Anthropology

B.A. or B.S.
Online You can complete all or nearly all requirements of this program online. Only the archaeology option requires site-based field school experience.*
delivery
$384 Based on current tuition rates. No additional charge for nonresident students. Does not include course materials and associated fees and expenses.†
per credit
4
start terms/year

Anthropology is a journey into the past, a mirror to the present and a map for navigating the future. As a field of study, it bridges sciences and the humanities and provides vital communication and critical thinking skills. When you earn an anthropology bachelor’s degree online from Oregon State University, you’ll gain the knowledge needed to answer questions about what makes us human.

Through scientific and humanistic lenses, this program will teach you to analyze cultural systems, study social institutions and apply ethical research methods across fields such as archaeology, biological anthropology and cultural studies. Along the way, you’ll gain cross-cultural perspectives that will enable you to conduct rigorous analysis, work independently and collaboratively, and communicate insights that inform meaningful solutions.

Skills you’ll gain in OSU’s online anthropology degree program

As a student in Oregon State’s online anthropology degree program, you’ll gain the in-demand skills you need to stand out in the job market and level up your career. You’ll learn from expert Oregon State faculty who have real-world experience in the field.

  • Cultural resource management
  • Research design and data analysis
  • Forensic analysis
  • Critical thinking
  • Complex social systems problem solving
  • AI and IT interface
Hands holding pointed tool and small, white ceramic artifact with face
Best Online Bachelor's Programs 2025 - U.S. News & World Report

Program details

This anthropology program will strengthen your ability to collect and analyze information from field research, and you’ll learn how to apply it to address contemporary human issues. You’ll also practice working with diverse teams — whether it’s in a lab, the field or on a group project.

The online anthropology program is offered by Oregon State's College of Liberal Arts.

Degree requirements

A minimum of 180 quarter credits — at least 60 of which must be upper-division credits — are required to graduate with your degree in anthropology, including:

A man photographs a skull on a table, with a large screen showing an anatomical image in the background

Additional program features

When you pursue your anthropology degree online, you’ll work with your academic advisor to choose from a variety of options that allow you to focus your studies in an area of particular interest to you.

The program's archaeology specialization option requires 12 credits of site-based field school experience. The experience can be completed through a program that's convenient to your location or through one of the OSU field school options.

Some degree requirements may be transferred from other institutions. Please note that a minimum of 45 credits of the last 75 credits in this degree program must be completed at Oregon State (online or on campus) to meet the academic residency requirement.

Previously earned credits must be reviewed upon admittance to OSU for appropriate articulation. Additional information about transferring credits is available through OSU’s Transfer Credit Central.

As an undergraduate degree-seeking student, you can apply to earn an honors degree online in your academic major. Earning this prestigious degree gives you the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on research, complete a comprehensive thesis experience and engage in co-curricular activities.

You can gain highly specialized skills that are in demand by employers — and do it with less of a time and financial commitment — when you earn a certificate or microcredential online with Oregon State. Choose from a large collection of short-form offerings that can help you upskill quickly.

Anthropology careers

The knowledge you acquire in Oregon State’s online anthropology degree program will help you fill in-demand jobs in the global marketplace. As a leader in this area, you’ll enter the workforce ready to provide insights on the human experience in fields that need anthropology experts.

Job market outlook

Use the interactive tool on this page to discover employment trends, top occupations and salary details for professionals who have skills related to anthropology. Please be aware that completing a program related to the job market information shown here does not guarantee employment or a specific salary.