Best Anthropology Programs in Arkansas for 2027

Arkansas gives you two ways into anthropology. The BA is for students who want to specialize in archaeology, biological anthropology or cultural anthropology, and the department recommends the BS for anyone planning on medical or dental school. The BA plan opens with Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Introduction to Archaeology and Introduction to Biological Anthropology with its lab. Later you take an upper-level course in each subfield, add geographical area courses, and close out the fourth year with History of Anthropological Thought. The 31 degrees awarded in 2023–24 make it one of the larger programs on its state page.

Degree Options

BA for subfield specialization, BS recommended for medical or dental school

Subfield Coursework

Upper-level cultural, biological and archaeology courses plus geographical area courses

Senior-Year Course

History of Anthropological Thought

Program Sources: Undergraduate | Anthropology | University of ArkansasAnthropology B.A.

UA Little Rock’s Anthropology BA builds a 14-hour foundation from Biological Anthropology, Understanding Cultures, an archaeology course (Archaeology or Buried Cities, Ancient Lives), Anthropological Theory and a one-hour Senior Seminar. The other 18 hours are upper-level electives, and six of those can come from outside the department with approval. The elective list includes Ethnographic Methods, Archaeological Investigation, Archaeological Field Research, Forensic Anthropology with its lab, Primatology and Linguistic Anthropology. You also complete up to six hours of second-language study. Ten students graduated with it in 2023–24.

Foundation Courses

Biological Anthropology, Understanding Cultures, Archaeology, Anthropological Theory and Senior Seminar

Elective Options

Ethnographic methods, archaeological field research, forensic anthropology, primatology, linguistic anthropology

Language Study

Up to 6 hours of a second language

Program Sources: Anthropology, B.A.Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology - Anthropology - UA Little Rock

Central Arkansas’s Anthropology BS is a 33-hour major with a five-course required core: Introduction to Anthropology, Social Statistics, Qualitative Research Methods, Anthropological Theory and a senior Seminar. You then fill 18 hours with electives such as Biological Anthropology, Approaches to Archaeology, Museum Anthropology, Food and Culture, Field Archaeology, Myths and Moundbuilders or an Anthropology Travel Seminar. A minor is part of the degree, and the department encourages internships with local agencies in your junior or senior year. The department graduated 5 majors in 2023–24.

Required Core

Intro to Anthropology, Social Statistics, Qualitative Research Methods, Anthropological Theory and Seminar

Elective Options

Archaeology, museum, food and culture, travel seminar and field archaeology courses

Internships

Encouraged with local agencies in the junior or senior year

Program Sources: Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology - Undergraduate Bulletin 2026-2027Anthropology Degree - Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology

At Hendrix you study anthropology as an emphasis inside a joint Sociology/Anthropology major. The anthropology emphasis is twelve courses, six core and six electives, with Introduction to Cultural Anthropology and Introduction to Archaeology and Physical Anthropology at the front. You then pick a methods or theory course such as Ethnographic Methods, take a statistics course, and choose between Advanced Research Practicum and Advanced Research and Writing. Four of your electives are anthropology and two are sociology. The senior thesis is written and then defended orally, which makes the capstone a public exercise.

Methods Choice

Ethnographic Methods, Sociological Research Methods or Social Theory

Senior Capstone

Thesis through Advanced Research Practicum or Advanced Research and Writing, defended orally

Elective Mix

Four anthropology courses and two sociology courses

Program Sources: Sociology/Anthropology | Hendrix College

Lyon College’s anthropology program has you cover cultural, biological and linguistic anthropology early, through Biological Anthropology, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Inequality in the Ancient World and Language and Culture. Research training comes from Ethnographic Methods, and the major finishes with a Senior Seminar. Hands-on options include a 3 to 6 credit Archaeology Field School, Archaeological Artifact Analysis and Forensic Anthropology. Electives range from Borders and Boundaries to Indigenous Knowledge in the Americas and Cultural Resource Management. Only 1 student finished the degree in 2023–24, among the smallest cohorts on its state page.

Core Courses

Biological Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Inequality in the Ancient World, Language and Culture

Research and Capstone

Ethnographic Methods and Senior Seminar

Field Options

Archaeology Field School, 3 to 6 credits

Program Sources: Anthropology | Lyon College Catalog

Arkansas’s Anthropology PhD asks for 24 graduate hours beyond the MA and 18 hours of dissertation research, along with competence in a language other than English. You specialize in cultural anthropology, archaeology or biological anthropology, take that subfield’s 5000-level Method and Theory course, and add a core course in each of the other two subfields. Written and oral qualifying exams come next, then a dissertation proposal defense, which must happen within one semester of the written exams. No more than six hours from outside the department count toward the coursework. Five doctorates were conferred in 2023–24.

Subfield Training

Method and Theory in your subfield plus a core course in each of the other two

Language Requirement

Demonstrated competence in a language other than English

Milestones

Written and oral qualifying exams, proposal defense, dissertation defense

Program Sources: PhD Program | Anthropology | University of Arkansas