Anthropology
Department of Anthropology
College of Arts and Sciences
380 Millard Fillmore Academic Center
Ellicott Complex
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14261-0026
Phone: 716.645.2414
Fax: 716.645.3808
Web: wings.buffalo.edu/anthropology
Donald Pollock
Chair
Phillips Stevens
Director of Undergraduate Studies
About the Department
Anthropology combines the biological, historical and social sciences in a unique study of humankind. It is the only discipline that examines and attempts to understand humankind as a whole and to study the human being as an animal, a social creature and a literate being. The University at Buffalo's undergraduate program includes physical anthropology, archaeology, and cultural anthropology.
Physical anthropology studies the origins, adaptations, and evolution of our own species and of our primate relatives. Archaeology studies the historical development of human cultures by analyzing cultural remains. Cultural anthropology studies the innate, shared, and transmitted products of social groups. Its approach is descriptive, historical, and comparative. It enables students to evaluate the quality of life in their own social milieu through comparison with that in various others, simple and complex, developed or developing, urban, suburban, or rural.
Students have the option of specializing in one of three sub-fields. Detailed descriptive materials concerning departmental programs as well as information regarding job opportunities are available in the departmental office.
Degrees Offered
Undergraduate: B.A.
Graduate: M.A., Ph.D.
About Our Degrees
Acceptance Criteria
Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall.
Minimum grade of “C-” in one of the following required courses:
APY 106, APY 107, APY 108.
Applications Information
Deadlines: Rolling
Number of applicants/year: 60
Number of accepted majors/year: 60
Total currently enrolled majors: 210
Degree Requirements
See the Undergraduate Catalog.
Transfer Policy
Students wishing to transfer into the University at Buffalo must be accepted by the university prior to acceptance by the Department of Anthropology. Criteria for acceptance into the department are the same for transfer students as for UB students.
Evaluation of courses taken at another school for departmental major credit is done by the department. Usually the Student Advising Services advisor, who sees transfer students initially, refers students to the department. Students should bring course descriptions, syllabi, and any other available information that will help the department evaluate anthropology courses for which students are requesting major credit.
About Our Courses
The typical class size for:
Freshman/introductory courses is: 36 - 150
Sophomore/intermediate courses is: 36 - 100
Upper level/advanced courses is: 10 – 40
In the Department of Anthropology, what do student teaching assistants (TA's) do?
TA's assist in courses taught by faculty members; in particular, they assist with grading and labs, and they may do some teaching.
Suggested Introductory Courses
- APY 106 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
- APY 107 Introduction to Physical Anthropology
- APY 108 Introduction to Archaeology
For course descriptions, please see the Undergraduate Catalog.
About Our Faculty
Dr. Sirianni, Dr. Steegmann, and Dr. Stevens have each received awards for excellence in teaching. Dr. Sirianni is a State University of New York Distinguished Teaching Professor. Three faculty members have been recognized with the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Stevens received the Student Association’s Milton Plesur Teaching Excellence Award. Recent internal and external evaluations have given high marks to the department. Dr. Frake holds the Capen Chair and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Special Academic Opportunities
The undergraduate program in anthropology provides many options for students with specific interests. The pre-medical/pre-dental concentration is recommended for anthropology majors who are also pursuing the university's pre-medical or pre-dental requirements in preparation for application to graduate school in one of the health professions.
Honors Program
Honors in Anthropology is achieved by maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.5 in Anthropology, and by satisfactorily completing an intensive two-semester research project through regular consultation with one or more faculty members. Interested students must apply in writing to the department by the end of their junior year.
Field School
An Archaeology Field School is conducted each summer. This is a six-week, six-credit course open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Field instruction provides students with the opportunity to participate in archaeological research and to learn techniques of site survey and excavation.
Internships
Students may serve internships with local agencies, under the supervision of a departmental faculty member. Internships are available in the Archaeology Museum and Archaeological Survey.
Awards
- Departmental Honors
- Lucia Maria Houpt Award
- Marion Dickson Scholarship
- Justin R. Van Ness Award
- Nathaniel Cantor Scholarship
- Klein Family Award in Honor of Viola Odenheimer
Extracurricular Activities
Undergraduate Anthropology Club
Serves several academic, social and professional purposes. The club has sponsored field trips to museums in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Toronto, and has worked with the faculty advisor in seminars on application to graduate school, resume preparation, and job hunting. For more information, call 716-645-2414.
Lambda Alpha
The National Collegiate Honors Society for Anthropology, open to students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in anthropology.
See the UB Student Association.
Complementary Programs and Courses
- American Studies
- Architecture
- Art History
- Biology
- Classics
- English
- Environmental Design
- Geography
- History
- Linguistics
- Management Science and Systems
- Media Study
- Music
- Social Sciences Interdisciplinary: Environmental Studies and others
- Sociology
- Theatre & Dance
- Women's Studies
The Anthropology department encourages students to propose joint majors with other departments in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Career Information
Anthropology is the sole discipline that studies individuals, and humankind as a whole - biologically and culturally, in all places, at all times (past and present). The anthropology student learns to allow for differences in cultures. This is helpful in health careers, social services, business, and urban planning. The ethnic composition of our population is becoming increasingly diverse, and anyone dealing with the public needs some understanding of their languages and cultures.
Skills gained in this program include:
- Dealing with people of diverse cultures, making allowances for differences in customs and beliefs
- Providing insight into social problems by supplying information as to how problems, such as aging or bereavement, are dealt with in our cultures
- Interviewing people to obtain information about their attitude, customs and beliefs
- Using statistics and computer science to analyze data
- Adapting approaches used in public relations, marketing or politics to different population groups
- Working cooperatively with others, adapting to varied conditions
- Using scientific equipment and instruments
Career Choices
- Anthropologist
- Archaeologist
- Archivist
- Art conservator
- Banking
- Biographer
- Business
- Community recreation development
- Cultural resource management
- Curator
- Dentist
- Economist
- Educator
- Genealogist
- Health administrator
- Historian
- Lawyer
- Librarian
- Museologist
- Nurse
- Paleontologist
- Peace Corps volunteer
- Physician
- Political scientist
- Public advocate
- Research associate
- Social worker
- Technical writer
- and many, many more!
Work settings include:
Government, education, banking, personnel work, public relations, marketing research, and human services.
Career Hints
To work in any branch of anthropology, an advanced degree is needed, usually a Ph.D. Most anthropologists work for universities and colleges; some for museums or government. There are only a few thousand anthropologists in the entire country and openings are scarce. The B.A. degree in anthropology, however, has practical applications. The anthropology student learns to allow for differences in cultures. This is helpful in health careers, social services, business, and urban planning.
Salary Information
Salaries range greatly from one occupation, position, and work setting to another. According to the Fall 2003 NACE national salary for Bachelor's Degree graduates: Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates' salaries ranged from $24,000 to $35,300.
Aulitional Resources
American Anthropological Association
American Association of Museums
Anthropology and Archeology, Subject bibliography #205 available from Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
National Trust for Historic Preservation