Department of Anthropology
Chair: Sally McBeth, Ph.D.
Location: Candelaria 2200C
Telephone: 970.351.2021
Faculty: Andrew T. Creekmore, Ph.D.; Whitney L. Duncan, Ph.D.; Michael Kimball, Ph.D.; Patricia Jolly, M.A.; Britney K. McIlvaine, Ph.D.; Sally McBeth, Ph.D.; Ather Zia, Ph.D.
Course(s) Offered ( Prefix ):
Program(s) Offered:
Anthropology B.A.
Interdisciplinary Emphasis
Anthropology Minor
Anthropology: Multicultural Anthropology Minor
Anthropology is the study of humans at all times and in all places. It focuses on our evolutionary history through the study of our biological past and the archaeological record. Equally, anthropology focuses on human culture in all its variety. It offers a holistic perspective on the human condition that is valuable in many professions.
The discipline of anthropology is subdivided into cultural/social anthropology, archaeology, physical anthropology and anthropological linguistics. Cultural/social anthropology, archaeology and physical anthropology are stressed at UNC.
Laboratories in physical anthropology, archaeology, ethnology and media are utilized in the instructional program. Ethnology and archaeology courses include all areas of the world, but focus on peoples of the New World. Social processes such as culture change, acquiring culture, ethnicity, urban anthropology, the biological basis for culture and society and current problems are stressed.
Students in Anthropology will gain the following skills in the specific subfields:
- Cultural Anthropology — Cultural awareness, participant observation, interviewing, listening, and ethnographic description, interpretation, and comparison in the development of ethnographic assessments.
- Physical Anthropology — Techniques of paleoanthropology, microevolutionary analysis, forensic anthropology, and statistical methods in applied settings.
- Archaeology — Field and laboratory techniques, interpreting site and survey data, report writing, interdisciplinary approaches, integration of subfields in cultural resource management and heritage preservation.
- Multicultural Studies — Multicultural awareness, critical thinking, empathy for others, ability to conceive and apply alternative interpretations to the contemporary problems of culturally diverse societies.