B.A. in Anthropology
Anthropology is the holistic study of human cultures/societies through time and space, as well as our primate relatives. Anthropologists study the full range of the human experience, from human origins to language to material culture to social organization. Each of its five fields – archaeology, cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, linguistics and applied anthropology – has a different focus but they share methods, theories and foundational concepts such as culture and cultural relativism. Anthropology students at SUNY Potsdam are trained in all five fields, with a particular focus on the practical application of anthropological knowledge.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- demonstrate fundamental anthropological knowledge.
- access anthropological data and information.
- apply anthropological knowledge.
- disseminate anthropological knowledge.
Career Outlook
Employment of anthropologists and archaeologists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031.
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Students and faculty participate in an annual Atlatl Battle. The atlatl team continues to offer a fun way for our students to bond and learn more about ancient forms of technology.
Dr. Timothy Messner talks about SUNY Potsdam's Anthropology Festival featuring an Atlatl battle where students compete by throwing darts at a target with an atlatl, an ancient hunting tool.
“Anthropology is studying what it is that makes us human. It’s really fascinating to me to be looking back in time, hundreds of thousands of years ago, at these people and the struggles they went through. We’re not just looking at them as bones in the desert or a cave, we’re trying to piece together what their lifestyle was like.”
Anthropology Major