B.S. in Biological Anthropology

The department offers extensive coursework in biological anthropology at undergraduate and graduate levels. The undergraduate B.S. degree in Biological Anthropology emphasizes coursework on human evolution, human anatomy, and primatology and provides an excellent basis for future training in medicine and related areas. Our affiliated doctoral program in Hominid Paleobiology is one of the finest biological anthropology research and teaching groups in the world.

Course numbers below are in the format new four-digit number/old three-digit number. The hyperlinks are to Bulletin text that still uses the old numbers.

The George Washington University has always had a strong focus in biological (physical) anthropology, supported by close connections with the Smithsonian. Because of its emphasis on the sciences, students in this major will earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Anthropology. Compared to the general Anthropology major, the B.S. in Biological Anthropology requires fewer second-group anthropology courses (2000s-3000s/101-200), additional science training, and a greater focus on the biological aspects of anthropology. There is no language requirement outside the General Curriculum Requirements.

Students may not double-major in Anthropology and Biological Anthropology; they may double-major in Archaeology and Biological Anthropology, but second-group courses cannot count towards both majors.

Program Requirements

Course numbers below are in the format "new four-digit number/old three-digit number."

• Introductory courses (21 hours). Anth 1001/001, 1002/002, 1003/003, and 1004/004, BiSc 1111/011-1112/012) or equivalent biology courses with labs (8 hours)
• Second-Group Biological Anthropology Courses (four courses; 12 or more hours). Select from Anth 3401-3405, 3411-3412, 3491, 3802, 3832.
• Other Second-Group Courses in Anthropology (two courses; 6 or more hours). Any two or more of Anth 2501-2601 and 3501-3891 (excluding 3802/183).
• Second-Group Biology Courses (8 or more hours). Students should select second-group courses from at least two different areas of biology: (a) cell and molecular biology (BiSc 2202-2323 and 3320-3325), and (b) organismal, evolutionary, and ecological biology (BiSc 2330-3463). Acceptable courses are BiSc 2202/102, 2207/107, 2208/108, 2214-2323, 2332/132, 2337/137, 2450-2455/150-155, 2581/181, 2583/183, 3209/109, 3261/103, 3262/104, and 3320-3325/114-128 or other courses approved by an advisor.
• Other Science Course (3 or more hours). Any one or more courses (3 hour min.) in chemistry, geology, forensic sciences, mathematics, statistics, or cognitive or neuropsychology.
• No language requirement.

Go to the Anthropology course descriptions.

Go to the Biological Sciences course descriptions.

Get a copy of the Biological Anthropology Major flyer.

Special Honors in Biological Anthropology

Students who meet the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences requirements for special honors are encouraged to undertake a thesis research project in their senior year. Such students should take 3 or more hours of Anth 3995/195 (Undergraduate Research).

The biological anthropology advisor is René Bobe.

Minor in Biological Anthropology

For information on the minor program in Biological Anthropology, click here.

Courses Offered

• View the Bulletin descriptions of undergraduate courses offered by the department.
• View the new course numbering sequence for Anthropology.
• View the list of current courses.

Office Hours

Anthropology Department office hours.