Students focus on topics such as social interaction and psychological processes, linguistic relations and economic structures within societies in these and other areas. Archaeology - This track allows students to focus on laboratory and field methods of archaeology, while learning about the prehistory of various world areas. Students electing this track must take an advanced laboratory class and are encouraged to take the summer field course. A minor in anthropology consists of five courses approved by the department. Every other summer, the department offers an archaeology field course.
Students spend two months in the desert of Nevada implementing methods learned in the classroom.
Excavation takes place at one of the earliest archaeological sites in North America, dating to more than 10,000 years ago. Students explore a variety of field methods and gain the experience living and interacting in a field camp. The senior project in anthropology consists of a one-semester project in which students conduct independent research under the direction of two departmental advisers. Students having an average of 88 in anthropology may continue on during a second semester for honors. All members of the department are active scholars as well as experienced and enthusiastic teachers.