Anthropology Major

If you want to better understand people from around the world, their culture, and how they interact with each other and their natural environment, anthropology is a great subject to explore. Anthropology not only teaches us about the past but can also help shape the present as we look toward the future. Our anthropology major is particularly well-suited for those interested in the environment, social justice, museums, heritage, archaeology, and diverse cultures.  
 
At Washington College, we take a holistic approach to understanding different lives and cultures through the systems they use to govern their lives and the perspectives they have on the world. Anthropology is the study of people through time to the present day, looking at the complex variety that exists between different groups of people. Majoring in anthropology, you will better understand how people see and think about their world and engage with one another and the environment, in many different times and places. Environmental problems are human problems, with social, political, and economic systems impacting the way we engage with the environment. You will also understand the interconnectedness of our contemporary global society while understanding that people have always been connected globally.

From your first course in the major, you will engage in field work. Courses are discussion-based, with students presenting their work, ideas, and perspectives as part of the discourse. Our faculty are dedicated to hands-on learning and are open to providing independent studies for continued, intentional independent research.  Your practical skills will be put to the test in your final year as you complete a Senior Capstone Experience (SCE), a year-long independent research project. The final form of that project could be a traditional thesis or take a more creative form like a film, museum exhibit, report, or more.  
 
The anthropology major is flexible, making it easy to double major or minor in another area of interest. That flexibility also makes it possible to participate in a semester- or year-long study abroad, or to participate in a department-specific study abroad opportunity in Cuba or Tanzania. Traveling within the United States as part of the major is also common.