Cultural Anthropology Program
Cultural Anthropology Introduction
Cultural Anthropology provides students with a foundation in the study of culture, particularly in cultural systems, narratives, and performances, globalization, political and economic systems, religion, ethnography, applied anthropology, etc. Students who study cultural anthropology find employment opportunities in international organizations (i.e., U.N.), government agencies, corporations, historical/cultural associations, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
What is Cultural Anthropology?
Anthropology represents a comparative and holistic study of the human condition past and present. The historical (physical and archaeological) and ethnographic (sociocultural and linguistic) methods offer a unique cross-cultural perspective on humankind anciently and today. Our goal is to sharpen critical and analytical thinking about cultural differences through careful and in-depth studies of particular cultures, and then through a comparative approach, explore underlying cultural processes in the past as well as those within current regional and global trends. We also hope to explore culturally sensitive applications of Anthropological understanding of social inequalities, development, and intercultural relations. By studying these processes in a variety of cultural and historical contexts, we will gain not only an appreciation of “others,” but discover an “otherness” in ourselves.
What Can You Do With Cultural Anthropology?
Anthropology prepares you for excellent jobs in advocacy, public service, business, teaching, and research. Anthropologists work in diverse places such as international agencies (United Nations, World Bank), corporations (Intel, GM), museums (Smithsonian), government departments (Ministry of Culture, Tourism), advocacy organizations (Cultural Survival, Amnesty International), and schools (language revitalization). The knowledge and skills of anthropologists are highly valued and marketable in our increasingly globalized world.
