practices. Through immersive fieldwork, anthropologists examine patterns within and between groups and contribute to problem-solving efforts. The cultural anthropologists at CSU collaborate with communities and conduct research about many different arenas of social experience, including environmental sustainability, development, stratification, health and well-being, disasters and resilience, gender and sexuality, aesthetics, and recreation. Faculty work in the U.S., Africa, Central America, South and Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean and bring their expertise into the classroom to guide students academically and professionally.
In this program, students learn how to read and write critically, and they develop specialized methods for collecting and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data. Graduates are prepared for careers in government, non-governmental organizations, foundations, conservation, business, advertising, community development, education, and museum work.
Broaden your degree by adding a minor that deepens your interests and builds valuable, career-ready skills. A minor helps you explore new ideas, gain focused expertise, and strengthen your education without significantly changing your degree plan. Many courses can count toward both your major and minor, including courses you’ve already completed, as long as all requirements are finished before graduation.
| Fall semester | June 1 |
| Spring semester | November 1 |
| Summer semester | May 1 |
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Apply NowPlanning to transfer credits from another college or university? Please review our FAQ page, then complete a Tentative Transfer Evaluation Form to see how your prior credits may transfer.
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Call or email our student success team to find out if the program is a good fit for your goals. Our coaches are available Monday-Friday to help you find the right program and navigate the application process.
Student Success Coach: Kyle Yates
Phone: (970) 682-7252
Email: kc.yates@colostate.edu
Complete Colorado State University's online undergraduate application and pay any associated nonrefundable application processing fee (payable online) or waiver (if eligible).
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.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Use FAFSA code 001350. Additional financial aid information is also available.
View your application status at any time to ensure your application checklist is complete or to check on updates.
Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis and may take up to six weeks during high volume application periods.
Questions? Call (970) 682-7252 or email kc.yates@colostate.edu.
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