Academics
Download the Anthropology Major Contract (Academic Year 11-12)
Download the Anthropology Major Contract (Academic Year 12-13)
Download the Anthropology Rotation Plan
Anthropology is a holistic science dedicated to the study of human cultural and biological diversity and evolution. At Humboldt, students acquire a solid foundation in all four anthropological subfields:
Cultural anthropology examines cultural beliefs and practices, in terms of their cultural specificity and through cross-cultural comparison.
Linguistic anthropology focuses on relationships between language and culture.
Biological anthropology investigates human biological evolution and variation by exploring evolutionary theory, modern and fossil humans, and non-human primates.
Archaeology studies past and present cultures and cultural heritage preservation by documenting and analyzing material remains.
HSU anthropology students gain specialized knowledge and research skills in one or more subfields (and at least two world regions) through advanced coursework and hands-on laboratory and field experiences. This provides an ideal basis for successful employment in a wide range of careers internationally and domestically, as well as continuation in advanced degree programs. For example, students have the opportunity to:
Critically engage ethnographic representations, design cultural studies, collect ethnographic data, learn about Native American Languages, delve into vital real-world cultural issues, and have the opportunity to make international experience an integral part of the degree through international exchange and independent study across the globe.
Participate in archaeological surveys, excavations, and analysis, supported by local archaeological sites, our on-campus simulated site, partnerships with local museums and cultural heritage offices, the Archaeology Laboratory, the Cultural Resources Facility, and the Belize Archaeology Field Program.
Conduct research in evolutionary medicine, forensic anthropology, and non-human primate morphology, vocalizations, behavior, and evolution at the Humboldt Center for Evolutionary Anthropology and through the Costa Rica Primate Field Program.
These are some of the topics and world regions that our faculty and program highlight:
- Anthropology of Development
- Globalization
- Art and Material Culture
- Ethnography
- Contemporary Anthropological Theory
- Colonization and Post-colonial Reality
- Diaspora Islam
- Ritual and Religion
- Ideology and Sociocultural Change
- Cultural Ecology
- Expressive Culture
- Gender and Sexuality
- Native American Languages
- Ancient political and socioeconomic organization
- Ancient political boundaries
- Subsistence patterns and resource utilization
- Mesoamerican Archaeology
- Maya archaeology
- Lithic Technology
- Archaeology of Warfare
- Settlement Patterns
- Contemporary Archaeology Theory
- Cultural Resources Management
- Archaeology of North America
- Zooarchaeology
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Comparative Anatomy
- Evolutionary Theory
- Forensic Anthropology
- Paleoanthropology
- Evolutionary Medicine
- Asia (China, Japan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka)
- Oceania (Australia and the Pacific)
- North America
- Latin America
- The Caribbean
- South Africa