Best Anthropology Programs in Virginia for 2027

James Madison's Anthropology B.A. takes 41 credit hours in the major, and the B.A. degree adds an intermediate-level foreign language and a philosophy course. Everyone takes Cultural Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Archaeology, The Discipline of Anthropology, and Anthropological Theory. In the general concentration you then choose one methods seminar: Ethnographic Genres and Methods, Methods and Research Perspectives in Biological Anthropology, or Archaeology: Methods of Analysis and Interpretation. Concentrations in archaeology, biological anthropology, and cultural anthropology are also available. Faculty-run field schools, independent research in ANTH 486, and course assistantships give you hands-on work outside regular classes.

Methods Seminar

ANTH 435, 445, or 455

Concentrations

General, Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, or Cultural Anthropology

Hands-On Options

Field schools, independent research, and course assistantships

Program Sources: Anthropology, B.A. | James Madison University Academic CatalogAnthropology Major - JMU

Anthropology at Virginia spans socio-cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistics and biological anthropology. The faculty includes three archaeologists working in South America, the Middle East and Africa, and four linguists. With over 100 majors and minors, the department stays small enough for students to join faculty on ethnographic and linguistic research or archaeological field and lab work. If graduate school is the goal, a BA/MA path can finish both degrees in five years, and students usually apply in the spring of third year. Majors and minors are also encouraged to study abroad.

Subfields

Socio-cultural, archaeology, linguistics and biological anthropology

BA/MA Option

Both degrees in as little as five years

Student Research

Ethnographic, linguistic and archaeological field and lab work with faculty

Program Sources: Undergraduate Degree Programs | Department of AnthropologyUndergraduate Degree Programs | Department of Anthropology

William & Mary’s anthropology B.A. totals 33 credits: Contemporary Problems in Anthropological Perspective, History of Anthropological Theories, one course each in archaeology, sociocultural anthropology and biological anthropology, 14 elective credits and a four-credit Senior Seminar. Every major also takes a course with a methods attribute. The department runs historical archaeology programs and sponsors summer field schools, and one six-credit field school, Archaeological Field Methods or Advanced Archaeology Methods, can count toward the 33. History of Anthropological Theories meets the major computing requirement and the Senior Seminar meets the major writing requirement.

Core Courses

Contemporary Problems, anthropological theories, and a Senior Seminar

Subfield Breadth

One course each in archaeology, sociocultural and biological anthropology

Field School

One six-credit field school can count toward the major

Program Sources: The Anthropology Program | William & Mary Catalog

VCU’s anthropology degree is a B.S. built on a core spanning Biological Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Anthropological Linguistics, Human Evolution and Archaeological Theory, followed by a Junior Seminar, Theory in Cultural Anthropology and a Senior Capstone. You pick two methods courses from archaeological methods, field methods in cultural anthropology, or language, culture and cognition. At least 25 credits must be upper-level anthropology. Eligible majors can write an honors thesis across the last two semesters of senior year and present it orally to a committee. Every School of World Studies student also completes a World ePass experiential portfolio.

Core Sequence

Four-field introductions, Junior Seminar, cultural theory and Senior Capstone

Methods Requirement

Two of archaeological methods, cultural field methods, or language, culture and cognition

Honors Thesis

ANTH 497 and 498 over two senior-year semesters

Program Sources: Anthropology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) | VCU BulletinAnthropology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) | VCU Bulletin

Mason’s anthropology BA starts with three required introductions, ANTH 114, 120 and 135, then opens into upper-division courses in cultural anthropology, archaeology and biological anthropology. Majors complete a methods course, either ANTH 386 or ANTH 450 in alternating fall terms, and ANTH 490 as the writing-intensive course each spring. Hands-on options include fieldwork in bioarchaeology, archaeology and museum-based research, plus internships you can turn into credit through ANTH 495. Being near Washington, DC puts the Smithsonian museums within reach, and a Bachelors/Accelerated Masters route is open if you want the MA sooner.

Required Introductions

ANTH 114, ANTH 120 and ANTH 135

Methods and Writing

ANTH 386 or 450, then writing-intensive ANTH 490

Accelerated Option

Bachelors/Accelerated Masters (BAM) program

Program Sources: Sociology and Anthropology | Programs: BA in AnthropologySociology and Anthropology | Programs: BA in Anthropology

Radford calls its program Anthropological Sciences and offers it as a BA or BS with four concentrations: General Anthropology, Archaeology, Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology. Archaeology adds lab techniques and archaeological culture areas, bioarchaeology centers on human skeletal analysis, and the forensic concentration is preprofessional training for graduate study of recent unidentified remains. Faculty research includes archaeological work in historic and prehistoric Virginia and projects in Bolivia and the Solomon Islands, and you can develop your own research topic with a faculty member. It awarded 9 degrees in 2023–24.

Concentrations

General Anthropology, Archaeology, Bioarchaeology, Forensic Anthropology

Degree Types

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science

Faculty Research

Virginia, Bolivia and the Solomon Islands

Program Sources: Anthropological Sciences | Radford UniversityAnthropological Sciences | Radford University

Longwood leans hard into archaeology. The Dr. James W. Jordan Archaeology Field School is a four-week summer course (ANTH 296) that students have taken for about 40 years. Before it, you can take Archaeology, Archaeology Laboratory Methods with real artifacts, and Advanced Archaeology, where the class builds a research design and collects data over several weekends. Through the Institute of Archaeology, ten students are accepted as paid Advanced Field Researchers for eight weeks, and two more work as research associates on an article for a peer-reviewed journal. With 5 degrees awarded in 2023–24, expect a small cohort.

Field School

Four-week ANTH 296 summer course

Lab and Design Courses

Archaeology Laboratory Methods and Advanced Archaeology

Paid Research

Summer field researchers and fall research associates through the Institute of Archaeology

Program Sources: Anthropology and Archaeology - Longwood University

Richmond’s anthropology major is ten units built around four named courses: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Field Methods in Ethnography, Cultural Theory and a Capstone Seminar. You need a C or better in both Field Methods and Cultural Theory before you can enroll in the capstone. The other six units come from anthropology or a short list that includes Introduction to Archaeology, geospatial analysis, introductory linguistics and anthropology of music. An approved experience of at least six weeks in a cultural environment different from your own also counts. No thesis is required, since only honors students write one.

Named Courses

Cultural Anthropology, Field Methods in Ethnography, Cultural Theory, Capstone Seminar

Cultural Immersion

Approved experience of six or more weeks counts toward the six additional units

Thesis

Required only for honors students

Program Sources: The Anthropology Major | University of RichmondThe Anthropology Major | University of Richmond

Mary Washington’s B.A. in Anthropology is 33 credits and shares a research spine with the Art History and Classical Studies majors. You take Archaeological Methods: From Dirt to Museum and Ethnographic Research Methods, then Arguments in Anthropology, Art History, Classical Studies, Senior Research and a Senior Project. Twelve elective credits in anthropology fill the middle, and one of them may be an archaeology course such as American Archaeology or Field Methods in Archaeology. The catalog encourages internships and research in museums, non-profits and businesses across Fredericksburg, Washington DC and Richmond.

Methods Courses

Archaeological Methods and Ethnographic Research Methods

Capstone Sequence

Senior Research followed by a Senior Project

Shared Core

Taught alongside Art History and Classical Studies majors

Program Sources: Anthropology | University of Mary Washington Academic Catalog

Virginia’s anthropology PhD moves in a set order. Year one is grounding in social theory through common and elective courses on the history of anthropology. In year two you write two essays reviewing the state of the field in the literatures behind your planned dissertation, and most students spend the summers after years one and two visiting their field area to test feasibility, make contacts and study local languages. Year three finishes coursework and produces your dissertation proposal and grant applications. Funded students then spend a year or more in the field. The department supports every incoming doctoral student with a six-year funding package.

Year-by-Year Path

Theory in year one, two literature essays in year two, proposal in year three

Field Preparation

Summer visits to field areas after years one and two

Training Focus

Grant writing and teaching experience

Program Sources: The PhD Degree Program | Department of Anthropology