BA/BS in Anthropology

Anthropology is a comparative discipline that studies human life in all its variety. Anthropologists ask why people act as they do in familiar and unfamiliar settings, how cultural traditions form and change, and why groups hold tightly to their heritage and beliefs. The field draws on methods from many branches of learning, from natural science to the arts. Students learn how people draw on both material and symbolic assets to handle everyday challenges. Faculty research and student work often connect to conversations in other disciplines, which enriches the learning experience. Department honors and recent faculty publications show the range of work the major encourages. Anthropology suits students curious about why societies differ and what they share, whether they plan graduate study or work in fields that depend on cultural understanding.