Anthropology Overview
American Anthropological Association
(AAA) www.aaanet.org/
American Archaeological Institute
(AIA) www.archaeological.org/
National Association for the Practice of Anthropology
(NAPA) practicinganthropology.org/
American Association of Physical Anthropologists
(AAPA) physanth.org/
Association for Feminist Anthropologists
(AFA) aaanet.org/sections/afa/
Society for American Archeology
(SAA ) saa.org/
The Study of Anthropology
Students majoring in anthropology take courses that enable them to look at the world through an “anthropological lens”- to take a holistic, comparative perspective in analyzing the multiplicity of world cultures. Some courses in anthropological theory give students insight into how anthropologists view and interpret the world, while others focus on ethnography and fieldwork, the distinctive research methods of the discipline. The Bachelor of Arts program in anthropology focuses on and prepares students to be competent in three areas: cultural anthropology, archaeology, and physical anthropology.
Cultural Anthropology
Cultural(or social) anthropology studies the organization of society, and how our behavior is learned, transmitted and expressed in our daily lives. It explores the many diverse ways in which humans relate to one another, and reveals the cultural milieus, political configurations, ways of speaking, and environments people have used to shape their world.
Biological Anthropology
Biological anthropology (or physical anthropology) is the study of humans as a biological species; that is, emphasizing the comparison of human and non-human primates, examination of fossil and genetic evidence for human evolution, and exploration of the adaptive nature of human physical traits. Evolutionary theory unites all the subdisciplines of biological anthropology.
Archaeology
Archaeology is the study evidence of human life from material remains of the past, whether 100,000 or only 100 years ago. Courses convey substantive knowledge of past cultures and societies, artifact analysis, and include seminars allowing in-depth reading and discussion, as well as archaeological fieldwork.
To learn more about special study opportunities and careers in Anthropology review the provided links on the left to Anthropology associations.
