Biological anthropology is a subfield of anthropology that examines biological aspects of the human species from comparative, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives. At the University of Oregon, biological anthropology consists of a diverse group of faculty and students who apply an evolutionary perspective to a broad array of topics in human evolutionary biology. These topics include primate behavior and morphology, paleoanthropology, human behavioral ecology, human adaptation, and evolutionary medicine. The biological anthropology program at UO is highly interdisciplinary and involves collaborations across the anthropological subfields (see Areas of Departmental Expertise), with researchers across the UO campus (see Campus Links), and with scientists around the world/

Biological Anthropology Faculty
Current Research Projects

Undergraduate Program in Biological Anthropology

The undergraduate program in biological anthropology offers a wide range of introductory and advanced classes. In addition to the core introductory course in the subfield (Anth 270, Introduction to Biological Anthropology), which is required for all majors, there are a number of other introductory courses offered by the department (Anth 170, 171, 173, & 175) that are designed for non-majors but are regularly taken by anthropology majors interested in the topic. Upper division courses are offered on a variety of topics, including primate behavior, human biological variation, evolutionary theory, and human osteology. A list of biological anthropology courses, organized by instructor, can be found below (link to anchor below). In addition to regular courses, individual biological anthropology faculty often offer individualized, independent study courses or research experiences to advanced undergraduate students. For further information, students are encouraged to contact relevant biological anthropology faculty. Students may also obtain additional information on undergraduate opportunities from head undergraduate advisor Professor Diane Baxter.

Master List of Anthropology Courses
Course Schedule (Tentative) for 2009-2010
Anthropology Major Requirements
Anthropology Minor Requirements

Graduate Program in Biological Anthropology

The graduate program in biological anthropology includes both Master’s and Ph.D. students. Students who are interested in completing a Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology typically first complete the Master’s degree (either an M.S. or M.A.) before proceeding onto the Ph.D. program or arrive at UO with a Master’s in Anthropology or a related discipline. Additional details of the program can be found in the Graduate Handbook. Prospective students are encouraged to contact relevant faculty before applying to the graduate program.

Current Biological Anthropology Graduate Students
Graduate Program Admissions Information
Information from the Graduate School
Master List of Anthropology Courses
Course Schedule (Tentative) for 2009-2010

Current Research Projects (and Primary UO Anthropology Faculty Involved)

• Aliakmon Paleolithic/Paleoanthropological Survey (Dr. Frost)
• Biomarker development for assessing health and physiology (Dr. Snodgrass)
• Communities and Schools Together: A Community-Based Participatory Research Project to Prevent Childhood Obesity (Dr. Moreno-Black)
• Community-based Health Activation Project (Drs. Snodgrass, White, and Fechner)
• Cross-cultural attractiveness assessment psychology (Dr. Sugiyama)
• Evolution of the human diet (Dr. Snodgrass)
• Gender, culture, economic transformation, and food habits in Thailand (Dr. Moreno-Black)
• Gona Paleoanthropological Research Project (Dr. Frost)
• Lomako Forest Bonobo Project (Dr. White)
• Metabolic adaptation and health change among indigenous Siberians (Dr. Snodgrass)
• PRIMO NYCEP Morphometrics Database (Dr. Frost)
• Revealing Hominid Origins Initiative, Cercopithecoid Analytical Working Group (Dr. Frost)
• Romantic relationship influences on health in adulthood (Dr. Snodgrass)
• Shuar Health and Life History Project (Drs. Sugiyama and Snodgrass)
• Stress, discrimination, and health among Latin American immigrants in Oregon (Drs. Snodgrass, McClure, and Stephen)
• St. Catherine’s Island Primate Research Program (Dr. White)
• Vitamin B and cognitive ability in elderly Hispanics (Dr. Moreno-Black)
• Visualization of cercopithecid cranial evolution (Dr. Frost)
• World Health Organization’s Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) (Dr. Snodgrass)

Campus Links

Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Department of Human Physiology
Institute of Cognitive and Decision Sciences
Museum of Natural and Cultural History
Northwest Primate Conservation Society

Lectures Series and Discussion Groups

Anthropology Department Lecture Series Schedule (TBA)
Evolution and Cognition Focus Group
Evolutionary Medicine Group

Professor Frances White in the Biological Anthropology Teaching
Laboratory explaining a laboratory exercise on fossil hominids
to a group of undergraduate students.

UO Anthropology undergraduate Sara Epstein (right) participating in
a research project on stress and health among Latino immigrants in Oregon.

Professor Josh Snodgrass and graduate student Felicia
Madimenos collecting blood spots in Ecuador. Photo: Blackwell 2008

Professor Stephen Frost uses morphometrics to examine neandertal
taxonomy. From Havarti, Frost, and McNulty 2004, PNAS 101:5

Rescued bonobos at the Lola Ya Bonobo Sanctuary in Kinshasa,
Democratic Republic of Kongo. Photo: Frances White.