Anthropology

Majors & Minors
Anthropology

Anthropology

Lucas Colemane is an antropology major at �鶹��ý Lafayette

"When you look at cultures, everything comes from the earth and the environment. So, if we can understand that aspect then we might understand why cultures develop the way they do.”

Meet anthropology major Lucas Coleman

You should major in anthropology if:

You’re interested in understanding the human condition.
You want to conduct applied research of culture, language, artifacts and archaeological sites, or human biology.
You’re curious about humankind and you have a passion for exploring and understanding other cultures.

Anthropology is the holistic and comparative study of humans. In the �鶹��ý Lafayette anthropology program, you can focus on areas including local and global scale power relations, language variation and change, linguistic revitalization, archaeology, ancient civilizations, historical archaeology, cultural resources management, human evolution, human skeletal anatomy, and human behavior.

As an anthropology major, you’ll study the field broadly as well as each of the sub-fields: archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology.

Anthropology at �鶹��ý Lafayette

What's Anthropology Like?

Lab & field work
Research & theory
Presenting
Group work & collaboration
Internship
Reading & writing

Learn through internships

We offer internship opportunities with Vermilionville, the Science Museum in Lafayette, forensic examiner offices and other agencies and organizations.

Life as an Anthropology Major

An anthropology student researching archaeological finds in a lab at the University of �鶹��ý at Lafayette.

Research for a Reason

Discover more than what’s in the pages of a textbook. Take advantage of research opportunities in the Forensic Anthropology and Bioarcheology labs, where you can work with human and non-human skeletal remains, 3-D scanning and modeling, and more. Fieldwork opportunities are available throughout �鶹��ý, as well as both volunteer and paid internship opportunities with museums, archaeological sites, and forensics.

�鶹��ý Public Archaeology Lab

The �鶹��ý Public Archaeology Lab (LPAL) allows students to participate in applied research, community outreach, and public education for �鶹��ý, the Lower Mississippi Valley, and north-central Gulf Coast. You can work with archaeological records and cultural resources from these areas to gain experience in regulatory compliance, cultural resource management, and heritage conservation.

Study Abroad

Earn credit toward your degree while studying in another country. Study abroad with our programs in Costa Rica, England, France, Italy, and Morocco.

Student Organizations

Join the Anthropology Society on campus to explore the sub-fields of anthropology with fellow students. Find your passion for archaeology or biological, cultural, or linguistic anthropology.

Anthropology Courses According to Students

Freshman Year Sophomore Year Junior Year Senior Year

ANTH 202: Biological Anthropology

with Dr. J Lynn Funkhouser

Biological anthropology is an intro course that's very fun and interesting. I think it's a good class if you're a nursing major or going into medicine because it applies biology to humanity and the past. It's just very, very cool stuff. You learn about things like epigenetics, which is just the coolest."

Rene Champagne, Anthropology and French Double Major

ANTH 303: Archaeology

with Dr. Mark Rees

Between the reading material and the lectures, I got a clear understanding of both the theoretical and historical nature of archaeology and techniques, as well as current standards, theories, and potential cultural issues that archaeologists face today. The class broadened my understanding of the level of detail that is necessary for the work while giving me the skills to apply myself in the field.”

Victor Dovid Smith, Anthropology major

ANTH 390: Linguistic Anthropology

with Dr. Kathe Managan

Dr. Managan expects meaningful work from her students and she doesn't limit us. We covered everything from the basics of identity and ideology to different discipline theories. We also learned about early anthropologists and ethnographic methods. It really helps you understand the discipline, what archeologists do, and how they do it.”

Zoe Huval, Anthropology Major

ANTH 430: Forensic Anthropology

with Dr. J Lynn Funkhouser

Professor Funkhouser is so passionate and interested in what she is teaching and really wants all of her students succeed. The course content focuses on different areas of forensic anthropology while still managing to go into great detail about each topic."

Madison Machen, Anthropology Major

Careers in Anthropology

Regina Lowe

“Anthropology allows me to combine my interests in science, history, and sociology. Studying anthropology at �鶹��ý Lafayette has given me the opportunity to do archaeology in �鶹��ý, which I want to continue to do in my future career.”

Anthropology '20

PhD Student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Meet Regina Lowe

Jobs in Anthropology

Archaeologist
Park Ranger
Non-Profit Program Manager
Museum Coordinator
Forensic Anthropologist
Business Ethnographer

Program Requirements

Admissions Requirements

To major in anthropology, you must meet the University's admissions requirements.
See the full admission requirements.

Graduation Requirements

You must pass all anthropology courses with a C or better.

Anthropology majors are required to maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA. At least 45 class credit hours must be at the 300/400 levels.

All anthropology majors must also complete a minor of 18 credit hours.

Explore all minors

To earn a , you must take 15 credits of pre-determined coursework. You will then select any other five courses in the anthropology program, with at least 6 of those credits at either the 300 or 400 level.

Resources

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Anthropology

Meet anthropology major Lucas Coleman