Three Year Degree in Anthropology

While most students do their degrees in four years, the Anthropology Department also offers students the opportunity to complete their major and all degree requirements for the BA in just three years.  Students seeking a three-year completion will still complete the same number of total credit hours (120) and the same number of credits in the major (36).  In order to accomplish this, students need to take courses during two summers, as well as taking a full course load (as follows) each fall and spring for a May graduation.

Year One: 15 hours in fall, 18 hours in spring, and 9 hours in the summer (15/18/9)
Year Two:  18/18/9
Year Three: 18/15--graduation

The Anthropology Department encourages our majors to use one or both of their summers for a field school, internship, or study abroad experience.  If they choose a 6-credit study abroad program—such as our “Brazil Abroad”—they earn 6 credit hours in anthropology and currently are eligible for the university’s subsidy of $3,000 to help cover the fees and expenses.  To make up the 9 hours, they can take an additional 3 units in summer session on campus or on-line.

Qualifying advanced placement scores of 3 or higher an incoming student brings may count for credit toward the total 120  credit hours.  Please see your advisor. 

What if you change your mind about the three-year degree?  No problem.  You can easily skip a summer or take fewer courses in a semester and earn your degree in three and half or four years instead.  

The advantage of the three-year degree is that it saves money on tuition and gets you started on your career a year sooner.  Or if you were hoping to do a “gap year” or go on to graduate school, you can achieve that goal sooner, too!  Students pursuing this accelerated program are encouraged to consult with their advisor and faculty about career planning in their fields.

Since the number of units is the same, this plan does not reduce your chances of earning a minor in another field or achieving other goals you may have for extracurricular accomplishments during your time at Purdue.  

Sample Plan of Study

*Sample arrangement of courses for 3-year degree plan (course numbers in bold indicate requirements for the major in Section A of Anthropology Plan of Study. The remaining 7 courses will be selected from Section B of the Plan of Study). Total required ANTH credits: 36.