Major in anthropology at Oregon
At the UO’s Department of Anthropology, you can learn about various cultures and populations, dig up fossils, study gorillas, hunt for ancient relics, and more. Pursue your specific interests through our three anthropological subfields: cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, and archaeology.
You will be taught by working anthropologists who study societies from the past and present in West Africa, East Africa, Latin America, North America, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and the Caribbean. Learn about the human species from ecological and evolutionary perspectives, and gain a deeper understanding of human biological variation and our relation to other animals. You can participate in field schools that travel across the world digging for artifacts, and go abroad to study international cultures.
Curriculum overview
Specialize in one of our subfields—cultural anthropology, archaeology, or biological anthropology—or combine them for an interdisciplinary approach such as biocultural anthropology or bioarchaeology.
Earn internships and employment opportunities with the UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History, and work on research projects with professors and graduate students.
Analyze and document artifacts from actual project sites in the Americas, Pacific Islands, East Asia, Southeast Asia, West Africa, and more.
Gain experience in cutting edge molecular analyses of DNA, hormones, and isotopes.
Explore connections between bones and behavior to better understand human evolutionary biology and primate ecology.
Careers in anthropology
A degree in anthropology shows your appreciation of cultural differences and an ability to work with and relate to people from various walks of life. In today’s world, employers value these abilities. Anthropology graduates find employment in business, social service organizations, nonprofits, museums, political organizations, and education. Biological anthropology students can find work in laboratories, zoos, and forensic science, while archaeology students have worked at the Forest Service, in contract archaeology, and more. Cultural anthropology students have had jobs in adoption agencies and political action. Graduates of our program have gone on to graduate school in anthropology, medical school, and law school. A degree in anthropology offers flexibility after college and teaches you skills that relate to many job fields.
Concentrations
- Cultural Anthropology
- Biological Anthropology
- Archaeology