“The study of what it means to be human”
Anthropology is the study of humanity in all its diversity. As such it is a discipline that is made up of five broad subfields that are listed in the menu to the left of this text.
It is the study of peoples around the world, across cultures, and throughout time. It is the study of living peoples, and peoples whose ways of life may have long disappeared from living human societies.
Traditionally, it has focused either on cultures of the past (through archaeology and physical anthropology) or cultures in "exotic" settings. With a few notable exceptions, this has given the discipline the reputation of being about studying "others" rather than "ourselves" (others, in time and in place). Some have even made the point in one fashion or another that sociology is about "the West," while anthropology is about "the Rest."
Today, the exceptions to this "line of demarcation" have become more frequent and commonplace. Consequently it is not unusual to read about anthropology being done in "non-traditional settings," (whatever the subfield). Archaeologists have begun to dig through garbage dumps and the dumpsters of modern shopping malls, even as their colleagues continue to focus on ancient cultures; cultural anthropologists study the cultures of multi-billion dollar corporations, and decaying industrial towns, while their counterparts continue to study in more "exotic" places; physical anthropologists frequently ply their skills to unravel contemporary murder mysteries, even as other look to unravel the mysteries of human ancestry.
ETHICS IN ANTHROPOLOGY
In the late 1960's and early 1970's these concerns emerged in a dramatic way for the discipline, and led to the formal adoption of a professional charter of ethical standards by members of the American Anthropological Association (AAA). (This is the primary professional organization for anthropologists today.)
The menu items below take you to several key sources from the AAA, which recount a brief history of the discipline's concerns around issues of ethics, and provide texts of current statements and standards from the profession.
THE FIVE FIELDS OF ANTROPOLOGY
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
]Cultural anthropology is the study of living peoples, their beliefs, practices, values, ideas, technologies, economies and more. Through a variety of theoretical approaches and research methods, anthropologists today study the cultures of people in any part of the world-- including those of industrial and "post-industrial" societies.
PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Physical anthropology is the study of the physical make-up of humans and pre-human ancestors.
ARCHAEOLOGYArchaeology is the study of the artifact-remains of human and pre-human societies
LINGUISTICS
Linguistics is the study of human languages. As such, it involves a variety of sub disciplines that study: the structure of language; the use of language in given societies and in given social contexts; the history of languages and their historical relationships to each other.
APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY
Applied Anthropology is the field in which professionals use the insights of anthropological research to assist practical social/cultural projects across cultures and throughout the world.
Anthropology, the study of cultural forms, traditions and practices is by its very nature, committed to diversity and peoples of all beliefs and backgrounds. In addition to learning about what has long been regarded as a discipline focused on non-western or "exotic" cultures and processes of evolution, Salve students are exposed to the many anthropological contributions affecting our general understanding of what it means to be human.
The curriculum includes cross-cultural perspectives on economic, religion, health and healing, gender, sexuality and political systems. Coupled with its traditional focus on small communities and local life, a new emphasis on transnational processes and globalization helps to infuse the University's academic community with a truly broad cross-cultural perspective.
Supporting Catholic traditions and the mission of the University, the sociology/anthropology department interprets "people of all beliefs" to include those of various cultures, religious persuasions, and ideological backgrounds. Students and faculty within the department are committed to work toward a spirit of openness on campus and throughout the community, utilizing their skills and talents to promote tolerance, compassion and a respect for diversity.
Anthropology is the study of human cultural diversity as it has developed over time and through space, as well as in relation to biology and the environment. The aim of the program is to provide students a strong foundation in the main subfields of anthropology, including cultural anthropology (the study of contemporary cultures and social organization), archaeology (the study of cultures and social organization of the past), physical anthropology (human biological diversity, both in comparative perspective and as it has developed over time), and anthropological linguistics (the relationship of language to culture and social organization). Advanced courses as well as independent research allow majors to focus their studies in preparation for a wide range of careers, both in anthropology itself as well as in other professional fields, including international education, law, medicine, social work, public health, urban planning, forensics, and cultural resource management.
ANTHROPOLOGY
the study of physical and cultural aspects of humankind, including human origins, evolution, biological characteristics, customs and belief systems.
the study of physical and cultural aspects of humankind, including human origins, evolution, biological characteristics, customs and belief systems.
Anthropology might seem like a fancy word to describe something as basic as studying ourselves ... but maybe that's the point: we're not so easy to figure out. overview
the science that deals with the origins, physical and cultural development, biological characteristics, and social customs and beliefs of humankind.
Anthropology courses are an integrated part of programs within the Department of Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology. The Department seeks to give students a thorough grounding in the understanding of human experience and behaviour, derived from systematic observation and research. This research is interpreted within the framework of the meaning and nature of persons and society revealed to us in the Bible.
Our professors see people both as part of God's created world, wholly dependent on him, and as unique and responsible persons who bear the image of their Creator. Together with the student, we seek to appreciate the tremendous potential of humans and to understand how this potential can be realized in diverse cultural settings.
In the Department students will use a Christian worldview as the basis of interpretation. Anthropology courses deal with the effects of worldviews and cultural development on human relations in communities and cultures.
Graduates in Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology can have an impact on their world through enabling people to understand themselves and others and by helping them experience the transforming love and power of God. The program provides a good foundation for those considering people-helping or service-oriented work such as counseling, therapy, public service, Christian ministry, Or social work.
Throughout the semester, we will explore how the interplay of cultural creativity and material constraint shapes human nature, human society, and the human past as well as the human present. In the process, you will be exposed to the various theoretical approaches which anthropologists have utilized to better understand man's physical evolution and the behavior that makes us all human
