Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is a scientific discipline that studies humans and human behavior. The subject is divided into five broad fields: physical, cultural, linguistic, applied anthropology, and archaeology. Physical anthropology is concerned with hominin evolution and the biological features of human populations. Cultural anthropology deals with cross-cultural studies of learned behavior, such as language, kinship, religion, food procurement, economics, and technology. Linguistic anthropology is the study of the origin and evolution of languages and how they are connected to people’s behavior. Applied anthropology applies anthropological theories, concepts, and skills to promote change. Archaeology is involved in the recovery of material remains of past peoples with the objective of reconstructing the past. As both a biological and social science, anthropology seeks to understand and describe humankind.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the Anthropology program will be able to:
- Think critically in reading, writing, and/or speaking about topics in Anthropology, thereby identifying problems, theses, arguments, evidence and conclusions.
- Write or speak about topics in Anthropology, thereby addressing problems, formulating theses, making arguments, analyzing and weighing evidence, and deriving conclusions.
- Demonstrate an ability to understand one’s role in society, take responsibility for one’s own actions, and make ethical decisions in complex situations.
- Articulate the varieties of biological and cultural adaptations, and demonstrate an understanding of cultural pluralism.
This program’s Academic & Career Pathways:
Careers in this field
- Most professional anthropological jobs require a graduate degree. Those interested in anthropology may specialize in one of its four branches: archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistics, or physical anthropology.
- Those interested in Archeological may look for specialized field work within specific subgroups. These subgroups are divided by time periods and historicity; they include: environmental, ethnoarcheology, landscape, household, marine, aviation, aerial, battlefield, commercial, industrial, salvage, experimental, forensic, and historic.
- As the demand for university/college faculty positions decreases, most openings will exist in consulting firms and government agencies. To increase your employment opportunities with a bachelor’s degree, consider minoring or double majoring in another field such as sociology, business, urban planning, or public administration. Anthropology provides a solid background for a variety of graduate programs including law, medicine, forensics, or genetic counseling. Research admissions requirements and take prerequisite courses.
- Join professional associations such as American Association of Physical Anthropologists. Forensic anthropology has become increasingly popular as well as competitive. Career opportunities exist within the national network of state and county medical examiners and coroners. Training at the graduate level should include supplemental work in legal evidence, pathology, criminology, or forensic lab methods along with supervised casework.
Careers Relating to Anthropology Major
- Education
- Museums and Archives
- Archaeology
- Government
- Nonprofit
- Business
- Communications
Transfer Options in Anthropology
Common university majors related to the field of Anthropology include:
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Biological Anthropology
- Global Studies
- Conflict Resolution Studies
- Peace Studies
- Ethnic Studies
- Women’s Studies
- Public Health
- Museum Studies
Students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university in this discipline should consult with a counselor or visit the Transfer Center to determine the appropriate major preparation courses for their specific transfer institution and major. More information on transfer programs and procedures is available in the Transfer Guide section of the catalog.