Because anthropology views humankind as both a biological and cultural organism, it combines the biological and social sciences. The broad scope of anthropological studies has resulted in most scholars specializing in one of the following four major sub-areas. Ethnologists involve themselves in the comparative study of extant cultures. Archaeologists use scientific excavation techniques to define and expand our picture of cultures of the past particularly those cultures for which no written records exist. Physical anthropologists study both the evolution of humankind and the variation and physical adaptations of modern peoples.
Linguists study the nature and development of language and the relationship of language to culture.
The anthropology curriculum at Montana State University emphasizes a solid grounding in each of the sub-fields of the discipline with field research opportunities in archaeology, ethnography, and comparative ethnology. With these aims in mind, the course offerings include subjects such as human prehistory, social and cultural anthropology, Language and Culture, etc. With its comprehensive approach to the study of social action, anthropology provides its graduates with the opportunity to obtain an array of conceptual skills that are applicable to a wide array of occupations. Among the array of career opportunities, graduates with a sincere interest in the discipline often continue their course of study at other universities with respected graduate programs and find work as college and university teachers, researchers, or as affiliates of state and federal museums. Undergraduates with an associated teaching certificate may find employment in secondary schools.