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Utah State University
Department of SSW&A
0730 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-0730
Tel. 435-797-1230
Fax 435-797-1240
ann.johns@usu.edu
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department of
Sociology,
Social Work & Anthropology
Anthropology is the integrated study of human beings in
all their aspects. It offers a broad framework for understanding human
beings and society through courses dealing with the biological evolution
of human beings, prehistoric culture change, and present diversity of
cultures and human types.
Anthropology is distinguished in its use of both scientific and humanistic
approaches to study the nature of humankind in all its complexity. Anthropologists
utilize scientific techniques first developed in the natural sciences
to identify discrete problems and develop testable hypotheses. At the
same time, anthropologists build theory which explains the experience
of being human in terms accessible to the mind. As one of the humanities,
anthropology also interprets cultures in ways that make the "alien"
more meaningful and understandable to members of other societies. With
its emphasis on holism, the field avoids much of the particularism which
renders considerable portions of science inapplicable to the ordinary
experience of life.
The contemporary social science student lives in a world of diminishing
cultural and national barriers. In this setting, ethnocentrism and provincialism
emerge as principal impediments to human and material progress. Anthropology's
tradition of cultural relativism and its focus on describing the complex
unity of human behavior has already increased the importance of the
discipline, since people with backgrounds in anthropology are widely
employed in business and government.
Anthropology Program Mission Statement and Program
Learning Goals
The mission of the Anthropology Program at Utah State University is
to prepare students for a broad range of careers that use the skills
and knowledge gained while enrolled in the Anthropology Program as well
as to prepare students for graduate studies. Graduates in Anthropology
are broadly thinking individuals exhibiting intellectual depth, effective
reading and writing skills, and the ability to solve problems spanning
the humanities, the natural sciences, and the cultural diversity characteristic
of the modern world. Program objectives include (but are not limited
to) the following:
- 1. Obtain breadth and depth of knowledge about the discipline
- 2. Learn to communicate effectively in written and oral form
- 3. Learn to think critically: combining insights from humanities
and sciences
- 4. Develop recognition and respect for human similarities and differences
- 5. Be able to understand and live in a culturally diverse world
- 6. Apply anthropological methods to solve real-world problems
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Career Opportunities
Although anthropology is a liberal arts and sciences discipline which
primarily leads to graduate studies, it also prepares individuals for
a number of rewarding career options immediately after graduation. Students
may go into Cultural Resource Management (CRM) work for private firms
and government agencies engaged in management of cultural resources
and/or archaeology related to the preparation of Environmental Impact
Statements (EIS). Graduates might also find employment in the public
sector, especially in national or state parks or in museums as guides
or in entry level management or professional positions in the corporate
world. Students may also be involved in police work, particularly forensic
science. Since the classes students take have a strong international
focus, anthropology students are recruited by companies and government
agencies (USAID, State Department/Foreign Service, World Bank) engaged
in international business and sales. The broad education afforded by
anthropology prepares students to adapt quickly and successfully to
a wide range of jobs.
Special features of the USU Anthropology Program include smaller
courses, individualized attention, opportunities for laboratory,
museum and fieldwork, and the opportunity of working in teaching
assistant positions. All these features give anthropology majors
choice and experiences unavailable to undergraduates in most
programs. The Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology (http://www.usu.edu/anthro/museum/)and
Ethnographic Field Schools (http://www.usu.edu/anthro/peru)
provide additional hands-on learning opportunities. Anthropology participates
in the Department of Geology's option in Geoarchaeology, the American
Studies Program and the Folklore Program in the Department of English.
Get
Anthropology Requirement Sheet
For more information Email Bonnie Pitblado at bonnie.pitblado@usu.edu.
Or visit the anthropology webpage at
http://www.usu.edu/anthro.
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