Applied Anthropology and Geography (BA)
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Major: Applied Anthropology and Geography
Program Code: 3780
About This Major...
The digital humanities and social sciences, an interdisciplinary field that combines technology skills with social science knowledge, is a growing, innovative collaboration of disciplines making its impact nation-wide. Upon graduation, all students will have knowledge of cartography and GIS, as well as physical anthropology and archaeology. GIS is an applied skill that will give the students in the anthropological sub disciplines a niche to set them apart from other anthropology undergraduates. The anthropological disciplines provide students, who focus on GIS, a subject matter with which to hone their GIS skills.
BA-seeking students in this program will learn to think critically and ask theoretically-grounded questions about human lives in the immediate area, the surrounding region, and ultimately, across the western USA, in a program that seamlessly blends the acquisition of academic and professional skills. Furthermore, practical training in archaeological, geographical and forensic anthropological field research allows students to take full advantage of the applied employment opportunities available across the western slope and Colorado Plateau as part of energy extraction, law enforcement and/or civil engineering (for example).
Important Information for this degree:
- Students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU coursework.
- Students must earn a minimum of a "C" or higher in all courses for the major.
For more information on what you can do with this major, visit Career Services’ What to Do with a Major? resource.
All CMU baccalaureate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, personal and social responsibility, and information literacy. In addition to these campus-wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:
- Demonstrate effective communication both orally and in writing by being precise, including factual, well-cited details, organizing facts appropriately, and using non-judgmental language through professional documentation and/or oral presentations.(Communication Fluency)
- Demonstrate tools to be life-long learners to include evaluation of information from other students’ research, material found on the internet, and scholarly journal articles. (Critical Thinking, Information Literacy)
- Demonstrate the ability to create maps in a geographical information system program and do basic spatial analysis. (Specialized Knowledge)
- Reflect on and respond to changes in anthropology and geography at various scales – i.e., ethical, social, civic, and/or environmental challenges at local, national, and/or global levels (personal and social responsibility)
Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements.
To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity.
Institutional Degree Requirements
The following institutional degree requirements apply to all CMU baccalaureate degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- 120 semester hours minimum.
- Students must complete a minimum of 30 of the last 60 hours of credit at CMU, with at least 15 semester hours in major discipline courses numbered 300 or higher.
- 40 upper-division credits (an alternative credit limit applies to the Bachelor of Applied Science degree).
- 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU coursework.
- A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
- No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
- Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 30 semester credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. A maximum of 15 of the 30 credits may be for cooperative education, internships, and practica.
- Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
- Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Degree Requirements.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
- See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
Essential Learning Requirements
(31 semester hours)
See the current catalog for a list of courses that fulfill the requirements below. If a course is an Essential Learning option and a requirement for your major, you must use it to fulfill the major requirement and make a different selection for the Essential Learning requirement.
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| English 1 | ||
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
| ENGL 112 | English Composition II-GTCO2 | 3 |
| Mathematics 1 | ||
| MATH 110 | Mathematical Investigations-GTMA1 (or higher) | 3 |
| History | ||
| Select one History course | 3 | |
| Humanities | ||
| Select one Humanities course | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | ||
| Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences course | 3 | |
| Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences course | 3 | |
| Fine Arts | ||
| Select one Fine Arts course | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences | ||
| Select one Natural Sciences course with a lab | 4 | |
| Select one Natural Sciences course | 3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 31 | |
- 1
Must receive a grade of “C” or better and must be completed by the time the student has 60 semester hours.
Other Lower Division Requirements
(7 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness Requirements | ||
| KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
| Select one KINA Activity course | 1 | |
| KINA 112 | Hiking | 1 |
| or OREC 105 | Backpacking | |
| Essential Learning Capstone 1 | ||
| ESSL 290 | Maverick Milestone | 3 |
| ESSL 200 | Essential Speech | 1 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 7 | |
- 1
Essential Learning Capstone must be taken after completion of the Essential Learning English and Mathematics requirements and when a student has earned between 45 and 75 hours.
Foundation Courses
(10 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two consecutive courses in the same foreign language | 6 | |
| STAT 215 | Statistics for Social and Behavioral Sciences | 4 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 10 | |
Program Specific Degree Requirements
(48 semester hours. Must complete with a grade of 'C' or higher.)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Core Courses | ||
| ANTH 202 | Introduction to Anthropology-GTSS3 | 3 |
| ANTH 220 | Principles of Archaeology-GTSS3 | 3 |
| ANTH 231 & 231L | Survey of Biological Anthropology-GTSS3 and Survey of Biological Anthropology Laboratory-GTSS3 | 4 |
| ANTH 420 & 420L | Field Methods in Archaeology and Field Methods in Archaeology Laboratory | 5 |
| GEOG 102 | Human Geography-GTSS2 | 3 |
| GEOG 131 | Introduction to Cartography | 3 |
| GEOG 341 & 341L | GIS for Social Scientists and GIS for Social Scientists Lab | 3 |
| GIST 332 & 332L | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Laboratory | 3 |
| Applied Anthropology and Geography Electives | ||
| Select 15 semester hours from the following: | 15 | |
| Paleoindian Archaeology | ||
| Colorado Archaeology: A Geographical Perspective | ||
| Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Anthropology Laboratory | ||
| Indigenous Cultures of North America | ||
| Topics | ||
| Cultural Resource Management | ||
| Southwest Archaeology | ||
| Field Research in Archaeology | ||
| Archaeological Laboratory Methods | ||
| Professional Issues in Forensic Science | ||
| Internship | ||
| Internship | ||
| Political Geography | ||
GEOG 399 Internship | ||
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Select 6 semester hours from the following: | 6 | |
| World Prehistory-GTSS3 | ||
| North American Archaeology | ||
| Death and Forensic Science and Death and Forensic Science Laboratory | ||
| Topics | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory | ||
| Pathophysiology | ||
| Human Osteology and Human Osteology Laboratory | ||
| Crime Scene Processing and Crime Scene Processing Laboratory | ||
| World Regional Geography-GTSS2 | ||
| Introduction to Remote Sensing and Introduction to Remote Sensing Laboratory | ||
| Global Positioning Systems for GIS and Global Positioning Systems for GIS Laboratory | ||
| American Indian History | ||
| Material Culture Studies | ||
| Classical Archaeology | ||
| Indigenous Politics | ||
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 48 | |
General Electives
(All college level courses appearing on your final transcript not listed above that will bring your total semester hours to 120 hours, including 40 upper division hours. 24 semester hours, including 8-14 semester hours of upper division may be needed.)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select electives | 24 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 24 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Semester Credit Hours | |
| ANTH 202 | Introduction to Anthropology-GTSS3 | 3 |
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
| GEOG 102 | Human Geography-GTSS2 | 3 |
| KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
| Essential Learning - Natural Sciences w/Lab | 4 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ANTH 220 | Principles of Archaeology-GTSS3 | 3 |
| ENGL 112 | English Composition II-GTCO2 | 3 |
| MATH 110 | Mathematical Investigations-GTMA1 | 3 |
| Essential Learning - Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Essential Learning - History | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ANTH 231 & 231L | Survey of Biological Anthropology-GTSS3 and Survey of Biological Anthropology Laboratory-GTSS3 | 4 |
| GEOG 131 | Introduction to Cartography | 3 |
| Essential Learning - Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 3 | |
| KINA Activity Course | 1 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ESSL 290 | Maverick Milestone | 3 |
| ESSL 200 | Essential Speech | 1 |
| GIST 332 & 332L | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Laboratory | 3 |
| Essential Learning - Humanities | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Applied Anthropology and Geography Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| STAT 215 | Statistics for Social and Behavioral Sciences | 4 |
| GEOG 341 & 341L | GIS for Social Scientists and GIS for Social Scientists Lab | 3 |
| Applied Anthropology and Geography Elective | 3 | |
| Essential Learning - Natural Sciences | 3 | |
| Essential Learning - Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ANTH 420 & 420L | Field Methods in Archaeology and Field Methods in Archaeology Laboratory | 5 |
| KINA 112 or OREC 105 | Hiking or Backpacking | 1 |
| Applied Anthropology and Geography Elective | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Applied Anthropology and Geography Elective | 3 | |
| General Electives | 9 | |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Applied Anthropology and Geography Electives | 3 | |
| General Electives | 12 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
Advising Process and DegreeWorks
Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a degree. The suggested course sequencing outlines how students could finish degree requirements. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters, while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and altering the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended degree(s).
DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a degree and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Process
Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their degree requirements:
- Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
- Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
- Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
- Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.
Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found at http://www.coloradomesa.edu/registrar/graduation.html.
If a student’s petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to consult the Registrar’s Office regarding next steps.