Anthropology (AN)
Anthropology is the study of the human condition, past and present. Our anthropology
program concentrates on three sub-areas within anthropology: cultural anthropology,
which studies the ways of life of different groups and communities in the present;
archaeology, which studies the human past through its physical remains; and biological
anthropology, which focuses on the adaptations, variability and evolution of humans
and their living and fossil relatives. By exploring the complexities of culture, social
action and biology, our students investigate and appreciate human diversity. Our courses
introduce students to fieldwork and the importance of theoretical concepts in anthropological
research, while, at the same time, developing their skills in critical thinking. In
the support of a liberal arts education, we encourage students to develop interdisciplinary
interests by bridging anthropology with the natural and social sciences, humanities,
and arts, and to explore those interests through coursework, individual research projects,
internships, and study abroad. Through studying the breadth and scope of the human
experience, students become responsible, informed global citizens. A major in anthropology
provides students with a solid foundation for graduate study and careers in a range
of fields, including cultural heritage, education, environmental sustainability, film
and media studies, historic preservation, international development, medicine and
public health, museum studies, public administration, and social services.
Students who are considering anthropology as a prospective major are encouraged to
take the following courses by the end of their sophomore year: AN 101: Introduction
to Cultural Anthropology; AN 102: Anthropology of the Human Past; AN 270: History
of Anthropological Thought; and a research methods course (AN 201 Ethnographic Research
Methods or AN 202 Archaelogical Field Methods). Most students choose to study abroad
in their junior year, after taking AN 270 and a research methods course.
Recommended courses for a prospective major
Fall
AN 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
or
AN 102 Anthropology of the Human Past
or
200-level Anthropology elective
Spring
AN 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
or
AN 102 Anthropology of the Human Past
or
200-level Anthropology elective
Anthropology Department Site
Bolton Room 349
518-580-5420