ABOUT ANTHROPOLOGY
MISSION STATEMENT
We at UNC seek to make sense of the human world and also engage with others to solve complicated social and environmental problems. We cross cultural boundaries, examine the archaeological record, investigate our primate and hominid past, and question what the future holds. We guide students in applying cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and physical anthropology as professionals and scholars in a collaborative environment.
WHY STUDY ANTHROPOLOGY?
- You want to be a force of positive change in the world
- You are interested in the human potential for peace
- You are curious about human nature and culture
- You are fascinated by different world views
- You want to know more about the ancient past
- You want to satisfy a curiosity about where we came from and where we are going
- You want to celebrate humanity in all of its diversity
A LITTLE MORE ABOUT ANTHROPOLOGY AT UNC
- We have about 60 majors
- We have 4 full time anthropology faculty positions, 1 half time faculty position (shared with women's studies), and 4 adjunct (part-time) faculty.
- We have an active, undergraduate Anthropology Club
- We have a well-equipped archaeology and forensics lab.
A LOT MORE ABOUT ANTHROPOLOGY AT UNC
The University of Northern Colorado offers a B.A. in Anthropology with an Interdisciplinary emphasis. The degree is designed to ground our students in the four-field approach to anthropology by requiring 33 credit hours of core courses in cultural anthropology (including linguistics), physical anthropology, and archaeology.
Additionally, our majors will select a 27 credit hour related "complement" from courses across the university curriculum (including additional anthropology classes if they choose). This interdisciplinary complement allows students to tailor their interests and job aspirations to their course of study. For example, a student interested in pursuing a career in archaeology might take courses in GIS (Geographic Information Systems), whereas a student interested in working in a museum might select art and history classes. A minor is not required.
We also offer two minor tracks, one in general anthropology and one with a multicultural focus.
We have approximately 60 majors. The small size of our program is its strength. With four full time positions (one in cultural, one in physical, one in archaeology, and one generalist) and one split position that we share with Women's Studies (as well as four part-time positions), we are able to provide an intimate and stimulating academic environment as well as one-on-one advising. Our faculty members are dedicated to interactive teaching and open-minded critical thinking. Courses blend lecture with hands-on laboratories, original research in the community, and field experiences. We offer an archaeology field school every summer.
Introductory classes (of about 60 students) provide a framework for understanding the discipline. Many upper division classes are conducted as seminars with lively discussions of readings covering topics ranging from the newest advances in evolutionary theory to the impact of religious intolerance in the 21st century.
The archaeology lab includes artifact collections, high-end computing supporting ArcGIS, SPSS, and other analytic software. The program's paleo-environmental laboratory is equipped to gather and analyze data for reconstructing climatic and ecological change. The anthropology teaching laboratory houses fossil casts and skeletal collections for teaching forensic anthropology and human paleontology. Cultural anthropology classes provide opportunities for fieldwork in local and Native American communities.
We have an active Anthropology Club which gives students opportunities to get to know each other, go on field trips to museums, and otherwise engage in the exciting anthropological discourse which is perfect for students seeking a way to see the world as opposed to a simply a course of study
You can prepare for careers by completing internships with museums, forensic labs, archaeology consulting firms, and government agencies. Indeed, students with bachelor's degrees in anthropology find employment in international development, museums, social services, public health, ethno-tourism, historic preservation, cultural resource management, and many other areas in the public and private sectors.
Graduate training at the master's and/or doctoral level is necessary to become a professional anthropologist.
We are located on west campus in Candelaria Hall, 2200. The main office can be reached by calling 970-351-2021 or contacting our Administrative Assistant, Pepper Mueller at pepper.mueller@unco.edu.
Questions or comments? If so, please feel free to contact any members of our faculty or staff, or to write specifically to the program coordinator:
Sally McBeth
Anthropology
Campus Box 90
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO 80639
970-351-1746 (phone)
970-351-2890 (fax)
sally.mcbeth@unco.edu
