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Anthropology Minor

Understanding the Nuances of Humanity

Our alumni go on to careers in:

Observing and explaining what factors influence people’s health and well-being and designing health outreach programs in all parts of the world.

Understanding the past through analysis of historical and pre-historic materials, architectural features, landscapes, and remains.

Examining how people interact with, respond to and alter the natural environment and helping communities overcome challenges from exposure to toxins and environmental degradation.

Researching the evolution and biological development of the human species through inquiry into topics such as genetics, human osteology, growth and development, human biological variation, human origins, and primatology.

Check out our alumni page to see how UNCW Anthropology graduates have continued to be successful in their concentration of choice.

Learn To

Understand the key concepts of the three major subfields of cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, and archaeology

Appreciate how each of these subfields contribute to anthropology's unique approach to the study of humans

Conduct research on topics in sociocultural anthropology, ethnography, biological anthropology, human evolution, archaeology, forensic anthropology, medical anthropology, anthropology of religion and politics, gender and women’s issues, and many, many more

“ I want incoming freshmen to know how easy it is to get involved with professors and to do research. I think my entire college experience was changed by the fact that I got involved in a lab on campus. ”
Kate Woolard '18
Anthropology Minor Program Overview

Comprehensive Approach

As an anthropology minor, you will learn a comprehensive approach to understanding people and the societies and cultures they create, the many ways of being human, and the many ways to solve the problems humanity faces.

Anthropology is a broad field that examines humankind both scientifically and humanistically.

It looks at the human experience from a holistic, cross-cultural perspective and encompasses the four subfields of the discipline:

  • cultural anthropology,
  • biological anthropology,
  • archaeology and
  • linguistic anthropology.

Outstanding Faculty

You will have the opportunity to work closely with outstanding educators who are accomplished researchers, recognized nationally and internationally, on independent studies, honors projects, and as research assistants. Many students co-publish scholarly articles and attend and present research papers at conferences.

Applied Learning Opportunities

Experiential learning opportunities include archaeological and bio-cultural field schools, lab courses in archaeology, osteology, and human biological variation, as well as internships with local museums, field sites, and organizations.

These experiential opportunities give students the chance to engage with and make a difference in the local or regional community and to put their anthropological training in service to the community.

The program offers a remarkably wide range of course work from all major subfields of the discipline, allowing you to explore all aspects of anthropology and develop their specific interests.

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Sample Courses

Table shows sample courses for this program
ANT 206 Cultural Anthropology
ANT 207 Archaeology
ANT 210 Physical Anthropology
ANT 450 History of Anthropological Theory
See The Full Curriculum

How Do I Apply?

In selecting the courses to fulfill the minor requirements, students are strongly encouraged to consult with the anthropology faculty.

A “C” (2.00) grade point average is required among anthropology courses used to satisfy the requirements.

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