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ANTHRO

Anthropology

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The department at a glance

All recorded grades
average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades

How grades break down

Grades over time

Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison

About these statistics

GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.

Fall 2026

Recorded this term
courses with offerings
instructors recorded

Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.

Find your next class

36 courses

Historical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Grade sorting prioritizes courses with at least 100 letter grades.

Interdisciplinary inquiry in Latin American society and culture.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sample

This introductory survey covers African society, culture, polity, and economy from prehistory to contemporary developments using multidisciplinary perspectives.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of James Delehanty, Neil Kodesh: Workload includes heavy reading and essays or exams, but reviewers note these are manageable if students complete the assigned work.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

An interdisciplinary seminar exploring African societies and cultures.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2025–Spring 2025 · limited sample

ANTHRO 100 introduces general anthropology by exploring human evolution, cultural diversity, societal capacities, and major world cultures.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The course requires significant reading, with students noting that textbook material often exceeds lecture content. Exams are described as difficult, covering extensive information and sometimes including material not discussed in class.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

Introduction to archaeology and the prehistoric world, exploring human cultural origins through global archaeological research and site analysis.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The course relies on three exams and three assignments without a curve, featuring difficult, essay-heavy exams that many find time-consuming. Students must manage the strict time limits provided for these assessments.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

ANTHRO 104 introduces cultural anthropology, examining social organization, economics, politics, and cultural change with a focus on U.S. ethnic and racial minorities.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Amy Stambach, Claire Wendland, Falina Enriquez, Jerome Camal, Leonie Schulte: Recent reviews describe the course as very easy with open-note, online exams and optional lectures. Workload consists of busywork in discussions and reading quizzes, though some older reviews cite vague assignments and excessive time consumption.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

ANTHRO 105 covers the genetic basis of human variation and the origins and evolution of populations.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The workload is light, featuring four exams where the lowest score is dropped and simple, one-hour labs. Readings are optional, and lecture attendance is not recorded but recommended for exam preparation.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

ANTHRO 120 is a freshman/sophomore seminar focusing on human variability through nontechnical materials and discussion.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Jonathan Kenoyer, Sarah Edlund: Workload varies by instructor, ranging from manageable with clear assignments to very reading-heavy with no tests but significant writing requirements.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2024–Fall 2024 · limited sample

PRINCIPLES OF ARCHAEOLOGY introduces methods, history, and scientific principles of archaeology.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Assignments and tests are described as easy if students pay attention in lecture and take notes. Exams are graded lightly provided the work is completed, and the course is considered easy overall.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

ANTHRO 300 is a survey of cultural anthropology focusing on ethnographic description, methodology, and contemporary theories of sociocultural diversity.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Falina Enriquez, Leonie Schulte: The course requires weekly graded discussions and small-group participation, making attendance essential. Papers are graded somewhat harshly, and lectures may be considered optional if slides are provided.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

Examines skeletal anatomy at gross and histologic levels using laboratory methods for forensic and archaeological identification.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sample

ANTHRO 310 covers selected areas, periods, or problems in archaeology.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews describe significant reading loads and challenging exams, though some found the material fair if students kept up with the coursework.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

Examines worldwide archaeological evidence for the development of human culture and behavior from early human groups to the agricultural revolution.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The course requires significant studying of specific facts like bones and tools, with exams that test detailed recall rather than broad understanding.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

ANTHRO 339 introduces the archaeology of warfare and human nature, exploring evidence and theories of violence from the Pleistocene to the present.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Fall 2025

Examines music's role in Brazilian national identity, race, and culture through historical and contemporary analysis.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Students report 10-20 pages of reading per session, which can be difficult for non-native speakers despite the material being interesting.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2025–Spring 2025 · limited sample

Examines the origins and development of early technologies and their impact on human evolution.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2024–Fall 2024 · limited sample

ANTHRO 405 introduces museum studies in anthropology, covering policies, ethics, and management of archaeological, ethnographic, and bioanthropological collections.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sample

ANTHRO 490 is an undergraduate seminar involving discussion and report preparation on specific, changing topics.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

One historical review characterizes the teaching style as easy, while another advises students to be concise and prepared with specific questions.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

ANTHRO 668 evaluates primate conservation status and discusses regional and global policy development.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Classes are challenging in a way that motivates students to dig deep into the subject material rather than giving up.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2023 · limited sample

ANTHRO 682 is a mentored individual research course for students completing a thesis in an Honors program.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

ANTHRO 690: Problems in Anthropology covers independent research in physical anthropology, archaeology, or cultural anthropology under supervision.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2024–Spring 2026 · limited sample

ANTHRO 691 is a mentored individual research and study course for students completing a senior thesis.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

No recorded grade history

ANTHRO 692 is a senior thesis course involving mentored individual research and study.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

ANTHRO 698 is an advanced directed study course where students arrange projects with a faculty member.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

No recorded grade history

ANTHRO 699 is a directed study course where students conduct advanced projects arranged with a faculty member.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

ANTHRO 909 covers theoretical and practical aspects of ethnographic research, including fieldwork methods, research design, and ethnographic writing.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2024 · limited sample

ANTHRO 940 is a graduate seminar in cultural anthropology focusing on current literature, methods, and assigned problems.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2025 · limited sample

ANTHRO 942 is a graduate seminar on archaeological problems, focusing on current literature, methods, and work on assigned problems.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sample

Across course levels

Recorded this term

No released grades for this term.

Recorded offerings over time

Offering snapshots currently cover Fall 2026. Earlier grade records do not provide a complete offering history.