*Not a baccalaureate degree program
Anthropology combines the biological, historical and social sciences in a unique study of humankind. It is the only discipline that examines and attempts to understand humankind as a whole. The undergraduate program includes the subfields of archaeology, cultural anthropology and physical anthropology. Students should specialize in one of these sub-disciplines.
Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge:
The Anthropology Department offers courses in three subfields of anthropology: archaeology, cultural anthropology and physical anthropology. Archaeology is a discipline that employs a multitude of historical and scientific methods to study past societies through physical remains. Cultural anthropology is the study of shared and transmitted beliefs, behaviors and products within human societies. Physical anthropology is the study of the origins and evolution of our own species and our primate relatives.
Classes offered by the department range from large lecture to small seminar formats. Students complete a capstone senior seminar in addition to a range of area studies and theoretical or problem-oriented courses. Students in physical anthropology engage in laboratory work, while those studying archaeology perform practical research on human artifacts. The department requires independent study in the form of a practicum project conducted under the supervision of a faculty member.
The Department of Anthropology office is located at 380 Fillmore 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 Physical Anthropology program has two specialized labs: a wet lab to conduct specimen dissections and a morphology dry lab outfitted with a skeletal collection.
The Marian E. White Anthropology Research Museum and Anthropology Library provide resources to undergraduate students conducting research.
Dr. Sirianni, Dr. Stevens, and Dr. Bacigalupo have each received awards for excellence in teaching. Dr. Sirianni is a State University of New York Distinguished Teaching Professor. Two faculty members, Dr. Sirianni and Dr. Stevens, have been recognized with the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Stevens and Dr. Bacigalupo have received the Student Association's Milton Plesur Teaching Excellence Award. Recent internal and external evaluations have given high marks to the department.
Please visit the Anthropology department website for additional information about our faculty.
To work in any branch of anthropology, an advanced degree is needed, usually a PhD. Most anthropologists work for universities and colleges; some for museums or government. There are only a few thousand anthropologists in the entire country and openings are scarce. The BA degree in anthropology, however, has practical applications. The anthropology student learns to develop skills for understanding differences in cultures. This is helpful in health careers, social services, business, and urban planning, among others.
Work settings include, but are not limited to 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 greatly from one occupation, position and work setting to another.
Students minoring in anthropology are not assigned academic advisors.
Students minoring in Anthropology are advised to contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies with any questions:
Dr. Frederick Klaits
380 Millard Fillmore Academic Complex
fklaits@buffalo.edu
716-645-6388
The department does not provide financial support to minors.