Best Anthropology Programs in Iowa for 2027

Iowa’s Anthropology BA starts with three foundational courses: Cultural Anthropology, World Archaeology and Human Origins. You then pick three global challenges courses, one comparative human experience course such as Food, Drink, and Culture or The Anthropology of Aging, and one people-in-places course, from Native Peoples of North America to Egyptian Archaeology. Practicum and methods training is built in, with options including Archaeological Methods, Using Ethnographic Methods, Human Osteology, Field Research in Archaeology and an anthropology internship. Two optional tracks, archaeology and medical anthropology, add 15 semester hours of focused study, and approved field schools at other institutions can count toward the major.

Foundations

Cultural Anthropology, World Archaeology and Human Origins

Practicum and Methods

Archaeological, ethnographic, osteology and field research options, plus internships

Optional Tracks

Archaeology or medical anthropology, 15 semester hours each

Program Sources: Anthropology, BA | University of Iowa General CatalogAnthropology, BA | University of Iowa General Catalog

At Iowa State you earn the anthropology major as a BA or a BS, with the same 36 credits of anthropology either way. Six core courses cover Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Human Origins, Culture and Interpretation, Biological Anthropology, Archaeology and Approaches in Anthropology, and you add one methods course: Skeletal Biology, Archaeological Discovery and Analysis or Ethnographic Methods. Fifteen choice credits let you pull from options such as Great Plains Archaeology, Environmental Anthropology and a Biological Field School. Everyone also completes a minor or a second major, and the plan of study recommends a summer field school or internship.

Methods Choice

Skeletal Biology, Archaeological Discovery and Analysis or Ethnographic Methods

Capstone Course

Approaches in Anthropology

Minor Requirement

A minor or second major completed alongside the 36 anthropology credits

Program Sources: Anthropology | Iowa State University CatalogAnthropology | Iowa State University Catalog

Grinnell’s anthropology major asks for 32 credits, and only two courses are named outright: Anthropological Inquiries and Theories of Culture. You add one methods course, such as Archaeological Methods, Ethnographic Research Methods or Applied Research for Community Development, and one 200- or 300-level class in three of the four subfields. Advanced work is two 300-level courses, or one plus a senior thesis, which you plan through an independent study the semester before. Statistics and a year of a non-English language are also required. The department strongly recommends field research, through summer field schools or off-campus study, or an internship.

Core Courses

Anthropological Inquiries and Theories of Culture, plus one methods course

Subfield Coverage

One class from three of archaeology, biological, cultural and linguistic anthropology

Advanced Work

Two 300-level courses, or one plus a senior thesis

Program Sources: Anthropology Major and Requirements | Grinnell CollegeAnthropology Major and Requirements | Grinnell College

Luther’s anthropology major rests on five core courses: 100-level introductions to the four subfields of cultural, biological, archaeological and linguistic anthropology, 200-level research methods courses, and ANTH 485, which the catalog calls the bookend for the major, where you practice problem solving and discern career opportunities. Eight anthropology courses are required, including at least three electives, two of them at the 300 level or above, plus two correlative courses drawn from areas such as art, English and environmental studies. Majors are encouraged to have a field experience, through regular courses, an internship or study abroad.

Core Sequence

Subfield introductions, research methods courses and ANTH 485

Electives

At least three, two at the 300 level or above

Field Experience

Encouraged through courses, an internship or study abroad

Program Sources: BA.ANTH Program | Luther College CatalogBA.ANTH Program | Luther College Catalog

Candidacy at Iowa comes through a sequence: you build reading lists, submit research proposals to funding agencies, write and defend a dissertation prospectus, and write two comprehensive exam essays before advancing to candidacy. The plan of study calls for 72 semester hours of graduate coursework, including a required theory course, Anthropological Data Analysis and a language competency requirement. If you arrive with a master’s degree in anthropology or a related field, faculty design an individualized program from your existing coursework and goals. You can add an optional concentration in feminist anthropology, and first-time teaching assistants take a graduate teaching pro-seminar.

Candidacy Steps

Reading lists, funding proposals, two comprehensive exam essays and a dissertation prospectus

Required Courses

Theory course, Anthropological Data Analysis and language competency

Concentration

Optional feminist anthropology concentration

Program Sources: Anthropology, PhD | University of Iowa General CatalogAnthropology, PhD | University of Iowa General Catalog