The Department of Anthropology strongly encourages its students to participate in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP). Anthropology is the study of humankind in the broadest sense, considering all peoples and cultures of the present and the past. By going abroad and studying at a foreign university, students can see and experience other cultures first-hand, deepening their understanding of other cultures in ways that reading about them in a textbook never could. Since all courses taken through EAP are accepted as UC courses, with careful planning students can spend a year of study in a foreign university with no loss of progress towards graduation.
For the Anthropology major, studying abroad gives you a wonderful opportunity to study in greater depth a particular country or culture that you might have read about in a class. You can visit the pyramids and temples that you read about in your anthropology course on ancient Egyptian religion, or see gorillas in their natural surroundings as you may have learned about in your primate behavior course. It also gives you the chance to learn and develop your skills in a foreign language, which is particularly important for those students who are seriously considering graduate school. (Note that it is possible to fulfill the College of Letters and Science language requirement via EAP with consultation with your college advisors.)
So don’t just read about the peoples and cultures of other countries—go and immerse yourself in them. As the world moves into the 21st century, it is becoming a smaller place. What happens in one part of the world can have a profound impact on another. The EAP experience can be a challenging and life-altering experience, having a uniquely valuable impact on your path in life. The Department of Anthropology encourages you to consider spending part of your undergraduate career at one of the many EAP locations around the world.
Become engaged in your world through EAP!
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Typically, most anthropology majors study abroad during their junior year, although some go during their senior year. Studying abroad during your junior year allows you the flexibility of completing a significant portion of your major requirements while at UCSB, and completing any remaining return your senior year). If you choose to go as a senior, you should have completed most of your major requirements.With careful planning, it is possible to graduate while abroad, but close consultation with the department undergraduate advisor and with the College of Letters and Science is essential.
Transfer students are eligible to participate as early as their first quarter at UCSB. For more information, visit the EAP web site.
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You should choose an EAP program in a country that engages your interest. It can even be in a country that you have not studied in your undergraduate classes here at UCSB, but one you find yourself drawn to. The classes that you take abroad will enhance your anthropology studies by enabling you to take courses not available at UCSB. Our anthropology majors have gone to programs all over the world, including South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and Asia--the most popular programs being in Australia and the United Kingdom.
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In general, the anthropology department will accept courses for the major if they are from anthropology or archaeology departments. Where content is appropriate, the department also accepts a limited number of courses taken in other departments while abroad to fulfill the elective requirement of the major. You need to contact the undergraduate major advisor to see which major requirements can be fulfilled by specific courses. Please note that the department tries to be as flexible as possible. While you must fulfill at least half of your upper-division major unit requirements (20 units) at UCSB, you may use EAP courses to fulfill your remaining requirements for the upper division major.The anthropology department encourages students to get involved in any kind of independent studies, fieldwork, or research that might be offered at their EAP program.
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Begin by identifying your goals for study abroad and then consult the EAP web pages (http://eap.ucop.edu/) to identify appropriate EAP programs. To find programs which offer particular disciplines or to search courses taken by EAP students over the last 5 years by subject, keyword and/or location, explore the resources found under Program and Course Search. Navigate to host universities’ web sites on the available links to learn more about the schools and their departments.
Come by the EAP office at 2431 South Hall. Peer advisors who have recently returned from studying abroad as well as staff advisors are eager to answer your questions. Go see your Undergraduate Advisor in the department office and make an appointment to speak with an advisor in the College of Letters & Science. Additionally, you’ll want to meet with an advisor in the College of Letters & Science to discuss general education, residence and other requirements.
Here is a list of EAP host countries that offer unique opportunities in anthropology:
Australia -- Barbados
Brazil -- Egypt
France -- India
Italy -- Spain
South Africa -- New Zealand
Sweden -- United Kingdom
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Department of Anthropology
Humanities & Social Science Building, Room 2001
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3210
Phone: (805) 893-2257
www.anth.ucsb.edu
