Anthropology (ANT)

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

Chair: Kathryn Schellenberg
Principal Secretary: Lynne McTiernan
Professor Judy Rosenthal; Associate Professors Ananth Aiyer, Beverley Smith; 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 cultural anthropology. The discipline of anthropology is a holistic study of humanity that addresses issues of diversity and inequalities.  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. Cultural anthropology is concerned with institutions, including kinship, gender, political organization, economic systems, religion, global political economy, and the construction of inequality.

Program Mission and Assessment

Anthropology is one of three programs offered through the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice. All three programs have a common goal of introducing students to alternative perspectives of their world. Whether through a  reexamination of their own society or other cultures across the globe, the Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice programs strive to develop students’ skills in 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.