anthropology, ubc vancouver
Browse: Home / Programs / Anthropology
Vancouver

Anthropology

Get a post-graduate work permit for up to three years if you are a full-time UBC international student graduating from a bachelor’s degree program and meet all eligibility criteria.

Want to learn more?

Visit the Faculty of Arts website to learn more about Anthropology.

View full program details

Program information

Examine processes of social and cultural life in human societies past and present, near and far. Anthropology will prepare you for a diverse range of careers, including medical researcher, consultant to governmental and community organizations, teacher, archaeologist, environmental researcher, and much else.

Program overview

Campus
Vancouver
Program length
4 years
Faculty
Faculty of Arts
Co-op
Yes
Degree
Bachelor of Arts
Honours
Yes

What you'll learn

Anthropology is a comparative study of the cultural and social lives of humans all over the world, from First Nations in Canada to the indigenous and non-indigenous peoples of Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America. You can take courses in Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Cultural/Social Anthropology, Anthropological Linguistics, and Museum Studies.

Classes offer you a wide variety of topics covering major developments in human societies – from those of our earlier ancestors to contemporary cultures. You can select a Major, Minor, or Honours program in Anthropology.

Experiential learning and research

UBC’s Museum of Anthropology is one of the world’s premier institutions in the field, and the most advanced ethnological and archaeological research facility in Canada.

Courses

There are hundreds of courses you can take within Anthropology. Here are a few you might like.

Eating Culture

An anthropological exploration of how the collection, cultivation and consumption of food shapes human society and culture.

Television shows, dramas, movies, advertising, marketing, manga (Japanese style “comics”), anime (Japanese animation), theatrical forms, popular literature, popular music, fashion fads, tourism, toys, and sports

The application of methods from biological anthropology and archaeology to the identification, recovery, and analysis of skeletal remains from crime scenes, mass disasters, and unexplained deaths

A sociolinguistic examination of the role of language in articulating, maintaining, and subverting power relations in society

Outcomes

A UBC education will introduce you to people and ideas from around the world, open doors to new opportunities, and take you places you never imagined. You’ll graduate not only with expertise in your chosen field, but with the skills you need to continue growing, learning, and evolving with your career over time.

There are a number of exciting careers that your studies in Anthropology might open up for you. Find out what you can do with your Anthropology major.

  • “Each course that I took allowed me to expand and develop my capacities and eventually I became an expert in my field of research.”

    Sarah Y., Anthropology and Asian Area Studies

Take action & plan

Program requirements

Choose application type:

English-language requirements

English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.

General admission requirements

IB Diploma Programme

  • Completed IB Diploma, including at least three Higher Level courses.

IB Certificate Courses

  • IB Certificate courses (Standard and Higher Level) may be used in an admissions average if you are graduating from a recognized high school curriculum that can be used as your basis of admission.
  • IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, do not satisfy the math requirement for admission to UBC’s science-based programs, the Faculty of Management, the UBC Sauder School of Business, or the Vancouver School of Economics.

Degree-specific requirements: Arts

  • No specific courses required beyond those needed for general admission

Related courses

The following subject categories are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in your junior year and senior year.

  • Language Arts
  • Mathematics and Computation
  • Second Languages
  • Social Studies
  • Visual and Performing Arts

Want to get a feel for campus?

If you’re unable to visit UBC in person, or you just want to get a sneak peek at your new home campus before you arrive, take one of our virtual tours. Current UBC students walk you through UBC’s residences, study spots, recreational facilities, lecture halls, academic buildings, and more.

Take a virtual tour now

Related programs

Vancouver

Archaeology

Learn about world archaeology – from the emergence of humankind to the beginning of state societies – and examine the beginnings of the economic, social, political, and artistic traditions and systems of the great civilizations. You can…
Okanagan

Cultural Studies

Explore media and popular cultures, global cultural studies, and critical and cultural theory through courses in internet culture, film and television, activism, globalization, human rights, and more. You’ll graduate with the knowledge and skills required for…
Okanagan

Indigenous Studies

In the interdisciplinary Indigenous studies program, you’ll learn about Indigenous perspectives and governance, the justice system, land claims, traditional ecological knowledge and the protection of heritage in the Okanagan, Canada, U.S., and world communities.

Get a post-graduate work permit for up to three years if you are a full-time UBC international student graduating from a bachelor’s degree program and meet all eligibility criteria.

Want to learn more?

Visit the Faculty of Arts website to learn more about Anthropology.

View full program details