Anthropology Syllabus & Subjects 2023: Semester-wise List, Top Colleges Syllabus PDF

Anthropology is a branch of social science that involves the study of humans and humanity as a whole. Here, students learn about human biology, human behaviour, societies, linguistics, culture, and more in the past and present context. It examines humans, their ancestors, and how society has evolved over the years. Students can study Anthropology as an undergraduate (BA, BSC), postgraduate (MA, MSC), doctorate (PhD, M. Phil), certificate, or diploma course. For those interested in enhancing their knowledge about humans and then using it to better society, anthropology is the perfect fit.

Important facts for Anthropology Syllabus

• Anthropology Course duration differs according to the chosen course: How long it takes for a student to complete their anthropology course is dependent on their chosen course. The approximate amount of time for each course is as follows:

  1. Certificate: Some hours – 6 months

  2. Diploma: 1 to 2 years

  3. Undergraduate (BA, BSC): 3 to 4 years

  4. Postgraduate (MA, MSC): 2 years

  5. Doctorate (PhD, M. Phil): 3 to 5 years

• BA in Anthropology is a six-semester course: A BA in Anthropology lasts for six semesters (~three years) and focuses on the more behavioural aspects of human evolution. It is structured around the humanistic side of Anthropology.

• BSc in Anthropology is a six-semester course: While a BSc in Anthropology is also a six-semester course, this degree is structured around the scientific areas of Anthropology. The scientific factor gets a major focus here.

• Anthropology in St. Xavier’s College: St. Xavier's College offers BA in Anthropology to those interested. Its program objectives for the first year include:

  1. Learning about the methods and core themes present in socio-cultural Anthropology.

  2. Understanding contemporary perspectives and issues in the field.

  3. Analysing certain aspects of the various cultural practices.

• Anthropology in Delhi University: Delhi University offers both BSc and MSc in Anthropology. Some of its objectives include:

  1. Identifying biological, social, and cultural factors that influence several public issues, such as health, life, society, culture, etc.

  2. Successfully collect data on biological, cultural and social aspects in a community.

  3. Study in tribal and rural areas and face the challenges that follow.

• General examination pattern: Students enrolled in an Anthropology program are tested with assignments, mid-semester examinations, and end-semester examinations. Practical examinations are also occasionally held.

List of subjects in Anthropology

Typical Core Subjects for Anthropology

Subject Title	Subject Details
Social/Cultural/Socio-Cultural Anthropology	Examines the various cultures worldwide and their differing values, norms, institutions, other important social traits, and evolution over time. Very vast and has many divisions. Subjects include: Concepts of Society Individual and Society Types of Groups Social System Structural Functionalism Social Conflict Community Survey Research and Field Work
Prehistoric/Archaeological Anthropology	Students learn about humans in prehistoric times and examine how people from ancient civilisations physically differ from people now. Subjects include: Cultural nomenclature Absolute and relative dating methods Geo-chronological methods Typology Types of prehistoric tools Prehistoric ages in India and Europe Prehistoric climate changes Types of geoclimatic events
Linguistic Anthropology	The different language structures and forms of languages worldwide are focused on. Their origins and relation to other languages are also included. Subjects include: Nature of human language Language as a system Verbal communication Non-verbal communication History and theory of linguistics Language evolution Language endangerment Language and identity Language ideologies
Physical/Biological Anthropology	Focuses on the biological aspects of anthropology. Includes study of blood, DNA, genetics, and other traits in human culture. Subjects include: Human Genetics Human Evolution Human Development and Growth Human Variation Organic evolution theories Primate Behaviour The concept of race Life sciences Earth Sciences

Typical Elective Subjects for Anthropology

Subject Title	Subject Details
Sustainable Development	The struggles of balancing both environment wellness and development are explored. It is important to keep future generations in mind when developing. Climate change is talked about and how to generate new resources.
Psychology for Health and Well Being	This course teaches about the importance of mental well-being, stress management, ways to enhance health, and promoting mental health in the society at large, along with appropriate intervention.
Disaster Management	Students learn about the different types of disasters, their classification, how to prepare for disasters, steps to take to respond to disaster, recovery from disaster, climate change, and more.
Gender Sensitisation: Society and Culture	This elective focuses on the plight of women. Women's condition and status in society are taught how to raise societal awareness regarding gender issues, marriage, family, motherhood, gender issues at work, media's portrayal of gender, etc.

Detailed Syllabus for Anthropology

The syllabus for Anthropology varies slightly from one university to another, but the general gist and subjects remain more or less the same. Here is an overview of the core courses students can expect from the first to the sixth semester in a Bachelor of Science (Honours) program.

Semester	Core	Subject Title	Subject Details
1	Introduction to Anthropology	Introduction to Biological Anthropology	Students learn about the basics of evolution and the origins of mankind. The distinction between primates and non-primates is made, and racism is explored.
		Introduction to Cultural and Social Anthropology	This subject explores the origin of social anthropology and its relation to cultural anthropology, societal institutions, vital theories, and the importance of fieldwork.
2	Archaeological Anthropology	Archaeological Anthropology	Students learn about the different dating methods, prehistoric periods and their corresponding techniques and tools.
		Fundamentals of Human Origin and Evolution	The branch of palaeontology is introduced. The evolution of humans is studied major events that occurred and the process of hominisation.
3	Biological Anthropology	Tribes and Peasants in India	This course educates students about India's various peasants and tribes, their problems, their welfare, and other contemporary issues.
		Human Ecology: Cultural and Biological Dimensions	The aim here is to teach basic human ecology concepts, theories and models on the human-environment relationship, adaptation, human impact, etc.
		Biological Diversity in Human Populations	The major races of the world are explored with an emphasis on India, effects of inbreeding, details on demography, etc.
4	Social Anthropology	Research Methods	Various research methods are taught (secondary and primary), ethical concerns, and origins of research.
		Theories of Culture and Society	Students learn about the different classical theories, contemporary theories, their role in anthropology, etc.
		Human Growth and Development	The physical changes in humans are studied, and the importance of nutrition, environmental stressors, etc.
5	Anthropology	Anthropology in Practice	Students learn how to use their knowledge practically, areas where they can work, and better lives.
		Human Population Genetics	Population genetics is discussed, as well as mating patterns, genetic disorders, and the Hardy-Weinberg law.
6	Forensic Anthropology	Anthropology of India	Indian society is the focus: key concepts, their civilisation and culture, the difference between castes and tribes, structural basis, and more, are learnt.
		Forensic Anthropology	Techniques for analysing human skeletal remains, reconstructing a biological profile, etc., are taught.

Specialisations offered in Anthropology

Anthropology is a broad subject area with several specialisations available . The primary four specialisations are Socio-cultural Anthropology, Archaeological Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Biological Anthropology. These fields are further divided into even more specialisations. This includes Forensic Anthropology, Medical Anthropology, Visual Anthropology, Business Anthropology, and more. As we have already discussed the main four specialisations previously, we will examine some other ones here.

Specialisation	Specialisation Subjects	Subject Details
Visual Anthropology	Visual Culture Digital media and photographs Theories of representation Cinema studies Ethnographic films Anthropology of Aesthetics and Art Trends and contexts	Students learn about the traditional and experimental methods of using audio-visual media. Photo elicitation and analysis of images is also taught.
Forensic Anthropology	History and scope of forensic anthropology Human skeletal biology Making estimations from bones Serology DNA Profiling Facial Reconstruction How to identify living persons	The techniques and methods involved in solving cases are explored, and the latest developments are made. They also learn how to collect DNA material at a crime scene.
Medical Anthropology	Medical Anthropology in India Diseases and illnesses Maternal and child health Mental health National Health Policy Tribal health and medicines Involvement of priests, shamans, sorcerers, witchcraft, etc.	The basics of diseases, illnesses, and health are taught here. The various methods to measure one’s health are detailed and better understand health policies and programmes available in India.
Business Anthropology	Consumer behaviour Organisational culture Cross-cultural marketing Market anthropological theory Health care organisations Globalisation Communication networks and information technology International Trade	The business and market context in terms of anthropology is studied. This is particularly useful for future dealings with NGOs. They also understand ethical concerns when being an outsider and as an insider.

Books and Authors Related to Anthropology

Anthropology is a very comprehensive field and has several topics under its umbrella. Several books give a comprehensive outlook on these topics and go quite in-depth. Students have to refer to many of them during their studies. Here we have listed some of the most recommended books for those wishing to pursue a course in Anthropology.

Subject	Book Title	Author(s)	Description
Sociocultural Anthropology	Cultural Anthropology: appreciating cultural diversity	Conrad Phillip Kottak	An introduction to Cultural Anthropology and how cultures vary across the world.
Biological Anthropology	Biological Anthropology: The Natural History of Humankind	Craig Stanford, John S. Allen, Susan C. Anton	Main areas include human biology, the human fossil record, and primate behaviour. It also includes contemporary discoveries made.
Social Anthropology	Applications in Computing for Social Anthropologists	Michael Fischer	Introduces new and varied methods of interpreting and organising data, and research activities are done by others.
Archaeological Anthropology	Archaeology: The Basics	Clive Gamble	Growth in human evolution, material culture, and politics in the past are covered.
Research Methodology	Methods in Social Research	Paul K. Hatt, William J. Goode	Improves response and comprehension skills. It contains several writing and thinking exercises, multiple-choice questions, and reading sections.
Human Genetics	Genetics and the Origin of Species	Theodosius Dobzhansky	One of the oldest books outlines Darwin's theory of evolution. Includes natural selection, mutation and speciation.
Physical Anthropology	The Study of Population: An Inventory and Appraisal	Philip M. Hauser, Otis Dudley Duncan	Summary of demography, ranging from beginnings in history to potential subjects for the future.
Forensic Anthropology	Fundamentals of Forensic Anthropology	Linda L. Klepinger	Examines forensic anthropology in historical context, skeletal markers, trauma, ethics, etc. Contains both theory and practical basics.

Entrance Exams for Anthropology

Anthropology is one of the courses that doesn't usually base admission on an entrance exam. Enrolment in BA or BSc Anthropology relies on merit and your 10+2 aggregate percentage. However, some colleges do administer an entrance exam for admission in MA and MSc and PhD. Some of the colleges that have an entrance exam for Anthropology are as follows:

• Delhi University

• Manipur University

• University of Lucknow

• Amity University

• University of Rajasthan

• University of Pune

• Punjab University

• Mumbai University

• University of Hyderabad

• Calcutta University

The difficulty level of these exams isn't very high. All of them are at a moderate level of difficulty. The examination is objective, i.e., and all the questions are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). The candidate must choose one option out of the four shown. The exam is generally an hour long and has 90 total questions to answer. The questions are divided into three parts: Part A (40 questions), Part B (30 questions) and Part C (20 questions). There can be negative marking, which will be done for each incorrect answer. ¼ out of the total marks per question (1 mark) will be deducted.

It is important to revise important topics related to the subject before giving the Anthropology Entrance Exam. Some of the topics covered in the exam include Social Anthropology, Forensic Anthropology, Demographic Anthropology, Population Genetics, Society and Culture theories, Peasantry and Tribes, Research Methods, and more.

Syllabus for Distance Program in Anthropology

Anthropology, being a theory-heavy field, is a subject quite suitable for distance learning. It is a valid and certified course to pursue. Here are some important points regarding distance learning or correspondence program in Anthropology in India:

• The duration required to complete the course via distance learning is a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 5 years.

• To be eligible for the course, students must have completed 10+2 education with a minimum aggregate of 50%. Those who have not done so might have to give an equivalent exam to be eligible.

• The average fee for the course is about INR 10000 to INR 50000 annually. The fees are usually lesser than the same course through regular means.

• The syllabus for distance learning is the same as regular learning.

Colleges that offer distance learning/correspondence programs include IGNOU, Delhi University, University of Mumbai, Chandigarh University, and more.

Top Colleges for Anthropology

The colleges recommended in this list for the Anthropology course are all top-ranking colleges and universities in multiple ranking lists. These colleges provide their students with a top-tier education, state-of-the-art facilities, well-developed infrastructure, and ample other services and facilities. For any student wishing to pursue an Anthropology degree in India, these colleges are the absolute cream of the crop. You cannot go wrong by picking any of them.

S.No.	College/University/Institution	Syllabus (URLs)
1	St. Xavier’s College	https://xaviers.edu/main/images/syllabi/arts/anthro_sem1.pdf
2	University of Delhi	http://www.du.ac.in/du/uploads/Revi_syll_19082019/19082019_B.Sc.(H) Anthropoloy.pdf
3	University of Allahabad	https://www.allduniv.ac.in/Syllabus/Anthropology/UG_Syllabus.pdf
4	Panjab University	https://anthropology.puchd.ac.in/
5	University of Calcutta	https://www.caluniv.ac.in/academic/Anthropology.html
6	University of Hyderabad	https://socialsciences.uohyd.ac.in/anthropology/
7	Amity University, Noida	https://www.amity.edu/aia/
8	Manipur University	https://www.manipuruniv.ac.in/allbuni/ckfinder/userfiles/files/LocfAnthro2020.pdf
9	Indira Gandhi National Open University	http://www.ignou.ac.in/upload/programme/Programme Guide BSCANH.pdf
10	University of Lucknow	https://udrc.lkouniv.ac.in/Content/DepartmentContent/SY_cd9c3f00-25d8-4986-afe2-d5fd4de1231f_2.pdf

FAQs

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Q. What are the possible specialisations in Anthropology?

Q. Is there an entrance exam for Anthropology?

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Q. Is doing an Anthropology course worth it?

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Q. Is a postgraduate degree (MA, MSc, PhD) compulsory in Anthropology?

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Q. How much does it cost to do an Anthropology course?

Following are the most popular Anthropology courses, based on alumni reviews. Explore these reviews to choose the best course in Anthropology.

Following are the top exams for Anthropology. Students interested in pursuing a career on Anthropology, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

Following are the most popular Anthropology Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Following are the most popular Anthropology Colleges in India. Learn more about these Anthropology colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.

Following are the most popular Anthropology UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

Following are the most popular Anthropology PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.