Explore what it means to be human—and turn your education into a springboard for a fascinating and fulfilling career.
Locations
- Statesboro Campus (In Person)
Why Major in Anthropology at Georgia Southern?
- Kindle your curiosity with a diverse program of study.
- Build critical thinking, research skills and cultural awareness.
- Multidisciplinary degree opens doors to a range of career paths.
- Work alongside world-class faculty on unique field research in the region.
- 124 credit hours to complete degree
If you are deeply curious about the world and how people live and move through it, anthropology may be the ideal program for you. Anthropology is the study of humans, past and present. This broad, complex social science discipline uses a four-field approach to investigate and analyze human behavior and social structures across time and across the world. Our well-rounded program teaches you how to ask important questions, research answers and build solutions based on evidence.
During your study, you’ll work alongside our world-class faculty doing hands-on fieldwork and laboratory analysis in a variety of interesting settings, including archaeological projects focused in the American Southeast. Graduates finish with the broad perspective and practical career skills they need to excel in further study or in rewarding careers related to how people live and interact.
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What Can You Do With a Degree in Anthropology?
The anthropology major at Georgia Southern can unlock all kinds of opportunities for you—and not only the obvious paths in further study and anthropological research. You’ll develop a deep understanding of human behavior and cultural diversity, along with superior skills in research, data analysis, critical thinking, empathy and communication. You can apply these skills to fields like international development, public health, museum curation, human relations, education, cultural resource management, market research, social work and more.
Many graduates also choose to continue exploring their studies, either in post-graduate education or field research. The intellectual groundwork you develop with an anthropology degree from Georgia Southern will provide excellent preparation for examining the complexities of human behavior.
Where our graduates work:
- Universities
- Research organizations
- Museums
- International development organizations
- Corporations
- Environmental groups
- State and local government
- Federal government
What our graduates do:
- Archaeologist/Archaeological field technician
- Human resources representative
- Foreign service officer/diplomat
- International/Humanitarian aid
- Foreign language teacher
- Research coordinator/consultant
- Public health specialist
- Historic preservationist
- Community developer
- Heritage interpreter
- Social services worker
- Museum curator/collection manager/museum technician
- Diversity officer
What You’ll Learn
Broadly, you’ll learn about human beings and how they have evolved, lived and interacted throughout time and throughout the world. Our anthropology degree program trains you in the four-field discipline, with special emphasis on practice and application of Cultural Anthropology and Archaeology. As you advance through your courses, you’ll study:
- Past cultures through archaeology. Archaeologists learn about the human past by painstakingly excavating sites of past human occupation and looking through the pieces left behind by the people who lived there.
- The physical aspects of what it means to be human through biological anthropology. Biological anthropologists study skeletons, DNA, disease, human health, non-human primates and fossil hominids to learn how humans evolve and adapt to different environments.
- Contemporary human communities through cultural anthropology. Cultural anthropologists typically spend an extended period of time living in a community observing their perspectives, practices and social organization.
- The relationships between culture and language through linguistic anthropology. Linguistic anthropologists typically spend time in communities recording language and cultural data and looking for connections between the two sets of data.
You’ll sharpen your research, analysis and communication abilities as you bring your knowledge beyond the classroom into the community through applied anthropology, which uses academic research findings to solve social problems. All anthropology majors will also complete a strong base of liberal arts classes.
See the CurriculumUncovering the Past
One of the Anthropology program’s most exciting archaeological research opportunities is the ongoing dig at Camp Lawton, a former Confederate military prison built in 1864. Working closely with faculty, GSU students have unearthed fascinating artifacts, illuminating a rare archaeological record.
Learn More
Expand Your Experience
Anthropology majors at Georgia Southern University are some of the most active students on campus. Follow your interests and find a community of support to help you succeed.
Real-World Research
Roll up your sleeves and gain valuable experience in archaeological curation and artifact conservation in our labs, repository and archaeology sites located around the region.
Hands-On Internships
Anthropology internship opportunities at Georgia Southern are diverse and creative, designed to support students in furthering their individual interests and future careers with real experience.
Like Minds
Join an anthropology-focused club, honors organization or society where you can make connections, learn from guest speakers, go on field trips and participate in an array of social and service opportunities.
Take Action
Follow these steps to complete the Georgia Southern application:
- Create an application account.
- Complete our online application using the PIN you received after creating your application account.
- Once complete, pay the $30 application fee or upload a valid fee waiver. Previous Georgia Southern applicants and dual enrollment students do not need to pay the fee.
You can check your application status at My.GeorgiaSouthern.edu/admissions three days after completing your application. This page contains live information about your admission status, including a checklist of missing documents we need to make a decision.
Apply as a First-Year Student Transfer to Georgia SouthernAnthropology students have access to abundant resources, including student awards, internship and research opportunities, societies and clubs, scholarships and more.
See Student ResourcesThe following student learning outcomes are expected for graduates of the Anthropology program:
- Students who graduate with a BA in Anthropology will be able to apply key research methods of anthropology that are appropriate in constructing an anthropological research project.
- Students who graduate with a BA in Anthropology will be able to interpret, criticize and apply key theoretical paradigms appropriate in developing an anthropological research project.
- Students who graduate with a BA in Anthropology will be able to demonstrate critical reading skills and fluency with the purpose, concepts and arguments in anthropological source materials.
- Students who graduate with a BA in Anthropology will be able to demonstrate argumentation, analysis and synthesis through writing in a variety of contexts.
- Students graduating with a BA in Anthropology will participate in a variety of professionalization experiences through in-class projects, internships, experiential learning and service opportunities depending on their track in the program.
If you want to earn a minor in Anthropology, you must complete the following required credit hours:
- ANTH 1102 Introduction to Anthropology
- 15 hrs of upper-division Anthropology courses (3000 or above)
How do I change or add a minor?
Changing or adding a minor is easy. Follow these simple directions. However, it’s best to talk with your current advisor and check DegreeWorks to see how switching/adding this minor will impact your path to graduation.
Do you have questions?
If you have any questions or if we can help you transition to an Anthropology minor, simply contact SAM@georgiasouthern.edu, call the Department office at 912-478-5443, or stop by our office in the Carroll Building, Room 1003.
Related Programs
Take the Next Step
Gain a deep understanding of humanity across the ages, along with the professional skills you need to tackle social problems. Learn more about earning your BA in Anthropology at Georgia Southern.
Contact Us
Program Coordinator
M. Jared Wood
912-478–5789
mwood@georgiasouthern.edu
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
P.O. Box 8051
Carroll Bldg, Rm 1003
Statesboro, GA 30460
Phone: 912-478-5443
SAM@georgiasouthern.edu