Welcome to the Department of Anthropology at the University of Missouri! Our university is the oldest public land grant institution west of the Mississippi, a member of the AAU, and the highest category of research universities, R1. We are a small department with an emphasis on data driven scientific approaches to the study of human biology, behavior, culture, and evolution. Departmental faculty conduct research all over the globe, and ongoing research crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries, and includes field, lab, and computational methods. We continue to be an active and vibrant center for scientifically oriented anthropological research, teaching, and scholarship.
The Department of Anthropology offers graduate work leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. We have a current enrollment of about 30 graduate students. Our department has a broad scientific approach to understanding human biology and behavior, both past and present, that is grounded in ecological and evolutionary theory. The graduate program provides rigorous coursework with a rich combination of hands-on field and laboratory research experiences. Students work closely with a faculty advisor who helps them pursue fellowships/grants and develop collaborative research projects. Additional anthropology faculty and others outside the department at MU typically serve as committee members and resources for expanding students' research programs (e.g. Biological Sciences, Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Integrative Anatomy, Public Health, Museum of Anthropology, MU Research Reactor). Current and former graduate students have successfully pursued research in the field, lab, and analytical domains. Graduates of our program have found success with careers not only in academia and higher education, but also in, for example, contract archaeology, public health, or the nonprofit sector.
