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Environment and Conservation Sub-Major

This sub-major considers issues of the environment, conservation, economics, globalization, and climate change in terms of their impacts on human and nonhuman worlds.

In the 21st century, it is critical to understand the dynamic relationships between economic pursuits and both local and global ecosystems, including the risks and limits of current practices as well as alternatives to them. Students will learn theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches from all four subfields of anthropology and use them to consider case studies from the present and the deep historical past. This knowledge will enable them to think holistically about complex problems and to offer solutions based on studies conducted at both the community level and at larger scales. The anthropological perspective will be especially helpful for students who are looking to move beyond conventional approaches to business, economics, and finance, as well as those interested in public policy around conservation and climate change in a globalized world.

Prerequisites

None, but ANTHRCUL 101 is recommended.

Requirements

Students in the Environment and Conservation sub-major must complete 16-17 credits from the courses listed below as part of their anthropology major elective credits for a minimum of 32 credits total.

Constraints

The Environment and Conservation sub-major is only available to declared Anthropology majors and is not a major or minor. The sub-major will be notated on the student's official transcript.

A maximum of 6 credits of independent research can be counted toward the major.

Residency

At least 20 credits must be completed in residence at the University of Michigan.

Distribution Policy

No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the ANTHRARC, ANTHRBIO, and ANTHRCUL subject areas may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.

Exclusions

Students may elect only one of the optional sub-majors.