Undergraduate Extended Accelerator Pathway (3-Term) - Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology

at Shorelight Group - American University USA

Train to become an effective advocate for our planet and help address such issues as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion. You’ll begin by taking foundational courses in both natural and social sciences, then choose a course of study suited to your interests and goals. Pursue research opportunities with faculty or one of the many prestigious environmental institutions nearby. 

Our literature BA program offers four tracks: literary studies, cinema studies, transcultural studies, and creative writing. Working with dedicated, award-winning faculty, students learn to analyze and comprehend other viewpoints and argue for ideas. Valuable internships in publishing, public radio, education, law, and advocacy are a short Metro ride away.

AU’s production studios are constantly buzzing with creative activity. They’re the cornerstone of one of the best audio tech and production programs in the US. Here, students work alongside professionals and experienced faculty in state-of-the-art editing bays and recording studios. Washington, DC, offers a variety of top-notch internship opportunities and a vibrant music scene. 

Combine business and STEM courses to develop an analytical skill set for the modern business world. Learn from top-credentialed faculty interested in your success. Specialize in accounting, analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems and technology, international business, management, or marketing. Gain real-world experience by solving problems for local businesses or interning at DC’s many financial institutions, consulting firms, and policy institutes.

Combine business and STEM courses to develop an analytical skill set for the modern business world. Learn from top-credentialed faculty interested in your success. Specialize in accounting, analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems and technology, international business, management, or marketing. Gain real-world experience by solving problems for local businesses or interning at DC’s many financial institutions, consulting firms, and policy institutes.

Push yourself physically, creatively, and academically. At AU, you’ll study dance theory, creative research, movement from multiple perspectives, and movement forms. Our dance faculty provide individualized instruction and mentorship in the studio, classroom, stage, and community. Alumni have gone on to careers as performers, teachers, choreographers, bodywork practitioners, dance therapists, movement analysts, physical therapists, and athletic trainers.

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its accelerated bachelor's/master's programs. Undergraduate students may complete up to 3 credits for every 9 credits required for the graduate degree that may be applied to the requirements for both degree programs. The department that oversees the graduate program the student enters will determine if the courses the undergraduate student completes will satisfy master's degree requirements. Bachelor's/master's students must complete at least 18 in-residence credit hours at the graduate level after the bachelor's degree is earned and maintain continuous, sequential enrollment in the two programs.

This program allows qualified students to complete both the BA in Anthropology and the MA in Public Anthropology.

The courses that constitute the Justice, Ethics, and Human Rights Thematic Area wrestle with the thorny issues of justice, equality, and human rights. How do we create more just societies? What are the conditions that promote or impede collective violence and mass murder? What kinds of peace settlements are long lasting? Can we protect human rights and simultaneously reduce poverty and inequality? What kinds of criminal and transitional justice systems are both fair and effective at reducing abuse? Students in the program will learn about an array of empirical cases and master the pertinent theoretical and ethical debates.

The nation’s capital is your classroom, and our DC location offers unparalleled resources for research, internships, and jobs. Our outstanding faculty are actively involved with archives, museums, nonprofits, and government institutions. Whatever route you wind up taking, a BA in history from AU is your stepping stone to a rewarding career.

Many of the most profound challenges facing humanity relate to the environment, health, or the intersection of the two. Climate change and species extinction currently undermine the quality of life for many and threaten to compromise the fundamental, organic infrastructure that supports all life on earth. Infectious diseases like HIV and malaria remain a major cause of death in poorer countries, while chronic diseases, once most apparent in richer countries, are becoming increasingly prevalent around the world. Meanwhile, environmental toxins, air and water pollution, and soil degradation compromise the health and well-being of peoples everywhere. Not only do ecological issues have the potential to impact public health, but decisions made by communities and the private and public sectors—from transportation to agriculture—markedly influence ecosystem functions. The Environmental Sustainability and Global Health Thematic Area introduces students to the socio-political dynamics of global health and environmental affairs. Students explore the multiple causes and consequences of environmental harm and ill health and work to understand the mechanisms of governance best able to respond. Cutting across both issues are the fundamental inequalities between people, as well as between countries, that exacerbate the impacts of environmental and health problems and hamper identification and implementation of solutions. Ultimately, students develop the intellectual and applied tools needed to simultaneously work towards a safer, saner planetary condition and healthier populations.