Anthropology - Social Sciences Division

Anthropology is the comprehensive study of humans, our ancestors, and our non-human primate relatives. At PCC, we provide rigorous instruction and hands-on field experience in introductory Anthropology courses to prepare you for general education transfer, AA degrees, AS degrees and a certificate in archaeological field practice.

What is Anthropology?

The study of Anthropology provides the knowledge, skills and theories to work with people of today, to study the past and to shape the future. Historically, anthropologists in the United States have been trained in one of four areas: cultural anthropology, biological/physical anthropology, archeology, and linguistics.

Anthropology is the comprehensive study of humans, our ancestors, and our non-human primate relatives. The field explores what it means to be human, from prehistoric times to the present. Anthropologists investigate contemporary human social behaviors (cultural anthropology), the origins and nature of languages (linguistic anthropology), human evolution, variation, and adaptation (biological/physical anthropology), and the ancient lifeways and cultural development of past human populations (archeology).

The Anthropology program is structured to provide you with a basic appreciation of contemporary cultures through the use of such concepts as culture, cross‐cultural comparison, and cultural relativity, as well as through an understanding of how we humans came to be as we are — both in the biological sense having to do with our evolutionary past, and in the cultural sense involving archaeological prehistory. In addition to being taught critical thinking skills in a classroom, the field experiences provided by the Anthropology program offer you opportunities to apply what has been learned to real‐life anthropological/archaeological circumstances. We strive to prepare you not only for transfer to four-year institutions but for operating in a world of great social complexity and ethnic diversity.

Anthropology Courses Offered

Each semester we offer a variety of Anthropology courses that can be taken individually or as part of a planned program leading to transfer or a certificate. Use the links below to see full course descriptions and our current offerings.

Degree and Transfer Options

Anthropology | Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) Degree

Earn a degree AND prepare to transfer.By completing the AA-T in Anthropology, you will finish the general education requirements as well as the lower division major requirements for a Bachelor degree in Sociology prior to transferring to a CSU.

View Degree Requirements

Planning to transfer? Take Anthropology courses at PCC to satisfy a General Education (GE) requirement and/or lower division coursework for an Anthropology major!

Lower Division Major Courses

The following courses are required to transfer to a university and to major in Anthropology:

Anthropology 1: Physical Anthropology
Anthropology 2: Cultural Anthropology
Anthropology 3: Introduction to Archeology

Satisfy GE Requirements with Anthropology Courses

Several of our Anthropology courses will satisfy CSU GEs, IGETC Requirements and GEs for many private and independent institutions. Visit the Transfer Center for resources to help you determine which Anthropology courses will satisfy GEs specific to your education plan.

Review Transfer & GE Requirements

Certificate Options

Archaeological Fieldwork | Occupational Skills Certificate

Prepare for the workforce with skills that apply to archaeological field excavation techniques, artifact analysis and preparation of the required governmental documentation associated with cultural resource management.

View Certificate Requirements

Careers in Anthropology

Because the field is so diverse, the employment opportunities are almost endless. Anthropologists are employed in a number of different sectors, including: