Best Anthropology Programs in Connecticut for 2027

UConn’s Anthropology BA, based in Storrs, takes 39 to 40 credits. After one introductory course, you take Social Anthropology, Introduction to Archaeology and Human Evolution, then choose an ethnographic area course such as Contemporary Latin America, Indigenous Pacifics or Ethnohistory of Native New England. An information literacy requirement can be met with Field Research in Social Settings, Archaeobotany or Zooarchaeological Method and Theory, among others. Nine more anthropology credits finish the core, and department awards help pay for research and field training. The 2023–24 class had 17 graduates.

Required Core

Social Anthropology, Introduction to Archaeology and Human Evolution

Ethnographic Area

One course such as Contemporary Africa, The Caribbean or Indigenous Pacifics

Information Literacy

Field research, archaeobotany or zooarchaeology options

Program Sources: Anthropology (BA)Undergraduate Education | Department of Anthropology | University of Connecticut

Yale’s Anthropology major takes twelve course credits, with at least one introductory or intermediate course in each of three subfields and at least three advanced courses at the 3000 and 4000 level. You finish with a senior essay, written in an advanced seminar, where it runs 20 to 25 pages, or in ANTH 4091, with a yearlong option through ANTH 4071 and 4091. Alternative media are allowed when a written exposition of 10 to 15 pages goes with them. Up to three courses from other departments can count as cognates with approval, and the 2023–24 count was 8 degrees.

Subfield Distribution

One introductory or intermediate course in each of three subfields

Senior Essay

Advanced seminar paper or ANTH 4091, with a yearlong option

Advanced Courses

At least three at the 3000 to 4000 level

Program Sources: Anthropology < Yale University

Wesleyan’s Anthropology major runs through ANTH101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, where a B is the minimum grade for acceptance, and ANTH208 Crafting Ethnography. You then take two ANTH295 theory courses, electives numbered 201 or higher, and a capstone that can be a senior thesis through ANTH400 and ANTH410. Students in earlier classes chose a four-course concentration, such as Difference, Inequality, and Social Justice or Producing, Consuming, and Performing Culture, but the concentrations are being eliminated starting with the Class of 2028. Wesleyan conferred 10 in 2023–24.

Gateway Course

ANTH101, with a minimum grade of B for admission to the major

Theory Courses

Two courses from the ANTH295 series

Capstone

Senior thesis through ANTH400 and ANTH410, among other options

Program Sources: Anthropology Major

Trinity’s Anthropology major focuses on cultural anthropology and takes eleven courses. Four are core: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Ethnographic Methods and Writing, History of Anthropological Thought and an Advanced Seminar in Contemporary Anthropology. You add two ethnographic area courses and five electives in anthropology or cognate subjects, with at least one at the 300 level. The department supports internships, including one in the Connecticut Lieutenant Governor’s office, and urges a semester or two of study away. Honors candidates write a two-credit senior thesis, and 9 students finished the major in 2023–24.

Core Courses

Introduction, Ethnographic Methods and Writing, History of Thought, Advanced Seminar

Ethnographic Areas

Two courses on regions such as South Asia, the Caribbean or Britain and Ireland

Honors Thesis

Two-credit senior thesis for students with a B+ average in the major

Program Sources: ANTH - Anthropology MajorANTH - Anthropology Major

Connecticut College’s Anthropology major starts with three foundation courses: Archaeology or Material Legacies, Questioning Culture or Power and Inequality, and History of Anthropological Theory or Decolonizing Anthropology. You add six topical and methods-intensive courses, at least one of them a methods-intensive seminar, and an archaeology or ethnographic field school can fill that slot. Concentrations in Archaeology and Food Studies are optional. Students can join archaeological fieldwork on 750 acres of College-stewarded land, in consultation with the Mohegan Tribe, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation. Its 2023–24 cohort was 5 students.

Foundation Courses

Archaeology, Questioning Culture and Anthropological Theory, each with a first-year alternative

Methods Requirement

At least one methods-intensive seminar, which can be a field school

Concentrations

Archaeology or Food Studies, both optional

Program Sources: Anthropology MajorAnthropology

Southern Connecticut’s Anthropology BS is a 36-credit major built on Cultural Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Archaeology and the Human Past, and a choice between Language and Culture and American Tongues. A methods course comes next, with options such as Human Osteology, Stones and Bones, Ethnographic Fieldwork Methods and Methods in Archaeology. Every major then completes either a six-credit Anthropology Internship or six credits of Supervised Research. Concentrations in archaeology, biological, cultural and linguistics anthropology narrow the electives, and a 12-credit accelerated pathway lets strong seniors begin graduate coursework. Seven earned the degree in 2023–24.

Methods Choice

Human Osteology, Stones and Bones, Ethnographic Fieldwork Methods or Methods in Archaeology

Applied Requirement

Six-credit internship or six credits of supervised research

Concentrations

General, archaeology, biological, cultural or linguistics

Program Sources: Anthropology, B.S. - General

Eastern Connecticut’s Anthropology major has you pick a concentration, Cultural Anthropology or Archaeology, no later than sophomore year, and pair it with a complementary minor such as GIS, Public Health or Environmental Earth Science. The core runs from Biological Anthropology and Introduction to Archaeology to Anthropological Theory, Anthropological Research and an Anthropology Seminar. You also complete a field school or internship, and archaeological field schools are planned at Cahokia Mounds. Study abroad in Brazil is available with Eastern faculty. Two students earned it in 2023–24.

Concentrations

Cultural Anthropology or Archaeology, chosen by sophomore year

Field Requirement

One field school or internship worth 3 to 6 credits

Research Sequence

Anthropological Theory, Anthropological Research and Anthropology Seminar

Program Sources: Anthropology Major - Degree PlanAnthropology Major

The Anthropology BA at Central Connecticut State takes 38 to 39 credits, and a minor is required with it. You take Introduction to Archaeology, Biological Anthropology and Cultural Anthropology, then Theories of Culture and Anthropological Data Analysis. For methods you choose among Experimental Archaeology, Methods in Biological Anthropology and Field Research Methods. Majors add a four-credit cultural area course, then an independent study, internship, archaeological field school or cultural anthropology field school, and finish with a Senior Capstone. In 2023–24 the major produced 4 graduates.

Methods Choice

Experimental Archaeology, Methods in Biological Anthropology or Field Research Methods

Field Experience

Independent study, internship, or archaeological or cultural anthropology field school

Capstone

Senior Capstone, ANTH 490

Program Sources: Anthropology, B.A.

Yale's anthropology Ph.D. is organized around three subfields: archaeology, sociocultural and linguistic anthropology, and biological anthropology. You'll spend two years on coursework, twelve term courses in all, then sit qualifying exams and get a dissertation research prospectus approved before the end of your third year. The department expects the whole degree to take six years. Course requirements shift by subfield. Sociocultural students take three required courses plus four semesters of the half-credit Ethnography and Social Theory seminar, archaeology students take three required courses, and biological anthropology students plan their courses with their advisory committee. That committee also sets your language and statistics expectations. Combined Ph.D. options pair anthropology with Environment, Black Studies, or Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Candidacy Milestones

Twelve term courses, qualifying exams, and an approved prospectus by the end of year three

Combined Degrees

Anthropology paired with Environment, Black Studies, or Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Program Sources: Anthropology < Yale University

UConn’s Anthropology PhD takes students with or without a master’s degree. Those without one follow a joint MA/PhD track that adds 15 more course credits, for 30 coursework credits in all, plus a final MA exam. Specializations follow faculty strengths in archaeology, critical biocultural anthropology, cultural anthropology, environmental anthropology, evolution, cognition, and culture, human rights, and medical anthropology. You build a plan of study with your major advisor, then move through a comprehensive exam, a dissertation proposal, candidacy and an oral defense. Work can usually be finished in six or seven years, and the program produced 2 PhDs in 2023–24.

Specializations

Archaeology, biocultural, cultural, environmental and medical anthropology, human rights, and evolution and cognition

Joint Track

MA/PhD track with 30 coursework credits and a final MA exam

Doctoral Milestones

Comprehensive exam, dissertation proposal, candidacy and oral defense

Program Sources: Ph.D. in Anthropology | Department of Anthropology | University of Connecticut