Program Overview
Anthropology is unique among the social sciences in exploring humanity in all its aspects, past and present. It provides a broad understanding of the similarities and differences in the human experience through time and space. This vast subject matter is divided up into four subfields: cultural, linguistic, archaeological, and biological (also known as physical) anthropology. Each of these in turn covers a wide array of topics:

• Cultural anthropology explores contemporary and historical diversity among people
• Linguistic anthropology describes how languages are structured and used
• Archaeological anthropology studies the material remains of past human cultures.
• Biological anthropology examines human evolution and human biological diversity.

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Objectives

1. Introduce students to anthropology as a discipline that studies all of human biological and cultural diversity by familiarizing them with its four subfields (cultural, linguistic, archaeological, and biological) in both their academic and applied aspects.
2. Provide students with critical conceptual and analytical skills to interpret their own and other cultures.
3. Invoke an understanding of both anthropological theory and practice in addressing contemporary human problems.
4. Prepare students for further graduate and professional education in anthropology or other disciplines through their mastery of theory, research methodology, and participation in fieldwork.
5. Encourage students to cultivate networks with other anthropologists and to become involved with student and professional organizations and experiences that would foster their professional socialization and future employment.

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Additional Program Information

Like all liberal arts undergraduate degrees, Anthropology prepares students to enter the workplace, reading, writing, and researching at a competent level. Anthropology’s unique perspective enhances whatever graduates choose to do, whether it be work in a business, teach, go to law school, run for Congress, join the Peace Corps, or become a doctor. Many students opt to go on for a masters degree, which is now a basic requirement for professional-level jobs in most disciplines. Forensics, cultural resource management, teaching, international development, human rights work, or employment in a state or federal agency like the National Park Service are some of the jobs open to master’s graduates. With a Ph.D., graduates can become college professors, direct their own research projects, and work in many different capacities in the private sector, in government agencies, or in international organizations like the World Bank and the United Nations.

http://wwwaaanet.org; the American Anthropological Association’s (AAA) official website; click on “Jobs/Careers” link, then scroll down the information on employment until you get to “Information on Careers in Anthropology.” This website has information on all four subfields of anthropology and is the main website for cultural anthropology. http://www.aaanet.org/sla/: the Society for Linguistic Anthropology’s official website; the Society is a special section under the American Anthropological Association and its web page on the AAA’s website gives information about what linguistic anthropologists do. http://ww.saa.org: the Society for American Archaeology’s official website; look under “Careers, Opportunities, and Jobs in Archaeology.” http://physanth.org: the American Association of Physical Anthropologists’ official website; click on link to “Careers in Physical Anthropology.” (Please note: physical anthropology is the same as biological anthropology.)