Wondering whether a degree in anthropology might be right for you? Contact our office to ask questions or set up a conversation with one of our advisors.
Phone: 530-898-6192
Email: anth@csuchico.edu
Are you the curious type? Anthropology is your ticket to explore how people across the world have evolved over time and continue to change—covering everything from cultural practices and religion to language, modern technology, and human biology.
Whether you’re seeking a career in forensic science, as a museum curator, or making award-winning documentaries, our nationally recognized and highly interactive anthropology program is a doorway to infinite possibilities.
A World of Options to Explore
From classes in witchcraft and pop culture to fieldwork in our specialized laboratories and internships researching ancient disasters, our anthropology degree prepares you to think openly and critically about the world and forge your own professional path.
Specializations and Options
Our flexible program allows you to focus on the areas of anthropology that resonate with you and drive your curiosity.
Archeology
Study the tools, buildings, and remains of ancient cultures and civilizations, leading to careers in settings like laboratories, historical societies, government, and more.
Biological Anthropology
Learn the biology and behavioral patterns of humans through real-world forensic investigations, unlocking the skills needed to work as a scientist or researcher.
Cultural Anthropology
Understand the role of society and culture in the human experience to chart your course to community advocacy work or documentary filmmaking.
Museum Studies
Prepare for your career in museum work or cultural heritage management with this special blend of theory and practical experience.
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I absolutely fell in love with it—the idea of learning about different cultures, wanting to explore meaning behind culture, and doing research.
Become the Difference
Take advantage of amazing opportunities to work with faculty, staff, and fellow students on bold projects that make an impact locally, nationally, and globally.
Studying Bones Abroad
Our students traveled to Bogota, Colombia, to study human remains from a 19th-century cemetery and excavated 17th-century skeletons of British soldiers in Antigua, West Indies.
ALVA-Produced Films
Local PBS station KIXE Public Broadcasting Service aired a series of documentary films from our Advanced Laboratory for Visual Anthropology (ALVA).
Beauty in the Chaos
Anthropology faculty Brian Brazeal traveled to Sri Lanka to study and document the country’s unique place in the global gemstone industry—the ninth country he has visited to conduct such research.
The Search for What Remains
Learn from the experts who staff our Human Identification Laboratory. They led the nation's largest recovery response since 9/11 following the Camp Fire, and again after the Maui wildfires, performing the daunting task of searching for human remains.
A Network of Support
Make connection and gain valuable experience outside the classroom by joining the Chico Anthropology Society. Our student-run club offers field trips, forums, opportunities to volunteer and attend the annual Chico Forensic Conference, and regular gatherings.
Enhanced Learning Environments
Experience your future in our range of specialized learning environments—laboratories where you can examine ancient animal remains or observe human behaviors.
Learn from the Best
Accelerate your career progress by working in our Human Identification Lab—the largest in the Western United States and the only university lab listed as a state resource for mass fatality response.
Become a Storyteller
Our Advanced Laboratory in Visual Anthropology is the nation’s first higher education facility to incorporate filmmaking into anthropological research, letting you show your research to the world.
Curate the Future
Learn and hone your craft at the Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology, our on-campus museum, providing rare opportunities to research, design, and install exhibits for the general public.
Discover Stories and More
Chico State TodayRelated Programs
Anthropology Department
Wondering whether a degree in anthropology might be right for you? Contact our office to ask questions or set up a conversation with one of our advisors.
Phone: 530-898-6192
Email: anth@csuchico.edu