Anthropology is the study of human cultures, societies, and behavior in all parts of the world throughout all periods of history. There are four sub-disciplines: archaeology, the study of past cultures and civilizations; socio-cultural anthropology, which is concerned with current cultures of all degrees of complexity; physical anthropology, the biological aspects of the human species; and anthropological linguistics, which is concerned with the scientific study of language and its relationship to thought and society.

 

to top of page

 

Career Opportunities:

Anthropology provides very broad training in the social sciences. Therefore, a background in Anthropology is useful in any career in which an understanding of people or the societies in which they live is important. Due to the broad nature of the field, students trained in anthropology have followed a wide range of careers. In recent years, our majors have pursued careers in anthropology, archaeology, law, social work, business, theology, library science, writing, museum work, nursing, computer programming, clinical psychology, education and economic development.

International Affairs in Anthropology majors receive excellent preparation for careers in law, foreign service, international development, international business and economics, government and diplomatic service.

Students with course work and practical experience in archaeology, as well as those with graduate degrees in archaeology, have found employment with public agencies and private organizations concerned with cultural resource management.

to top of page


Special Resources and Programs:

The archaeology faculty focuses on prehistoric North and South America. The cultural anthropologists have extensive field experience in the Middle East, Oceania, Latin America, and North America.

Periodically, the anthropology faculty offers field schools in prehistoric archaeology, oral history and folklore, and geography. Students also are encouraged to participate in research programs in New England and the Maritime Provinces currently in progress. In recent years students have been hired to work on archaeology field and laboratory projects, in the Maine Folklife Center, and the Hudson Museum of Anthropology.


to top of page



The Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology:

A minimum of 36 credits of anthropology or geography is required. In some cases, double majors may be able to apply six credits of collateral courses to the major. Majors must pass the following courses with at least a "C -" grade - with the exception of ANT 493, which majors must pass with at least a "C" grade.

Students may declare an anthropology major in their first year, and must declare their major once they have accumulated 53 credits. It is desirable to begin taking anthropology courses in the first semester at the university.

First year students are advised to take ANT 101 (fall semester) and ANT 102 (spring semester), as these are both required for the major and are prerequisites for many upper division courses. Other 100 and 200 level courses in anthropology are relevant and may be taken in the first year. First year students also concentrate on completing general education requirements.

ANT 300 and ANT 317 are both major requirements and should be taken as early as possible. ANT 300 is our writing intensive course within the major and is limited to 15 majors of junior standing per semester. There is a waiting list for this course. Please sign up for the waiting list in the Anthropology Office, as soon as possible.

The Capstone course, ANT 493, is taken in the senior year. Students writing an anthropology honors thesis do not have to take the Capstone course, ANT 493, but must still earn 36 credits in anthropology or geography courses.

ANT 300, 317, 493, and 9 other credits must be taken at UMaine.

Advanced study in anthropology normally requires use of quantitative methods and foreign language competency, and some theoretical sophistication. Consequently, students planning to do graduate work in anthropology should take a course in Statistics, such as ANT 462 (Numerical Methods in Anthropology), and achieve foreign language competency at the intermediate level. A knowledge of statistics and one or more foreign languages is required in most Ph.D. programs in Anthropology. Those interested in graduate work in archaeology should take some 500 level courses in Anthropology.

The anthropology major emphasizes a broadly based undergraduate curriculum. In consultation with his or her advisor, the student should select courses to sample effectively the sub-disciplines of anthropology, and avoid over-specialization at the B.A. level. A few interdisciplinary course concentrations or minors are appropriate for the anthropology major. These are included under the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.


to top of page


The Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs/Anthropology:

The University of Maine's international affairs major is a discipline with broad dimensions, one that integrates the information, strategies, and techniques of a variety of disciplines, political science, anthropology, economics, Canadian studies, history, women's studies and modern languages to study and understand complex relations among nations.

Anthropology is the study of modern human cultural diversity in all its religious, political, psychological and economic facets. We provide a broad-based liberal arts education with specific emphasis on understanding cultural diversity through time, awareness which will positively affect our future on this planet especially as it is applied to international affairs.

Students majoring in International Affairs/Anthropology must complete a core curriculum of 36 credit hours in International Affairs, from an IA course list. In their first two years, students are encouraged to complete their General Education course requirements and the core courses in the six International Affairs disciplines:

The course concentration in Anthropology requires that students complete 21 credit hours from an International Affairs/Anthropology course list.

All courses in the International Affairs/Anthropology major must be passed with at least a "C" grade.

Study abroad is an integral part of International Affairs. All of our majors are strongly encouraged to spend one or two semesters in study abroad.

Since the number of required courses is relatively high, International Affairs/Anthropology majors should plan their program early in their college careers.

 

 

to top of page

 

 

Anthropology Minor:

A minimum of 18 credits in Anthropology is required for the minor, at least 9 of which must be taken at the University of Maine Campus at Orono. Students minoring in Anthropology must pass the following courses with at least a "C-" grade:

ANT 101 Introduction to Anthropology: Human Origins and Prehistory CR. 3

ANT 102 Introduction to Anthropology: Diversity of Cultures CR. 3

Any four Anthropology or Geography courses, for a total of 18 credits

to top of page

 

PhD in Anthropology and Environmental Policy:

This new PhD Program centers on understanding human society and culture in cross-cultural perspective and their pivotal role in implementing successful environmental policy. The program engages students in a multi-disciplinary framework bridging environmental sciences and policy while focusing on the sociocultural impacts of, and responses to, local and global environmental change.

Students engage with faculty in cutting-edge research on the way social relations, human organization, cultural perceptions, and ecological behavior affect the causes and consequences of local, national, and global environmental change. Students analyze social and cultural dimensions of policy that mitigate negative environmental consequences of this change while safeguarding or promoting human well-being. Areas of environmental policy and research include:

The program core is a firm grounding in anthropological social and cultural theory, qualitative and quantitative methodology, and policy development and analysis. Students engage in methodological and specialized courses tailored to their specific environmental interests at the local, national, or international scale.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships and Work Study positions available for qualified students.

SEE PROGRAM CURRICULUM

 

Program Contact:

Dr. V. Constanza Ocampo-Raeder
5773 South Stevens Hall
Orono, Maine 04469-5773
constanza.ocampo-raeder@umit.maine.edu

 

to top of page

 

Graduate Study:

The Department of Anthropology cooperates with the Climate Change Institute to train graduate students in prehistoric archaeology. Application is made through the Graduate School. An Individualized Ph.D. in Anthropology is possible under certain circumstances.
(See also, Graduate School Catalog).


to top of page