Anthropology is the study of human cultures, societies, and behavior in all
parts of the world throughout all periods of history. There are four
sub-disciplines: archaeology, the study of historic and prehistoric cultures and
civilizations; Socio-cultural anthropology, which is concerned with current
cultures of all degrees of complexity; physical anthropology, the biological
aspects of the human species; and anthropological linguistics, which is
concerned with the scientific study of language and its relationship to thought
and society. In the past, anthropologists tended to study people in small,
tribal societies. In recent decades, more attention has been given to peasantry
and industrialized, urban societies and to the application of anthropology to
understanding problems of these societies.
The Department of Anthropology focuses on archaeology and socio-cultural
anthropology. Training in linguistics may be obtained through the linguistics
course concentration. Courses in biological/physical anthropology also are
offered from time to time. In addition, the Department offers courses in
folklore, oral history, and geography, which are closely related to
anthropology.
Departmental Notes:
Graduate Training in Archaeology
The Department of Anthropology cooperates with the Institute for Quaternary
Studies and the Department of History to train graduate students in prehistoric
and historic archaeology (see History in index).
Application is made through these cooperating units. An Individualized Ph.D. in
Anthropology is possible under certain circumstances. (See also, Graduate School
Catalog).
Career Opportunities:
Anthropology provides very broad training in the social sciences. Therefore, a
background in Anthropology is useful in any career in which an understanding of
people or the societies in which they live is important. Due to the broad nature
of the field, students trained in anthropology have followed a wide range of
careers. In recent years, our majors have pursued advanced training in
anthropology and folklore. They also have gone on to advanced training in law,
social work, business, theology, library science, museum work, nursing, computer
programming, clinical psychology, education, and the U.S. Armed Forces.
International Affairs in Anthropology majors receive excellent preparation
for careers in law, Foreign Service, international development, or business
operating in the international arena.
Students with course work and practical experience in archaeology, as well as
those with graduate degrees in archaeology, have found employment with public
agencies and private organizations concerned with cultural resource management.
Special Resources and Programs
Archaeology faculty focuses on historic and prehistoric North America and
prehistoric South America. A number of faculty are jointly appointed with the
Canadian-American Center and the Climate Change Institute. The cultural
anthropologists have extensive field experience in the Middle East, Oceania,
Latin America, India, and Europe as well as in North America.
Periodically, the anthropology faculty offers field schools in historic and
prehistoric archaeology, oral history and folklore, and geography. Students also
are encouraged to participate in research programs in New England and the
Maritime Provinces currently in progress. In recent years students have been
hired to work on archaeology field and laboratory projects, in the Maine
Folklife Center, the Hudson Museum of Anthropology, and as interviewers and
research assistants for projects in medical anthropology and marine resource
management.
The Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology
Students may declare an anthropology major in their first year, and must declare
their major once they have accumulated 53 credits. It is desirable to begin
taking anthropology courses in the first semester at the university.
First year students are advised to take ANT 101 (fall semester) and ANT 102
(spring semester), as these are both required for the major and are
prerequisites for many upper division courses. Other 100 and 200 level courses
in anthropology are relevant and may be taken in the first year. First year
students also concentrate on completing General Education requirements.
ANT 300 and ANT 317 are both major requirements and should be taken as early
as possible, and normally not in the senior year. The capstone course, ANT 492,
is taken in the senior year.
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