Cultural anthropologists examine the ways in which people raise their children, practice their religion, establish a political system, make a living and express themselves in art. Linguistics is the systematic study of language, whether written or unwritten. Linguists also examine the roles languages plays in daily life, and use language to gain insight into the ways that people view their world. Archaeologists reconstruct prehistoric lifeways based on the clues they uncover from excavation and a variety of other techniques they have developed. Their goal is the description and understanding of prehistory.
Biological anthropologists explore evolution and contemporary human biological diversity.
In their study of these topics, some physical anthropologists have become experts on the biology and behavior of some of our close non-human relatives, such as monkeys, chimpanzees, and gorillas. One to two Richard Dougherty Undergraduate Excellence Awards are awarded to seniors each year. Many anthropology majors receive College of Liberal Arts or University scholarships. I began my undergraduate education at WSU as a geology major, but my deepest interest was in the archaeology of the Pacific Northwest. I took a couple classes in Anthropology during my first three semesters at WSU, and by the end of my sophomore year had changed my major to Anthropology.