Anthropology of the Americas, B. A.
The Bachelor’s degree programs provide basic knowledge about indigenous societies in the Americas as well as research methods and theoretical approaches in the most important areas of work and research in the fields of Anthropology of the Americas. In the two basic modules of the compulsory area, first-year students acquire a broad knowledge of the beginnings of indigenous societies, the history of conquest and current political and social processes in Latin America. To this end, basic knowledge of the methods and theories of archaeological, historical, linguistic and anthropological research is introduced. The second and third years of study offer the opportunity to develop and deepen your own regional interests within the Americas and methodological learning objectives on this basis.
In the history of the German discipline, the term “Altamerikanistik” refers to a regional sub-discipline of ethnology, which can also be described as “anthropology of the Americas”.
The research and teaching subject of Anthropology of the Americas only exists in this form in German-speaking countries. Its subject are the indigenous societies of the Americas, particularly Latin America. Traditionally, the focus has been on the cultural areas of the Andes and Mesoamerica. Today, indigenous societies throughout all of Latin America are taken into account. Teaching and research are dedicated to current topics such as globalization or the cultural effects of colonization on indigenous societies as well as current decolonial demands in politics, society and academia.
Altamerikanistik in Bonn is offered as an interdisciplinary subject that combines research approaches from ethnology, ethnography, archaeology, ethnohistory, linguistics and other related disciplines. In this way, cultural developments are traced and indigenous America is explored in its historical depth. It is thus in the tradition of North American cultural anthropology.
Here we list all the professional fields in which our graduates have gained a foothold:
- national and international organizations and companies (public authorities, foundations, non-governmental organizations, tourism sector, etc.)
- cultural management
- museum sector (museum and cultural management)
- educational institutions
- adult education
- science management (e.g. DAAD, DFG)
- science (with M.A. degree: teaching and research at universities or in research institutions)
- in the field of business (e.g. tourism)
- business and cultural management
- journalism
- in the communications industry (advertising, PR, translation)
- in national and international authorities
- in the field of marketing
- in the book industry (publishing houses, libraries, book trade)
- press and public relations, media industry
- educational institutions in international exchange
Enrolment
Enrolment for the B.A. Ancient American Studies (Dual subject) & B.A. Ancient American Studies and Ethnology (minor subject) for the winter semester 2025/2026 is possible from June 2nd until September 30th 2025.
Important Information regarding your studies
Here you will find the most important documents (module handbooks, examination regulations) and instructions for academic work.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
The answers to the most important questions from the beginning to the end of your studies are summarized here for you.
Course content of the Bachelor's degree
Archaeology
Archaeology explores the past through materiality. In our program, archaeology knows no temporal boundaries. Mediated by materiality, we explore the earliest human settlements in the Americas, cultural developments, historical archaeology after the European conquest, and even the present. In this way, archaeology raises new questions and offers alternative interpretations of a profound and complex history of the Americas.
Writing and notation systems
The autochthonous writing and notation systems that were part of the cultural memory of the inhabitants of the Americas before the European invasion, in particular the writing systems of Mesoamerica and the hieroglyphic writing of the Classic Maya, are addressed in various modules of the Bachelor's degree programs and can be studied in greater depth independently in the course of the degree program.
Ethnohistory
Ethnohistory is concerned with a fundamental range of alternative theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding the history of marginalized socio-cultural and indigenous groups in the Americas in the long historical period. For this purpose textual, visual and material sources are used, which can be interpreted with a selected inventory of methods in order to make the actors who have remained invisible for a long time "speak".
Anthropology
The focus is on the ability to critically analyze society on the basis of an introductory anthropological education. The basic concepts of anthropology, including their history and working methods, as well as social and cultural anthropological approaches in the context of current globalization processes are taught. The focus is on current research questions relating to Latin America and its indigenous groups, but also on other regions of the world and their transcultural and transnational interdependencies as examples.
Heritage
The Bachelor’s degree program offers an introduction to Critical Heritage Studies from a holistic perspective including the ontologies of indigenous peoples. In addition to the need to analyze and understand meanings and perceptions of heritage, the associated power constellations and their political-ideological dimensions are also discussed.
Amerindian languages
Language courses are currently offered in Quechua, Yucatecan Maya, Kaqchikel Maya and Náhuatl. The focus is on modern language forms. In the respective foundation module (12 ECTS), the acquisition of basic knowledge (vocabulary, grammar) is central so that students are able to hold conversations, read and write texts independently at the end. Grammar and vocabulary are vividly taught using contemporary examples of language use with audio, video and speaking exercises, partly by native speakers or in cooperation with them.
For BA students of Anthropology of the Americas in the two-subject combination, learning one of the four Amerindian languages is compulsory. The subsequent specialization (12 ECTS) is voluntary. It provides further language skills and includes an additional language course as well as an introduction to selected methods and theories of linguistics.
The titles listed serve as examples of possible Bachelor's thesis topics and are sorted by first supervisor. If you find a topic particularly interesting and would like to get in touch with the author, you can contact the first supervisor.
Prof. Dr. Karoline Noack
- „Indigener Feminismus? Eine Analyse indigener und feministischer Bewegungen am Beispiel aktueller Proteste in Ecuador“
- „La intersección entre la Teoría Social del Arte y la Teoría del Afecto. Un estudio de caso de la exposición fotografica >Mestizx<“
- „Die Kinder der Katsinam: Die Untersuchung zweier tithu der Bonner Amerikas-Sammlung (BASA) auf ihre soziokulturellen Kontexte und Bedeutungen“
- „Zwischen globalen Strukturen und dekolonialer Praxis. ‚Interkulturalität‘ im Programa de Educación Intercultural Bilingüe in Chile“
Dr. Antje Gunsenheimer
- „Indigene Frauen im ecuadorianischen Amazonasgebiet als defensoras de la selva: zwischen Umweltschutz und Frauenrechten"
- „Die Bedeutung der Feierlichkeiten anlässlich der xv años im gegenwärtigen Mexiko als rites de passage"
- „Destinos turísticos puestas en escena: Una investigación del programa Pueblos Mágicos en México"
- „Resilienz in und durch Capoeira – eine historisch-anthropologische Analyse"
Practical and international experience during your studies
It is important to gain practical and international experience during your studies. Depending on their interests, interested students have a variety of opportunities to participate in teaching excavations during semester breaks, participate in the department's research projects, complete internships at the BASA Museum, organize their own field research in the Americas and make contacts through semesters abroad and work with objects from the Americas in our course offerings. In addition, we offer various excursions in Germany, Europe and every few years in the Americas.
Working with archaeological and ethnographic objects
Objects from our teaching and research collection are regularly incorporated into many courses. This allows you to gain experience in handling and researching archaeological and ethnographic objects during your studies.
Internship
An internship is planned for the Master's degree, which can be completed either internally at the BASA Museum or in one of the department's projects, or externally. You can find more information and help with finding an internship on our internship page.
Study Abroad
Erasmus, PONS or direct exchange in the Americas? Our cooperation partners in Latin America and Europe offer the opportunity to get to know other university systems, academic perspectives and realities in one or two semesters. We are also happy to support you in your efforts to conduct your own field research for your thesis.
Every semester, an exhibition is conceived and curated together with students at BASA. On the left a small insight into our exhibition “Spinnst Du”, from 2016/2017, recorded by unibonntv.
Ausstellung - Spinnst Du?
Bild © Universität Bonn / YouTube
BASA Museum - Bonn Americas Collection
As an exhibition, communication, lecture, teaching and work space for students, teachers and researchers, the BASA Museum is the lively center of the Department of Anthropology of the Americas at the University of Bonn. The room is used for changing special exhibitions. The display depot is also located here, where a cross-section of the more than 10,000 objects in the collection is accessible. The BASA Museum presents itself to the city's public through the large display windows facing one of Bonn's busiest streets.
Application and admission
The two-subject Bachelor's degree is aimed at prospective students who wish to combine archaeology and ethnology of Latin America with another equally weighted subject from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, e.g. archaeology, Hispanic studies, politics and society, history, etc.
The minor subject ("Begleitfach") provides an introduction to the history and research of indigenous Latin American cultures and is combined with a core subject of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.
The Bachelor's degree programs in Anthropology of the Americas (two-subject, minor subject) are admission-free. An application is not necessary.
Only online enrollment is required for admission-free subjects. You can find more detailed information on enrollment/application, phase and procedure here.
University entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur)
German language skills (language level DSH 1, GeR B2 according to DSH examination regulations)
Recommended knowledge:
Good knowledge of English (at least 3 school years)
from the second year of study: knowledge of Spanish (1 school year)
The language skills mainly relate to reading texts, as a lot of literature is only available in English or Spanish. Language skills are not tested when enrolling on the degree programs.
Attention: Please note the admission requirements of the second or main subject!
For applicants from abroad, please note that the required documents must be available in certified translations (in German or English) in addition to the original documents in PDF format.
For formal questions and problems with enrollment, please contact the Registrar's Office via studsek@verwaltung.uni-bonn.de.
If you have any questions about the content of your studies, please contact our program management (Katharina Pawlak) via studiengangsmanagement.altamerikanistik@uni-bonn.de.
Here you will find the most important links for your studies.
In the module handbook, you will find the course content, coursework and examinations for each module.
The examination regulations list coursework and examinations.
You can find all the important information about examinations at the Examinations Office.
Important: Don't forget to register for the Bachelor's examination procedure at the beginning of your studies. Without registering for this, you cannot register for any examinations and are not allowed to take any examinations!
Program management and academic advising
Student Advisory Service
If you have formal questions about application procedures and deadlines, language certificates, BASIS problems, registration and examination modalities, please contact the degree program management. You can also discuss content-related questions with the program management.
Consultation hours take place by appointment. Please make an appointment by e-mail.
Adress
2nd floor, room 2.004
Oxfordstr. 15
53111 Bonn
Further information
Master
Would you like to deepen your studies? Then find out more about our Master's in Anthropology of the Americas here.