Cultural Anthropology, BA

Department of Anthropology, Sociology, and Social Work
Jodi O’Brien, PhD, Chair

Objectives 

Anthropology is an integrated and interdisciplinary field. The discipline offers a holistic engagement with the question: What does it mean to be human? Anthropology is ideally suited to a critical understanding of the broad past, present, and the future of human experience, cultural interaction, and the person in society. Anthropology is embedded in an empirically based working theory of cultural diversity. Anthropological perspectives are especially suited to complement studies in fields in which humans are central: pre-medicine, psychology, political science, urban planning, journalism, education, and business.

The major is designed to develop students’ abilities and skills in knowledge of the field that will serve as a foundation for further study and/or career goals. A broad understanding of human culture around the world and across time is achieved through four types of classes. The first set of classes provide a foundational knowledge in the theories and methods of anthropology. The second set familiarizes students with a basic unit of study in anthropology, the family and kinship systems. The third set of courses provides detailed coverage of the cultural aspects of ethnicity. The fourth area provides in-depth coverage of cultural systems of knowledge and belief. In addition, students will take electives that enable them to achieve a breadth of information in areas such as medical anthropology, gender and sexuality, language, business and politics.