Anthropology

The Department of Anthropology at Penn State integrates social, ecological, and evolutionary approaches to understand variability in the human condition through time and across space. We offer an integrated program of graduate study at both the Ph.D. and M.A. level focusing on specialized training in:

• human and behavioral ecology
• cultural anthropology
• anthropological demography
• archaeology
• archaeometry
• genetics
• human evolution
• the behavioral and evolutionary biology of human and non-human primates

Students also have the option of enrolling in dual-title Ph.D. graduate programs in Climate Science, Demography, Transdisciplinary Research on Environment and Society (TREES), and Bioethics, and dual-title M.A. programs in Demography and TREES. The Department also offers two Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate (IUG) programs (B.A/M.A. and B.S./B.A/M.A.): with the Department of Classics (CAMS). In addition, the Department of Anthropology also offers a joint M.D./Ph.D. degree program with the College of Medicine.

1. Graduates will demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the history and current knowledge and theory in the field of Anthropology through written works, oral presentations and teaching endeavors.
2. Graduates will be able to identify research questions in anthropology, develop a research design to examine questions using appropriate data collection methods, analyze the data using appropriate statistical methodology, and interpret the results of data analysis.
3. Demonstrate effective communication of research ideas in written works and oral presentations. Demonstrate effective communication of current topics in Anthropology through development of clear and engaging lectures and assignments for undergraduate courses.
4. Graduates will be able to develop an effective, original research proposal that is framed by current anthropological theory and methods.
5. Graduates will demonstrate knowledge of the professional standards of scholarly and professional work in their field of anthropology through their written and oral works and interactions with colleagues.