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BA in Anthropology

Shorelight - American University, United States
BA in Anthropology
Next enrollment cycle December 2023 See all cycles
First Year Fee KES 8,182,995
Course Accredited By MSCHE
4 Years On Campus Undergraduate Degree Up to 30% scholarship

In the Department of Anthropology at American University, our collective mission is to do public anthropology in the service of social justice.

  • Our faculty and students work against racism, sexism, environmental degradation, speciesism, social discriminations, class oppression, forced community displacements, and much else. We marshal the professional rigor, the tools and methods, and the theoretical perspectives of anthropology to contribute to real progressive change in the world.

Enrollment Cycles

  • December 2023
  • March 2024
  • July 2024

Entry Requirements

  • Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)
  • Undergraduate AAP 2 Terms B-/8
  • Undergraduate AAPA 2 Terms B-/8
  • Undergraduate EAP 3 Terms B-/8

Bachelor's Degree

  • Undergraduate PS AAP 2 Terms Second Class Honours, Lower C Satisfactory, 55%
  • Undergraduate PS AAPA 2 Terms Second Class Honours, Lower C Satisfactory, 55%
  • Undergraduate PS EAP 3 Terms Second Class Honours, Lower C Satisfactory, 55%

English Requirements Certificate

IELTS

  • PSE (2 Terms) 4.5
  • PSE (1 Term) 5
  • EAP (3 Terms) 5.5 no sub-score below 5.0
  • AAP (2 Terms) 6 With no sub-score below 5.5
  • AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 6.5 With at least one sub-score of 5.5 and no sub- score below 5.5
  • SE (1 Term) 6.5 no sub-score below 6

TOEFL

  • PSE (2 Terms) 50 – 59
  • PSE (1 Term) 60 – 67
  • EAP (3 Terms) 68 no sub-score below 14
  • AAP (2 Terms) 74 with all sub-scores above 15 and at least one sub-score below 20
  • AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 80 with at least one sub-score below 20 but above 17 (minimum subscore required).
  • SE (1 Term) 85 No sub-score below 20

Duolingo

  • PSE (2 Terms) 70
  • PSE (1 Term) 80
  • EAP (3 Terms) 90 No sub-score below 80 (subscores effective Fall 21)
  • AAP (2 Terms) 100 No sub-score below 90 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
  • AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 110 No sub-score below 100 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
  • SE (1 Term) NA

Uganda

  •  Advanced Certificate of Education with a minimum of 2 Principal Passing grades of D or higher and at least 1 subsidiary pass in a college preparatory subject. In addition, Uganda Certificate of Education with a C (7) average or higher or General Certificate of Education Level (O Level)
  • Examination Certificate with 5 academic subjects passed is required
  • Undergraduate AAP 2 Terms B5 and C's (2)
  • Undergraduate AAPA 2 Terms B5 C's (2)
  • Undergraduate EAP 3 Terms B5 C's (2)
  • Bachelor's degree, including Bachelor of Medicine or Bachelor of Surgery; Postgraduate and professional diploma or certificate
  • Undergraduate PS AAP 2 Terms 70, Class 2 Honors Upper
  • Undergraduate PS AAPA 2 Terms 70, Class 2 Honors Upper
  • Undergraduate PS EAP 3 Terms 70, Class 2 Honors Upper

English Requirements Certificate

IELTS

  • PSE (2 Terms) 4.5
  • PSE (1 Term) 5
  • EAP (3 Terms) 5.5 no sub-score below 5.0
  • AAP (2 Terms) 6 With no sub-score below 5.5
  • AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 6.5 With at least one sub-score of 5.5 and no sub- score below 5.5
  • SE (1 Term) 6.5 no sub-score below 6

TOEFL

  • PSE (2 Terms) 50 – 59
  • PSE (1 Term) 60 – 67
  • EAP (3 Terms) 68 no sub-score below 14
  • AAP (2 Terms) 74 with all sub-scores above 15 and at least one sub-score below 20
  • AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 80 with at least one sub-score below 20 but above 17 (minimum subscore required).
  • SE (1 Term) 85 No sub-score below 20

Duolingo

  • PSE (2 Terms) 70
  • PSE (1 Term) 80
  • EAP (3 Terms) 90 No sub-score below 80 (subscores effective Fall 21)
  • AAP (2 Terms) 100 No sub-score below 90 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
  • AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 110 No sub-score below 100 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
  • SE (1 Term) NA

TANZANIA

  • Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)
  • Undergraduate AAP 2 Terms D/4
  • Undergraduate AAPA 2 Terms D/4
  • Undergraduate EAP 3 Terms D/4

English Requirements Certificate

  • IELTS
  • PSE (2 Terms) 4.5
  • PSE (1 Term) 5
  • EAP (3 Terms) 5.5 no sub-score below 5.0
  • AAP (2 Terms) 6 With no sub-score below 5.5
  • AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 6.5 With at least one sub-score of 5.5 and no sub- score below 5.5
  • SE (1 Term) 6.5 no sub-score below 6

TOEFL

  • PSE (2 Terms) 50 – 59
  • PSE (1 Term) 60 – 67
  • EAP (3 Terms) 68 no sub-score below 14
  • AAP (2 Terms) 74 with all sub-scores above 15 and at least one sub-score below 20
  • AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 80 with at least one sub-score below 20 but above 17 (minimum subscore required).
  • SE (1 Term) 85 No sub-score below 20

Duolingo

  • PSE (2 Terms) 70
  • PSE (1 Term) 80
  • EAP (3 Terms) 90 No sub-score below 80 (subscores effective Fall 21)
  • AAP (2 Terms) 100 No sub-score below 90 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
  • AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 110 No sub-score below 100 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
  • SE (1 Term) NA

United Kingdom

  • Undergraduate AAP 2 Terms GCE
  • Undergraduate AAPA 2 Terms GCE
  • Undergraduate EAP 3 Terms GCE
  • Bachelor's degree; Diploma in Technology or Technological Engineering or Arts and Design
  • Undergraduate PS AAP 2 Terms 60, Second Class (lower division)
  • Undergraduate PS AAPA 2 Terms 60, Second Class (lower division)
  • Undergraduate PS EAP 3 Terms 60, Second Class (lower division)

English Requirements Certificate

IELTS

  • PSE (2 Terms) 4.5
  • PSE (1 Term) 5
  • EAP (3 Terms) 5.5 no sub-score below 5.0
  • AAP (2 Terms) 6 With no sub-score below 5.5
  • AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 6.5 With at least one sub-score of 5.5 and no sub- score below 5.5
  • SE (1 Term) 6.5 no sub-score below 6

TOEFL

  • PSE (2 Terms) 50 – 59
  • PSE (1 Term) 60 – 67
  • EAP (3 Terms) 68 no sub-score below 14
  • AAP (2 Terms) 74 with all sub-scores above 15 and at least one sub-score below 20
  • AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 80 with at least one sub-score below 20 but above 17 (minimum subscore required).
  • SE (1 Term) 85 No sub-score below 20

Duolingo

  • PSE (2 Terms) 70
  • PSE (1 Term) 80
  • EAP (3 Terms) 90 No sub-score below 80 (subscores effective Fall 21)
  • AAP (2 Terms) 100 No sub-score below 90 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
  • AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 110 No sub-score below 100 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
  • SE (1 Term) NA

GCSE/IGCSE/GCE O-LEVEL

  • 5 College Preparatory subjects passed; Students must also meet the GCE A/AS Level requirement after completing IGCSEs
  • Undergraduate AAP 2 Terms C or 4
  • Undergraduate EAP 3 Terms C or 4
  • 5 College Preparatory subjects must be passed; Students must also meet the GCE A/AS Level requirement after completing IGCSEs
  • Undergraduate AAPA 2 Terms C or 4

English Requirements Certificate

IELTS

  • PSE (2 Terms) 4.5
  • PSE (1 Term) 5
  • EAP (3 Terms) 5.5 no sub-score below 5.0
  • AAP (2 Terms) 6 With no sub-score below 5.5
  • AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 6.5 With at least one sub-score of 5.5 and no sub- score below 5.5
  • SE (1 Term) 6.5 no sub-score below 6

TOEFL

  • PSE (2 Terms) 50 – 59
  • PSE (1 Term) 60 – 67
  • EAP (3 Terms) 68 no sub-score below 14
  • AAP (2 Terms) 74 with all sub-scores above 15 and at least one sub-score below 20
  • AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 80 with at least one sub-score below 20 but above 17 (minimum subscore required).
  • SE (1 Term) 85 No sub-score below 20

Duolingo

  • PSE (2 Terms) 70
  • PSE (1 Term) 80
  • EAP (3 Terms) 90 No sub-score below 80 (subscores effective Fall 21)
  • AAP (2 Terms) 100 No sub-score below 90 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
  • AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 110 No sub-score below 100 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
  • SE (1 Term) NA

Anthropology (BA)
Admission to the Program

  • Formal admission to the major by the department's undergraduate studies director requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) and a grade point average of 2.00 or higher in two anthropology courses.

University Requirements

  • 120 credit hours with minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 2)
  • Completion of all requirements for a major (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 9)

AU Core Requirements

  • Completion of AU Core foundation requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.2-8.6)
  • Completion of AU Core Habits of Mind requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.7)
  • Completion of AU Core integrative course requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.8-8.11)
  • For additional information, see AU Core Curriculum.

Major Requirements

  • 48 credit hours with grades of C or better, including at least 27 credit hours at or above 300-level

Course Requirements

Core (21 credit hours)

  • ANTH-250 Human Origins FA5 (3)
  • ANTH-251 Anthropological Theory (3)
  • ANTH-253 Introduction to Archaeology (3)
  • ANTH-254 Language and Culture (3)
  • ANTH-439 Culture, History, Power, Place (3)
  • ANTH-440 Contemporary Ethnographies (3)
  • ANTH-452 Anthropological Research Methods (3)

Fieldwork (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

Note: Other fieldwork, including study abroad programs or community service-learning projects, may be used with advisor approval.

  • ANTH-491 Internship in Anthropology (1-6) (3 credit hours required)
  • ANTH-550 Ethnographic Field Methods (3)
  • ANTH-560 Summer Field School: Archaeology (1-9) (3 credit hours required)

Capstone (3 credit hours)

  • ANTH-453 Senior Seminar in Anthropology (3)

Electives (21 credit hours)

Complete 21 credit hours from the following, with a minimum of 12 credit hours at or above 300-level:

  • ANTH-110 Culture and Power FA3 (3)
    or ANTH-150 Anthropology of Life in the United States FA4 (3)
  • ANTH-210 Race and Racism FA3 (3)
  • ANTH-215 Sex, Gender, and Culture FA3 (3)
  • ANTH-220 Living in Multicultural Societies FA3 (3)
  • ANTH-225 Language and Human Experience FA1 (3)
  • ANTH-235 The Buried History of the United States FA2 (3)
  • ANTH-331 Taboos (3)
  • ANTH-334 Environmental Justice (3)
  • ANTH-337 Anthropology of Genocide (3)
  • ANTH-350 Special Topics (3)
  • ANTH-421 Health Geographies (3)
  • ANTH-422 Neoliberal Globalization and Health (3)
  • ANTH-423 Militarization and Health (3)
  • ANTH-424 Science, Technology and Health (3)
  • ANTH-425 Health, Care, and Social Movements (3)
  • ANTH-442 Public Anthropology (3)
  • ANTH-498 Senior Thesis in Anthropology (1-6)
  • ANTH-531 Topics in Archaeology (3)
  • ANTH-534 Class and Culture (3)
  • ANTH-535 Ethnicity and Nationalism (3)
  • ANTH-537 Topics in Language and Culture (3)
  • ANTH-543 Anthropology of Development (3)
  • ANTH-544 Topics in Public Anthropology (3)

Interested in this course?

Our Admissions Counsellors would love to assist!