Anthropology [BA]

Anthropology is the global study of humans, past and present, emphasizing cultural diversity and change. Students pursuing a  Bachelor of Arts  in  Anthropology  are prepared to understand and function in a diverse world and gain practice in applying knowledge and methods for researching, past and present human communities.

Learn

The Anthropology Major grounds students in Cultural Anthropology while enabling emphasis in one or more traditional subfields:

• Cultural Anthropology – the study of cultural diversity, global forces of change connecting communities, the meanings behind cultural practices, and applying knowledge and methods to explain and solve human problems.
• Physical/Biological Anthropology – the study of the diverse ways in which humans have evolved and continue to adapt to their environments through the mutual interaction of biology and culture.
• Linguistic Anthropology – the study of human language use, diversity, and change emphasizing how people understand relationships to the world and each other through shared meanings.
• Archaeology – the study of past human cultures through the patterns and changes in material objects they leave behind (homes, tools and other technologies, animal and plant remains, etc.).

Opportunities

Students have available the following guided opportunities to enhance their potential.

• Hands-on research in Cultural Anthropology, Physical/Biological Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Archaeology.
• Scholarly conference presentations through guided preparation
• Study and research abroad
• Archaeology Field School to prepare students for employment
• Internships

Anthropology has been defined as the most scientific of the humanities and the most humanistic of the sciences. It is also a truly integrative discipline. Because of this, a BA in anthropology is a perfect preparation for graduate training in a number of academic and professional fields, from law to medicine, and from management to marketing.

Recent Anthropology Majors who looked for jobs upon graduation, with little or no graduate training, have found entry-level positions in the following areas: Museums & Libraries; Non-Profits and/or NGOs; Media & Film; Public Relations; Social and/or Health service; Cultural Resource Management; Animal Care/Training; Parks, Recreation, & Conservation; Laboratory research; Human Resources; Advertising & Marketing; Hospitality industry; Public Policy; Forensic Investigations; and Biometrics