Anthropology BA

Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge:

• To display sophisticated knowledge of core concepts, theories and methods in cultural anthropology, biological anthropology and/or anthropological archaeology.
• To appreciate and understand the diversity of human experience, interpret complexity.
• To demonstrate global awareness and understanding of other cultures.
• To conduct research: pose questions, conduct fieldwork, obtain evidence, analyze sources, assess information, instruct an argument.
• To use critical reading skills and think critically.
• To use effective written communication skills: express a point of view on a subject and support it with evidence.
• To organize and orally present research results in a meaningful way.

The Department of Anthropology office is located at 380 Academic Center in the Ellicott Complex. The department holds classes in centrally scheduled spaces throughout the campus, which include traditional classrooms and lecture halls that can accommodate the program’s teaching philosophies.

Archaeology students who enroll in the department-sponsored field school have the opportunity to conduct artifact identification and material analysis in a working Cultural Resource Management (CRM) firm, UB’s Archaeological Survey.

The Biological Anthropology program has two specialized lab spaces: a wet lab to conduct specimen dissections and a morphology dry lab outfitted with a skeletal collection. In addition, there are several research groups such as the Buffalo Human Evolutionary Morphology Lab, the Hominin Movement Lab, and the Applied Primate Behavioral Evolution Lab. 

The Cultural Anthropology program provides students with opportunities to learn about and conduct research on many contemporary issues, including migration, environmental policies, warfare, medical care, and religion around the world.

The Marian E. White Anthropology Research Museum and Anthropology Library provide resources to undergraduate students conducting research.

The Anthropology Department includes fifteen full-time faculty who specialize in various fields within cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, and archaeology. Dr. Sirianni and Dr. Bacigalupo have each received awards for excellence in teaching. Dr. Sirianni is a State University of New York Distinguished Teaching Professor and has also been recognized with the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Bacigalupo has received the Student Association's Milton Plesur Teaching Excellence Award. Recent internal and external evaluations have given high marks to the department.

To work in any branch of anthropology, an advanced graduate degree is needed, usually a PhD. Most professional anthropologists work for universities and colleges; some for museums or government. However, there are many practical applications and career tracks where having a BA degree in anthropology is advantageous. Anthropology students learn to develop skills for understanding differences in cultures. This is helpful in careers in health, social services, business and urban planning, among many others.

Settings in which anthropologists work include government agencies, education, research, banking, business, human resources, public relations, marketing research, human services, international intergovernmental organizations, non-profit corporations, museums, the tourism and cultural heritage industries and media. Salaries range from one occupation, position and work setting to another.