Undergraduates -- BAA

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Majoring and Minoring

Majoring in BAA

Since Duke is a liberal arts university, the graduation requirements of the university will insure that you have a breadth of experience as an undergraduate. A major requires you to develop, along with your broad university training, a measure of specialization and expertise in one or more topics within the general curriculum. As a BAA major you can either survey the whole of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy or, to some extent, specialize within this discipline. The degree to which you specialize in your biological anthropology training will depend on your goals and the amount of specialization appropriate, as an undergraduate, to those goals. For those who have particular interests, there are suggested courses of study in the department. However, we do not recognize formal "areas of concentration" because your ability to contribute to one field depends to some extent on an understanding of the other; these various fields are all part of integrative biology and an accomplished biological anthropologist has knowledge of all of them.

How to become a BAA major

Develop a long-range academic study plan in the academic advising center, and declare your major. This is done before the end of your sophomore year. If you already are a major in another department and wish to change it, you can do so at the registrar's office.

Complete the Advisor Request Form and submit it electronically (or submit a printed copy to the office of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, 05 Biological Sciences Building). We will contact you with your advisor assignment and other information about the department and the major.

Develop your plan of studies in the major. Use the course worksheet to organize your plan semester by semester. In doing so, take into account that some advanced courses are often offered only once a year and others even less frequently. Also remember that some courses have prerequisites that must have been met before you can take them. Examine opportunities for studies at the Primate Center, or in any of the active research labs (or a field site). A separate Primatology Program is also offered for which a brochure is available. Meet with your advisor to get your course plan approved before registration each semester.

Major requirements

The department offers two majors, one leading to the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree, and one leading to the Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) degree. The B.S. degree caters to students intending to pursue research or professional careers in biological anthropology or biomedical sciences, whereas the A.B. degree is the more general liberal arts major. Although both majors require about the same number of courses, the B.S. has a greater number of prerequisites. However, for both majors the total number of courses be they prerequisites, corequisites, or required, stays within the limits imposed by the university.

While the department does not offer areas of concentration, it does provide you with suggested courses of study depending on your interests. See the suggested "tracks" listed under "programs of study."

Note that in both degrees there is room for courses of your own choosing in other departments that offer related courses. These courses must be approved by your advisor. The major criterion for approval is the extent to which these courses form an integrated series.

Starting with Fall 2005, a new set of major requirements was approved by the Department and by the University Curriculum Committee. Students who were enrolled inprior to Fall 2005 may choose either set of requirements. Students who matriculated in Fall 2005 and after must follow the requirements as stated below.

For students who matriculated betwee Fall 2005 and Spring 2009:
The B. S. degree
Prerequisite: BAA 93 or 93D
Corequisites: Biology 25L or equivalent; Chemistry 21L, 22L, and 151L; Mathematics 31 and 32; Physics 53L and 54L(see you advisor for possible equivalents).
Major requirements: A total of eight courses are required in the biological sciences, not including the above co-requisites. Of these courses, 5 must be in BAA. To gain experience in a variety of subdisciples within BAA, students must take one 100-level course in each of the following: (1) Primate Behavior and/or Ecology, and; (2) Primate/Human Paleontology or Anatomy (see listings in the Handbook for Majors). It is recommended that these breadth requirements be taken before the senior year, allowing for appropriate preparation for the 200-level courses. Up to 3 courses may be taken in other departments such as BIO, CA, EOS, PSY, or STA -- see link to pre-approved electives below, other courses must be approved by your advisor and the DUS.) Two courses must be at the 200-level (generally taken during the senior year). One course must be a laboratory or field experience and at least one course must be statistics or quantitative methods. With the advisor's approval, an independent study (193R) can be used to satisfy the field/laboratory experience.

Summary checklist of courses:

Pre-requiste: BAA 93 or 93D
Co-requisite: Bio 25L or equivilent
Co-requisite: Chem 21L, 22L and 151L
Co-requisite: Math 31 and 32
Co-requisite: Physics 53L and 54L
BAA 100-level course in Primate Ecology/Behavior
BAA 100-level course in Paleontology/Anatomy
BAA 100-level or above elective
BAA 100-level or above elective
BAA 100-level or above elective
100-level or above course in statistics/quantitative methods
100-level or above elective (BAA or approved by advisor)
100-level or above elective (BAA or approved by advisor)

One course must be a field/lab experience; two courses must be 200-level.

The A.B. degree:
Prerequisite: BAA 93 or 93D
Corequisite: Biology 25L or equivalent
Major Requirements: Nine courses in the biological sciences (not including the pre- and co-requisites above); six courses must be 100-level or above and two must be 200-level. To gain experience in a variety of subdisciples within BAA, students must take one 100-level course in each of the following: (1) Primate Behavior and /or Ecology, and; (2) Primate/Human Paleontology or Anatomy (see listings in the Handbook for Majors). It is recommended that these breadth requirements be taken before the senior year, allowing for appropriate preparation for the 200-level courses. At least five courses must be taken within BAA;Three additional courses can be taken in either BAA or departments such as BIO, CA, EOS, PSY and STA with the approval of an advisor, (see link to pre-approved electives below). One course must be a lab/field experience; this can be satisfied by 193R with approval of an advisor.

Summary checklist of courses, not including corequisites:

Pre-requisite: BAA 93 or 93D
Co-requisite: Bio 25L or equivilent
BAA elective (any level)
BAA 100-level course in Primate Ecology/Behavior
BAA 100-level course in Human/Primate Paleontology or Anatomy
BAA 100-level or above elective
BAA 100-level or above elective
100-level or above elective (BAA or approved by advisor)
100-level or above elective (BAA or approved by advisor)
100-level or above elective (BAA or approved by advisor)
100-level or above elective (BAA or approved by advisor)

One course must be a field/lab experience; two courses must be 200-level.

A list of BAA approved electives may be found here.

The minor

Advising is usually done mainly by the department of the major.
Prerequisite: BAA 93 or 93D
Minor requirements: At least one course in comparative anatomy or paleontology.
At least one course in behavior and ecology. See the BAA handbook for lists of appropriate courses.
At least two elective courses numbered 100 or above in BAA.

Second majors

Requirements are the same as for first majors.

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