Bachelor of Arts (Honours) major in Anthropology

Skip to Main Content

The study of Anthropology includes Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Social Anthropology and Ethnomusicology. You can specialise in any one of these fields, or you can choose to study across these areas. Anthropology bridges the natural sciences, human sciences and humanities, and we embrace a unified approach.
The University of Auckland was ranked 37th in the world for Archaeology and 48th in the world for Anthropology in the 2021 QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Postgraduate study in Anthropology
You have diverse opportunities for postgraduate study in the four major sub-fields of anthropology:
- Archaeology
- Biological anthropology
- Ethnomusicology
- Social anthropology

You can study topics including:
- Prehistory
- Material culture
- Landscape archaeology
- Bioarchaeology
- Osteology and genetics
- Evolution and primatology
- Human ecology
- Human growth
- Art and performance
- Ethnicity
- Religion
- Gender
- Economic, historical, medical and political anthropology
- Traditional and popular musics

Anthropology can develop skills in communication and analysis, as well as an awareness of culture, ethnicity and society. Anthropology can lead to careers in aid and development agencies; teaching; archaeology; health, social or environmental research; tourism; iwi authorities; museums; local or central government.

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Anthropology
A BA or Bachelor of Global Studies (or equivalent) with a major in Anthropology or Anthropological Science. You must have a Grade Point Average of 5.0 or higher in 45 points above Stage II in the major.
The following subjects may also be considered for entry: Ancient History, Asian Studies, Biological Science, Dance, Gender Studies, History, Human Geography, Māori Studies, Media, Museums and Area Studies, Music, Pacific Studies, Performance Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Social Sciences, Social Work.

Complete 120 points comprising:

30 points from Group 1 Elective Courses, and
60 points from Group 2 Elective Courses, and
One of the following:
30 points for all Research Project - 1 Semester, or
30 points for all Research Project - 2 Semesters, or
30 points for all Research Essay Option

Group 1 Elective Courses

Complete exactly 30 points from the following:

ANTHRO 718A - Interpreting Biocultural Data (15 points)

ANTHRO 718B - Interpreting Biocultural Data (15 points)

ANTHRO 719 - Ethnographic Practice and Design (30 points)

ANTHRO 719A - Ethnographic Practice and Design (15 points)

ANTHRO 719B - Ethnographic Practice and Design (15 points)

ANTHRO 727 - Ethnographies of Music-making (30 points)

ANTHRO 727A - Ethnographies of Music-making (15 points)

ANTHRO 727B - Ethnographies of Music-making (15 points)

ANTHRO 733 - Research in Popular Music Culture (30 points)

ANTHRO 733A - Research in Popular Music Culture (15 points)

ANTHRO 733B - Research in Popular Music Culture (15 points)

ANTHRO 753 - Ethnographic Research (15 points)

ANTHRO 759 - Kaitiakitanga: Protecting our Planet (15 points)

ANTHRO 760 - Anthropological Theory and the Contemporary World (15 points)

ANTHRO 762 - Theorising Human Evolution (15 points)

ANTHRO 763 - Contemporary Bio-Anthropology (15 points)

ANTHRO 766 - Landscape Archaeology (15 points)

ANTHRO 777 - Theory in Archaeology (15 points)

Group 2 Elective Courses

Complete exactly 60 points from the following:

ANTHRO 708 - Cultural Resource Management in Archaeology (30 points)

ANTHRO 708A - Cultural Resource Management in Archaeology (15 points)

ANTHRO 708B - Cultural Resource Management in Archaeology (15 points)

ANTHRO 709 - Applying Anthropology (15 points)

ANTHRO 713 - Special Topic in Biological Anthropology (30 points)

ANTHRO 718A - Interpreting Biocultural Data (15 points)

ANTHRO 718B - Interpreting Biocultural Data (15 points)

ANTHRO 719 - Ethnographic Practice and Design (30 points)

ANTHRO 719A - Ethnographic Practice and Design (15 points)

ANTHRO 719B - Ethnographic Practice and Design (15 points)

ANTHRO 724 - Special Topic in Social Anthropology (30 points)

ANTHRO 727 - Ethnographies of Music-making (30 points)

ANTHRO 727A - Ethnographies of Music-making (15 points)

ANTHRO 727B - Ethnographies of Music-making (15 points)

ANTHRO 728 - Topic in Ethnomusicology (30 points)

ANTHRO 728A - Topic in Ethnomusicology: (15 points)

ANTHRO 728B - Topic in Ethnomusicology (15 points)

ANTHRO 729 - Special Studies in Anthropology (15 points)

ANTHRO 729A - Special Studies in Anthropology (7.5 points)

ANTHRO 729B - Special Studies in Anthropology (7.5 points)

ANTHRO 732 - Reading Medical Ethnography (15 points)

ANTHRO 733 - Research in Popular Music Culture (30 points)

ANTHRO 733A - Research in Popular Music Culture (15 points)

ANTHRO 733B - Research in Popular Music Culture (15 points)

ANTHRO 735 - Special Topic in Anthropology (30 points)

ANTHRO 736 - Special Studies in Anthropology (30 points)

ANTHRO 736A - Special Studies in Anthropology (15 points)

ANTHRO 736B - Special Studies in Anthropology (15 points)

ANTHRO 739 - Special Studies in Anthropology (15 points)

ANTHRO 739A - Special Studies in Anthropology (7.5 points)

ANTHRO 739B - Special Studies in Anthropology (7.5 points)

ANTHRO 742 - Contact and Colonialism (15 points)

ANTHRO 746 - The Archaeology of the Anthropocene (15 points)

ANTHRO 747 - Doing Biocultural Research (15 points)

ANTHRO 748 - Human Osteology (15 points)

ANTHRO 749 - Advanced Primatology (15 points)

ANTHRO 753 - Ethnographic Research (15 points)

ANTHRO 756 - Anthropology and Intellectual Property (15 points)

ANTHRO 758 - Special Topic in Archaeology (30 points)

ANTHRO 759 - Kaitiakitanga: Protecting our Planet (15 points)

ANTHRO 760 - Anthropological Theory and the Contemporary World (15 points)

ANTHRO 762 - Theorising Human Evolution (15 points)

ANTHRO 763 - Contemporary Bio-Anthropology (15 points)

ANTHRO 766 - Landscape Archaeology (15 points)

ANTHRO 767 - Special Topic (15 points)

ANTHRO 777 - Theory in Archaeology (15 points)

Research Project - 1 Semester

Complete 30 points for ALL of the following:

ANTHRO 780 - Research Project (30 points)

Research Project - 2 Semesters

Complete 30 points for ALL of the following:

ANTHRO 780A - Research Project (15 points)

ANTHRO 780B - Research Project (15 points)

Research Essay Option

Complete 30 points for ALL of the following:

ANTHRO 782 - Research Essay (30 points)