Anthropology

Anthropologists are concerned with understanding the structure and functioning of social groups through minimally invasive participant observation and other “qualitative” techniques in their own communities, as well as in other countries. They follow a holistic approach that offers a humanistic understanding of society, and the way people solve their own problems. VIU’s program encourages the application of anthropological theory, knowledge and methods in areas such as “race” relations, cultural sensitivity training, archaeology, resource management, human rights facilitation, as well as the interaction of culture and the environment. Anthropologists are also concerned with the evolutionary biology of our species and the history of cultures around the world. Linguistic anthropologists study language and its role in cultural transmission.