Anthropology AA-T Degree
The Associate in Arts in Anthropology for Transfer (AA-T) program offers a comprehensive foundation in the study of human societies, cultures, and biological evolution. Designed to prepare students for seamless transfer to California State University (CSU) campuses, the program equips learners with essential knowledge and analytical skills to understand how humans interact with their environments, form social structures, and evolve biologically.
Students engage with core subfields of anthropology—cultural anthropology, archaeology, physical anthropology, and biological anthropology—while exploring key concepts such as human origins, cultural diversity, social institutions, and the research methods used to study human behavior. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, cross-cultural understanding, and effective research techniques, preparing students for careers in education, research, cultural resource management, and public service.
At College of the Desert, the three foundational courses, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Introduction to Archaeology/Prehistory, and Introduction to Biological Anthropology, introduce students to essential theories, methods, and data in engaging and accessible ways.
To earn the AA-T in Anthropology, students must complete 60 CSU-transferable units, including the Cal-GETC general education pattern and 22-23 units in the anthropology major, with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. In accordance with Title 5 requirements, students must earn a grade of “C” (or “P”) or better in all courses required for the major. There are no additional graduation requirements. Students are encouraged to consult with an academic counselor to plan their coursework and ensure alignment with university transfer and admission requirements.
Learning Outcomes
Upon satisfactory completion of this program students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of scientific inquiry and its application to anthropological research.
- Develop an awareness of and respect for human diversity.
- Identify patterns and analyze the adaptive relationships between organisms and their environments.
- Demonstrate an awareness of the diversity of past human societies and a comprehension of how archaeological evidence is used to reconstruct past processes of culture change.
- Understand and articulate the breadth of cultural beliefs and practices found across cultures and throughout time, with special emphasis on indigenous traditions.
- Articulate an understanding of ethical principles and responsibilities in anthropological research using a relativistic framework.
Program Requirements
| Course Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses (10 units) | ||
| ANTH 001 | Human Evolution: Introduction to Biological Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 001L | Human Evolution: Introduction to Biological Anthropology Lab | 1 |
| ANTH 002 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 003 | Archaeology, Introduction to Prehistory | 3 |
| List A | ||
| Select 1 course from the following (3 Units): | ||
| ANTH 007 | Anthropology of Religion, Magic, Witchcraft, and Healing | 3 |
| SOC 003 | Fundamentals of Statistics | 3 |
| List B | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following (6 units): | ||
| Any List A course not already used. | ||
| GEOG 002 | Cultural Geography | 3 |
| PHIL 012 | Religions of the World | 3 |
| POLS C1000 | American Government and Politics | 3 |
| PSY 030 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| SOCI C1000 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 014 | Introduction to Race & Ethnicity | 3 |
| SOC 015 | Mexican American Culture & Society | 3 |
| List C | ||
| Select one course from the following (3-4 units): | ||
| Any List A or B course not already used. | ||
| G 001 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| G 005 | Environmental Geology | 4 |
| G 010 | The Earth Sciences | 4 |
| NR 021 | Introduction to GIS | 3 |
| PHIL 018 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| Required Subtotal | 22-23 | |
| Cal-GETC 1 | 34 | |
| Transferable Electives (as needed to reach 60 transferable units) 2 | ||
| DEGREE TOTAL | 60 | |
- 1
Units for the major may be double counted for Cal-GETC, confer with a Counselor.
- 2
Elective units to reach 60 unit total must be CSU transferable, confer with a Counselor.
