Best Anthropology Programs in South Carolina for 2027

South Carolina’s anthropology BA has you sample all four subfields: one course each in biological anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology and sociocultural anthropology, with choices ranging from Human Osteology to Southeastern Archaeology to Ethnography of Communication. Fifteen hours of major electives follow, including at least one 500-level course. You also complete a 12-hour cognate or a minor, and the department offers a medical anthropology minor. A separate route, the B.A. with Distinction, adds a senior thesis, a fieldschool, laboratory, practicum or methodology course, and a public presentation. This program ranks first on the South Carolina page, with 28 degrees awarded in 2023–24.

Subfield Requirement

One course each in biological anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology and sociocultural anthropology

Major Electives

15 hours, including one 500-level course

Distinction Route

Senior thesis, 3.30 GPA and a public presentation

Program Sources: Anthropology, B.A. < University of South CarolinaAnthropology, B.A. < University of South Carolina

Charleston’s anthropology program covers biological anthropology, archaeology, anthropological linguistics and cultural anthropology, and the city itself is part of the lab. Students and faculty recently dug under the Heyward-Washington house (1772), and you can do your own research in the Archaeology and Biological Anthropology Laboratory. Internships have placed students with the H.L. Hunley Project, Charles Towne Landing and the Medical University of South Carolina’s Department of Pathology. Your senior project can be a senior seminar, an advanced research methods course, a bachelor’s essay or a field research project. The program awarded 19 degrees in 2023–24 and ranks second in South Carolina.

Subdisciplines

Biological anthropology, archaeology, anthropological linguistics and cultural anthropology

Hands-On Learning

Field school or internship, locally or abroad

Senior Project

Senior seminar, research methods course, bachelor’s essay or field research project

Program Sources: College of Charleston | AnthropologyCollege of Charleston | Anthropology

Clemson offers anthropology as either a BA or a BS, and both start with an introductory course, coursework in cultural and biological anthropology and archaeology, and an anthropological theory course. The distinctive piece is a practicing anthropology requirement: you apply what you have learned on a study abroad trip, in a field school, through a faculty-guided research project or in a similar hands-on experience. Coursework includes ethnographic writing, statistical analysis and GIS mapping, and students are encouraged to present original research at professional conferences. Electives come from anthropology, biology and modern languages, and the BS adds math courses. Clemson awarded 13 degrees in 2023–24 and ranks third in South Carolina.

Practicing Anthropology

Study abroad, field school, faculty-guided research or similar hands-on experience

Skills Built

Ethnographic writing, statistical analysis and GIS mapping

Degree Options

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science

Program Sources: Anthropology Degrees at Clemson UniversityAnthropology Degrees at Clemson University

Coastal Carolina combines anthropology with geography in one B.A., and the anthropology concentration puts 12 credits of upper-level ANTH courses ahead of 6 credits in GEOG. The shared foundation includes Primates, People and Prehistory, Understanding Other Cultures and Cultures and Environments, plus a required theory course on culture and place. You pick 6 credits of methods from options such as ethnographic methods, prehistoric or historical archaeology field schools, archaeological field research, forensic archaeology and GIS, then finish with a capstone in anthropology and geography. A cognate or minor completes the degree. Ten students finished it in 2023–24, and Coastal ranks fourth on the South Carolina page.

Concentration

12 credits of ANTH courses numbered 302 or higher plus 6 credits of GEOG

Methods Options

Ethnographic methods, archaeology field schools, forensic archaeology, GIS and internships

Capstone

ANGE 498, Capstone in Anthropology and Geography

Program Sources: Anthropology and Geography: Anthropology Concentration, B.A.Anthropology and Geography: Anthropology Concentration, B.A.

Furman’s anthropology major is small by design, and its page notes that 70% of majors double major and 63% study away. The B.A. covers cultural anthropology, linguistics and archaeology, with faculty who work in regions such as Africa, Central America, Japan and India. Through affiliate programs, students have joined archaeological fieldwork in China and Peru. Closer to campus, student research has looked at the archaeology of Furman’s campus, race and ethnicity in sororities, psychics in Greenville, South Carolina, and the impact of technology on Gen Z. Six students graduated in 2023–24, and Furman ranks fifth on the South Carolina page.

Fields Covered

Cultural, linguistic and archaeological anthropology

Study Away

63% of anthropology majors study away

Student Research

Campus archaeology, sororities, psychics in Greenville and technology use among Gen Z

Program Sources: Anthropology Major | Furman UniversityAnthropology Major | Furman University

The South Carolina anthropology PhD asks for 30 hours beyond the master’s, and 12 of those are dissertation preparation. You take Anthropological Inquiry, one pathway course from archaeology, biological, cultural or linguistic anthropology, and one graduate course in another department. Candidacy comes after a written and oral exam, a demonstration of two research skills, such as a foreign language, statistical application or visual anthropology methods, and a defended dissertation prospectus, usually by the end of the first or second year in the program. Students who complete 33 hours of coursework can earn a master’s along the way. Two doctorates were awarded in 2023–24, and the program ranks first on the state page.

Credit Requirement

30 post-master’s hours, including 12 of dissertation preparation

Candidacy

Written and oral exam, two research skills and a dissertation prospectus defense

Pathway Course

One each from archaeology, biological, cultural or linguistic anthropology

Program Sources: Anthropology, Ph.D. < University of South CarolinaAnthropology, Ph.D. < University of South Carolina