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Anthropology

Undergraduate Study:  Bachelor of Arts (BA), or Minor in Anthropology.

Website:  www.anthropology.hawaii.edu

Academic Program

Anthropology is the study of humankind, of the origin and evolution of our species, and of the ways of life of ancient and modern people. It is divided into four main subdisciplines: physical anthropology, archaeology, anthropological linguistics, and cultural anthropology. While physical anthropologists focus upon our biological nature, cultural anthropologists deal with the ways of life of past and present ages. Anthropological linguists look at language as a part of human behavior, while archaeologists study the remains of past cultures to reconstruct former lifestyles.

Students of anthropology gain a basic understanding of the origin and development of humanity useful both for understanding the human condition and as a preparation for work in many fields, not just in anthropology. For example, the department offers a uniquely broad range of courses on the cultures of Asia and the Pacific, as well as on aspects of American society, that provide students with a fund of cultural knowledge and insights upon which to build a career in law, medicine, public health, teaching, business, and other professions.

Major-Related Skills

In addition to discipline specific content, anthropology majors have the ability to:

  • recognize, understand, and appreciate other cultures or ways of living and thinking.
  • make critical observations and evaluations.
  • apply a variety of ethnographic data collection techniques.
  • apply anthroplogical methodology and use scientific equipment.
  • collect, analyze, and document quantitative/qualitative information.
  • analyze human behavior, organization, and development, then apply that analysis across multiple cultural settings.
  • accurately interpret and evaluate events, information, and ideas representing the past.
  • apply anthropological insight to your own life experiences, and to the social/ culturalproblems facing society.

    Declaring Anthropology as a major

    Click here for a form-fillable major declaration form.  Complete the first page of the Declaration of Major form and print two copies. Make an appointment with a faculty advisor in the Anthropology Department to discuss your interests, major requirements, and course selection.  The advisor will complete the second page of the form.  Two copies of the completed form should then be turned in to the service counter for Arts & Sciences Student Academic Services.
    Note:  Click here if you are adding a second major - you will need to use a declaration of major form that has not been pre-filled to declare anthropology as your first major.  Click here for concurrent degree requests (i.e., between A&S and another college or different degree programs within A&S, such as concurrent BA and BS degrees).


    Created by Lynne Higa, Michael Kirk-Kuwaye

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