Why Choose Anthropology?

What is Anthropology?

Anthropology is the study of people throughout the world and across time. Anthropologists seek to answer questions like:

• When and where did human life arise?
• What were past human societies like?
• Why and how do humans walk upright?
• What separates human beings from other animals?
• When did humans develop the capacity for symbolic thought?
• How do we explain transformations in human societies over time?
• How do people determine who they are and communicate their identities?
• Why are there social, political, and economic inequalities?
• How do societies justify and give meaning to collective violence?
• What are the pathways and consequences of globalization?

Subdisciplines of Anthropology (+ dropdown to open the listing)

• Archaeology—Studies past peoples and cultures through the analysis of their material remains
• Biological Anthropology—Studies the evolution of humans from other animals and seeks to understand how evolution and culture work together to produce biological and behavioral variation among human populations.
• Cultural Anthropology—Examines social patterns and practices across cultures
• Environmental Anthropology—Examines how we interact with, respond to, and change environments
• Forensic Anthropology—Analyzes human remains to aid in the detection of crime
• Linguistic Anthropology—Studies the ways language reflects and influences social life
• Medical Anthropology—Seeks to understand factors that influence people’s health and wellbeing
• Museum Anthropology—Studies the history of museums, their role in society, and changes there within
• Practice Anthropology—Applies the discipline to identify and solve problems
• Visual Anthropology—Uses images for description, analysis, communication, and interpretation of behavior.

Is Anthropology Right for Me?

Anthropology has been called the most scientific of the humanities, and the most humanistic of the sciences. The discipline is a great major when you have interest in a combination of :