ANTHROPOLOGY BRINGING THE STUDY OF HUMANKIND TO LIFE
WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY? Anthropology is the study of the biology, society and culture of humans and their nearest biological relatives, in all times and in all places. Anthropology at Ohio State spans three of the major subdisciplines of anthropology: cultural anthropology, archaeology and physical (biological) anthropology. Here, undergraduates take courses and undertake research with faculty who share interests in food and foodways, dietary adaptations, behavior and evolution of nonhuman primates, biocultural aspects of health, mobility and migration, and more. Graduates go on to diverse careers, such as working for state and local governments, teaching, public health and medicine, social work, publishing, marketing, environmental sciences, biological conservation and many others.
ARCHAEOLOGY Archaeology is the study of past human societies via the analysis of the remains of the materials of everyday life. Archaeologists excavate the remains of human habitations, monuments and other features, and integrate these data with laboratory analyses of artifacts. Archaeological research spans the earliest human cultures to the historic period.
PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY Physical (or biological) anthropologists study all aspects of present and past human biology. They explore the evolution of humans and their primate relatives, both living and extinct, and the biology of modern humans. They also study living primates, fossil hominins, human skeletons from archaeological contexts and modern living humans.
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY Cultural anthropologists study all aspects of society and culture — the learned behavior that is transmitted from person to person which unifies human societies. They study a wide range of social processes in modern societies, ranging from economics, health, migration, governmental structure, environmental politics and many more.
OUR PROGRAMS The goals of our programs are to prepare students for employment that combines critical thinking, communication and analytical skills with an understanding of human diversity in both time and space.
MAJORS
Anthropological Sciences (BS) Anthropology (BA) Medical Anthropology (BA) Medical Anthropology (BS)
MINORS
Archaeological Anthropology Cultural Anthropology Forensic Science Physical Anthropology
NEW MAJOR: MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY Medical Anthropology is a subfield of anthropology that draws upon biological and sociocultural anthropology to understand human health and well-being. It considers how human evolutionary history combines with people’s current cultural, economic and political context to shape their health. Medical anthropologists work in universities, hospitals and clinics, in public health and for national and international health agencies, as well as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) focused on health. If you are interested in developing the skills to tackle some of our most pressing national and global health challenges, then this degree may be an ideal choice for you.
LEARN MORE: ANTHROPOLOGY.OSU.EDU/UNDERGRAD
The geographic reach of departmental research is global, with projects on the continents of North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the islands of the Pacific Ocean.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH There are many opportunities for undergraduates to participate in anthropological research at Ohio State with faculty and graduate student mentors. In the past, students have conducted studies of cattle herders in Cameroon, investigated markets in urban areas of the U.S., excavated archaeological sites in Ohio and Italy, and analyzed medieval European skeletons for the presence of particular diseases. In addition to general laboratory space for undergraduate research, students benefit from exploring the following: • • • • • • • • • • • •
The premier paleoethnobotany laboratory in the nation A state-of-the-art bioarchaeology laboratory An extensive collection of human skeletal remains Laboratory resources and comparative materials for forensic studies Archaeological field projects (via field schools or independent study) in Ohio, Hungary, Oman and the Pacific Islands Bioarchaeological field projects in Turkey Cultural ecology and human biology field experience in the Amazon and Cameroon Economic aspects of contemporary migration A human biological anthropology laboratory with genetic, anthropometric and physiological equipment An established research station with habituated non-human primates in the Ivory Coast (West Africa) A large collection of non-human primate skeleton-dental material from West Africa Laboratory facilities to support archaeological applications of geochemistry
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A DEGREE IN ANTHROPOLOGY? The potential reach of anthropology is vast, due to the nature of the discipline. Students who major in anthropology are trained in holistic and global approaches to problem solving. Add in the focus on culture and you have an academic field with great reach. Anthropology graduates can do pretty much anything: government jobs, non-profit work, corporate, banking, etc. The opportunities are endless. The global perspective students gain in anthropology can enhance any work environment and with the job forecast on the rise, anthropologists will continue to play a larger role in the world. Additionally, with fewer anthropology majors in the workforce, graduates are able to focus on relaying their unique training to potential employers and stand out.
“No matter if it’s research or student organizations, you’ll find graduate students and faculty in the Department of Anthropology who are willing to take you in and make you a better student and researcher. By getting involved in the department, you’re joining a community that will really enrich your academic experience.” Luke Fannin’s passion for research has taken him far. The zoology and anthropology student has spent his academic career searching for answers in labs at Ohio State, museums in major American cities and the far reaches of the Amazon rainforest.
The Department of Anthropology is part of the College of Arts and Sciences at Ohio State. Our academic programs empower you to follow any path and achieve success, and we’ll support you every step of the way.
Start your journey at anthropology.osu.edu. DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY 4034 Smith Laboratory • 174 W. 18th Ave. • Columbus OH, 43210-1106 Facebook: @OSUanthro Instagram: @osuanthro Twitter: @OSUanthro
Dr. Scott McGraw: mcgraw.43@osu.edu Dr. Karen Royce: royce.6@osu.edu Department Email: anthropology@osu.edu