Why Study Anthropology at Le Moyne College?
Are you fascinated by the rituals, norms and customs that distinguish people in different parts of the world – in all of their wonder and complexity? How do the Akha people in Thailand pass stories from one generation to the next? Where do the Otomi people in Mexico worship? What do the Aboriginal people of Australia do to commemorate the loss of a loved one? The field of anthropology will help you unlock the answers to all of those questions – and countless others. It is the study of human kind, from its earliest iteration to the present day. Anthropologists help tackle some of the world’s biggest problems, including war, poverty and overpopulation. Studying anthropology will provide you with a richer understanding of other cultures, and a deeper appreciation of the impact they have on our own. 

Highlights

Anthropology takes a holistic approach to the study of humankind by examining its cultural, social, linguistic, biological-evolutionary, environmental and historical dimensions. It is an interdisciplinary field that draws on the methods and theories of both the social sciences and the humanities. Its core concept is ‘culture’ and its hallmark methodology is long-term participant observational fieldwork.

The study of anthropology not only helps students develop an understanding and appreciation of societies and cultures different than their own, but also provides a critical understanding of how Western societies have viewed and interacted with other societies.

Careers in Anthroplogy

Because of its focus on cross-cultural and international issues and analysis, the study of anthropology is particularly useful for students considering careers in fields such as college teaching and research, international business and law, foreign service and diplomacy, private and governmental development and foreign aid programs, missions, and human rights.

Anthropology also provides valuable training for students considering careers in human service fields such as social work, counseling, health care delivery and education. Some famous anthropologists are Margaret Mead, Paul Farmer (Partners in Health), Zora Neale Hurston, Jane Goodall, Claude Levi-Strauss, Stanley Ann Dunham (mother of President Barack Obama), Kurt Vonnegut, Jim Yong Kim (President of the World Bank), Mary and Louis Leakey, Michael Savage, Ashraf Ghani (President of Afghanistan), and Joan Lunden.

Our Stories

 

Photo Deborah Tooker

Deborah Tooker

anthropology / 2015

“The trip showed me the deep commitment that the younger generation has for the less fortunate and others in t

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Photo Alyssah Brown

Alyssah Brown

/ 2017

I think about the world differently now.

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Photo Noa Watkins

Noa Watkins

/ 2018

She steps off the plane and into a bustling, unfamiliar airport.

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Degree Options

Anthropology Minor
Distinctive Courses: Cultures & Cures; Global Crime; Environment, Culture and Power; Anthropological Linguistics; Medical Anthropology in Ecological Perspective

If you would like to learn more about courses, requirements, and opportunities in Anthropology, please see the Le Moyne College catalog.