Anthropology
Why Major in Anthropology?
There is perhaps no single field of study that can better prepare students
to cope with the challenges of the new millennium than anthropology. Confronted
with increasing global population, rapid technological change, rising tides
of nationalism, and economic globalization, many look to the future as
an unknown frontier. Anthropology provides understanding and answers predicated
on a century of exploring the development of human nature, society and
culture. It is the only social science which has sought to understand both
human biological and cultural variation in the past and in the present.
Encompassing a wide range of subjects spanning cultural and linguistic
anthropology, physical anthropology, archaeology and museum studies, anthropology
is a unique department among the many that study humanity.
The BA, MA and Honors programs in anthropology have been developed to provide
the student with a broad perspective on human biological and cultural development.
This is achieved through coursework in human biology and evolution, archaeology
and prehistory, linguistics, folklore, and contemporary peoples in Western
and non-Western cultures. Considerable emphasis is placed as well on the
acquisition of practical methodologies and analytical skills unique to
the discipline.
If you seek a major that will not only open up significant employment opportunities
but also provide a sense of meaning and purpose in your life, you are advised
to consider majoring in anthropology. It leads to a more sophisticated,
historically and scientifically grounded understanding of the relationship
of human beings to the natural world, past and present. Anthropology majors
develop an awareness gained through instruction and practical experiences
of how culture shapes and reshapes our understanding of human problems
and possibilities. Anthropology students are perhaps most distinguished
by the realization that there are a multiplicity of ways of engaging in
the human experience, each equally valid.
What Can You Do with an Anthropology Degree?
Anthropology is an eminently practical major for those seeking a liberal
education leading to a broad spectrum of career opportunities. Beyond the
more traditional teaching and research trajectories, anthropology majors
may select a course of study to suit them equally well for examining the
social impacts of a new federal program, or another, placing them on a
remote hillside searching for ancient artifacts. Anthropology majors are
finding positions in business, public and private agencies, education,
museums, and public health programs. The Department of Anthropology offers
four applied anthropology certificate programs.
Certificate Programs
The Cultural/Heritage Resource Management Certificate program prepares
individuals for careers in the conservation, preservation and management
of heritage resources located on public and private lands. Emphasis is
placed upon acquisition of archaeological field skills and knowledge of
federal and state requirements. Employment opportunities are plentiful.
The Certificate in Forensic Identification fosters student interest in
applying scientific knowledge and skills of the physical anthropologist
to legal issues (i.e., in an area of the forensic sciences). This program
promotes both the development of important methods such as human skeletal
identification and assessment in collaborative involvement with local law
enforcement agencies.
The Certificate in Museum Studies prepares individuals for careers in municipal,
county, and historical society museums, and state and federal interpretive
centers. Emphasis is placed upon curatorial research and the design, preparation,
and installation of exhibits.
The Cultural Anthropology Certificate program prepares individuals for
careers in public and private businesses such as multinational corporations
or federal agencies. Emphasis is placed upon identifying culturally related
problem areas, preparing research designs, collecting and analyzing data,
and recommending policy.
Come visit the Department of Anthropology to learn more about the faculty
and our facilities. You have an invitation to discover anthropology.
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