Anthropology (ANT)

522 David M. French Hall
(810) 762-3340

Chair: Kathryn Schellenberg
Principal Secretary: Lynne McTiernan
Professor Judy Rosenthal; Associate Professor Beverley Smith; Assistant Professor Ananth Aiyer; Instructor cum Assistant Professor Jennifer Alvey (WGS crossappointed)
Professor Emeritus Hani I. Fakhouri

Anthropology is the study of human culture in past and contemporary societies. Anthropology includes the sub-fields of archaeology, physical/biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and socio-cultural anthropology. The discipline of anthropology is a holistic study of humanity, our ancestors, and non-human primates. Archaeology examines the role of material culture to reconstruct cultural history, including technological, stylistic, and organizational changes in past cultures. Physical anthropology is concerned with the relationships between biology and culture, including human variation and adaptation, and incorporates concerns of disease, nutrition, and forensics. Linguistic anthropology deals with the relationships between language and culture, especially the ways in which language both reflects and influences perception and world view. The study of socio-cultural anthropology requires attention to institutions: kinship, gender, political organization, economic systems, religion, global political economy, and the construction of inequality.

Department Mission and Program Assessment

The programs of Anthropology and sociology have a common goal of introducing students to alternative perspectives of their world. Through examination of other cultures throughout the world and/or their own society, the faculty of the Anthropology and Sociology programs strive to develop students’ abilities for critical thinking and analytical reasoning. The program participates in the University-wide effort to assess its academic programs. Information on assessment plans, including goals, methods and outcomes is available at http://assessment.umflint.edu.

Programs in Anthropology

Two concentration programs are offered, both leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree: the General Program in Anthropology and the Honors Program in Anthropology . A Minor in Anthropology is also available.