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Anthropology Subfields and Careers
Cultural Anthropology Cultural Anthropology is the subfield of anthropology that is concerned with cultural variation and universals among past and present human societies. Cultural anthropologists engage in ethnography, a description of a particular group, society, or culture based on fieldwork, and ethnology, the theoretical, analytic, and comparative study of human societies and cultures. An anthropologist engaged in an ethnographic study will gather, organize, analyze and interpret a variety of information for the group being studied. Ethnology addresses comparative issues. The goals of ethnology include the documentation and understanding of human diversity and a general understanding of the nature of human behavior. While cultural anthropology seeks to understand transformations brought about by colonialism, missionization, and globalization, the data provided for ethnological studies comes from all fields of the discipline. All anthropologists seek theoretically informed understandings of social and cultural systems. Career Opportunities in Cultural Anthropology
EMU Courses in Cultural Anthropology
| back to top | Archaeology Archaeology is the subfield of anthropology that is dedicated to the study of past human cultures and cultural change using data derived from the material culture (e.g., artifacts, houses, other buildings, settlements, and art, etc.) left behind by past societies. Field surveys are used to identify sites. Careful excavation methods uncover artifacts and document their cultural contexts. Many archaeologists work in laboratories, carrying out specialized analyses on material culture. These data are used by archaeologists to understand social and political organizations, production and exchange systems, ecologies, and ideologies, among other topics. Archaeologists may concentrate on one cultural region or they may focus on using cross-cultural information to derive general theories on human societies. Some archaeologists specialize in "historical archaeology" to better understand cultures, or aspects of cultures, that are poorly addressed in historical documents. The scope of archaeology encompasses all cultural regions and cultural changes throughout human prehistory and history. As such, it is the only science that can evaluate theories related to our deep past: e.g., the origin of agriculture, sedentarism, inequality, and state societies. With this long-term perspective, archaeologists may also address questions on the longitudinal impacts of environmental management, political systems, and other cultural practices, providing practical solutions to some of humanity's greatest challenges in the present and future. Career Opportunities in Archaeology
EMU Courses in Archaeology
| back to top | Physical Anthropology (Biological Anthropology) Physical anthropology is the subfield of anthropology that is dedicated to the study of human evolution and human biological variation. Using fossil and genetic data on ancient and living humans, and data gathered on non-human primates, physical anthropologists research the adaptations and evolutionary relationships among the successive hominids - from our earliest ancestors who walked on two feet (6 million years ago) to modern Homo sapiens. Some physical anthropologists specialize in studies on primate behavior and adaptations. Physical anthropologists also research the ancient and recent relationships among modern humans to understand the biological adaptations and cultural practices resulting in the variation within our species that we see today. Another focus of physical anthropology is "paleopathology," which uses skeletal evidence for illnesses and abnormalities to understand the relationships between cultural adaptations and health patterns among human populations over time. Applying the subfield's accumulated knowledge on evolution, variation, and pathologies, many physical anthropologists work in "forensic anthropology" to identify individuals and cause of death by analyzing human remains. Career Opportunities in Physical Anthropology
EMU Course in Physical Anthropology:
| back to top | Linguistic Anthropology Linguistic anthropology is the subfield of anthropology dedicated to the comparative study of the ways in which language shapes social life. Linguistic anthropologists explore the manner in which practices of language use shape patterns of communication, formulate categories of social identity and group membership, organize cultural beliefs and ideologies, and ultimately equip people with common cultural representations of their natural and social worlds. Career Opportunities in Linguistic Anthropology
EMU course in Linguistic Anthropology
| back to top | Applied Anthropology Applied anthropology is the application of anthropological knowledge, method and theory to the analysis and solution of practical problems. All of the other four subfields of anthropology—cultural, linguistic, biological, and archaeological anthropology—may contribute to identify, assess and propose solutions to contemporary human problems. Applied anthropology is practical and goal-oriented; applied research is typically participatory, collaborative and multidisciplinary, reflecting the diversity and complexity of the human experience. Some of the domains where applied anthropologists are making significant contributions include human rights, humanitarian assistance, forced migration, environmental management, international development, advocacy, social work, law enforcement, healthcare, business and marketing. Career Opportunities in Applied Anthropology
EMU courses with an Applied Anthropology content
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