Anthropology

Anthropology in its broadest sense is the study of what it is to be human. Anthropology differs from all other disciplines that study human beings because it is holistic, historic, global and comparative. Anthropologists study the cultures, social organization, languages, and environmental relationships of societies and populations around the globe, and their physical and genetic diversity. Anthropology also examines the evidence gained through archaeology to learn about peoples of the past, and our primate relatives to help understand both our human uniqueness and our similarity with other primates.

Anthropology at AU is based on a four-field approach: we offer courses in the broad areas of sociocultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, archaeology and biological anthropology (also called physical anthropology). Sociocultural anthropology explores and explains the social and cultural diversity of the present and the recent past. Linguistic anthropologists study the history, structure and function of language. Archaeologists are interested in reconstructing the lifeways of ancient peoples through documentation and analysis of the material remains left behind. Finally, biological anthropology focuses on our biological diversity and evolution.

Anthropology is one of the three disciplines in the Social Sciences and Humanities provided by the Centre for Social Sciences. To learn more about our centre, please visit our centre homepage.

Centre for Social Sciences
Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca AB T9S 3A3
Canada

Telephone: 1-800-788-9041

Student & Academic Services - Last Updated February 11, 2013