As part of the Granite State’s R1 flagship university, We are an undergraduate department that is committed to teaching and research about human diversity, in cultural, archaeological, and biological and forensic perspectives! They’re curious about how other people in other times and places live, what they think, what they say, how they say it, what they believe, even what they dream about. Anthropology majors are often self-reflective too: they might wonder how their own society’s beliefs about the world developed and they often question those beliefs. They might stand back and see their own pages, or their families, as complex social systems. They might wonder whose interests are represented when people follow taken-for-granted customs, or what will happen to those customs when new technologies are adopted. At the same time, they are fascinated by the past and the idea of hidden worlds waiting to be discovered. They are drawn to cultural diversity in all its forms but they are interested also those parts of the human experience that are universal. Because they have so many questions, anthropology majors want to learn how to gather evidence, and how to evaluate and weigh alternative arguments and explanations. They are finding out that many of the deepest questions about human cultures can never be fully and finally answered—and that continuing to ask these questions, in new and different ways, is itself an important and delightful part of being human. Anthropology is a hybrid discipline, combining science and the humanities. It’s an intellectual home for the kind of student who has very broad and diverse interests that revolve around humans. Traditionally defined by the four subfields of physical, or biological anthropology, anthropological linguistics, socio-cultural anthropology, and archaeology, the discipline is directed to understanding how humans, as a species, live in groups. Different from psychology in its focus on groups rather than individuals, and different from sociology in its holistic methods and historical focus on non-Western and traditional cultures, anthropology is an evolving field, changing as the shape of human life on the planet changes. The Department of Anthropology at the University of New Hampshire emphasizes socio-cultural anthropology and archaeology and has special strengths in research related to the development of social complexity and its relationships to hierarchical and non-hierarchical social relations. Faculty are interested in exploring global capitalism and its relation to shifting cultural patterns; the intersection of religion and political structures; the construction of “racial” orders, ethnicities, and gender hierarchies; and health and illness and their relation to local and global economies. Our archaeologists are broadly trained and enjoy developing novel uses for cutting-edge technologies and pursing collaborative and interdisciplinary research. Faculty members have conducted research in the countries of Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Brazil, Belize and the United States. Anthropology is an excellent major for those seeking a well-rounded education, as it trains students in critical thinking (how to ask better questions about how the world works), scientific analysis and interpretation, and written and oral communication. With faculty from four countries and three continents, and its inherently international perspective, the major provides students with an expanded horizon and a deeper understanding of the increasingly global nature of the world in which we live and work. Many of our students pursue a study-abroad experience or attend an archaeological field school, such as those offered by our own faculty. Some combine the major with other majors and minors, such as International Affairs, or one of the regional studies or identity-based minors (e.g., Middle Eastern Studies or Race, Culture and Power). Our majors sometimes jump into non-profit, service-oriented experiences soon after graduation, such the Peace Corps, Americorps and Teach for America. Graduates have settled into careers in diverse fields such as public health, community or economic development, social work, teaching, museum administration, journalism, law, and business, among many others. The Department is also effective in preparing students to pursue advanced degrees in archaeology and cultural anthropology. The Department of Anthropology is especially keen to promote what the University calls the “liberal arts feel” of UNH. Please stop by the Department and read our wall displays, peruse recent student theses, and visit our “coffee & copy office” in Huddleston 309. Faculty office hours are posted next to their office doors and these are the best times to just drop in.
**This page periodically sends out announcements that we believe may be of interest to Anthropology students. Announcements do not imply endorsement by UNH, or of any of the faculty.**
