Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of human beings and humankind in the broadest sense. Anthropologists study present and past human cultures and societies, human and non-human primate biology and evolution, and language in social contexts.

Chair:   Larissa Swedell
Office:  Powdermaker 314
Phone:  718-997-5510
E-mail:  LSwedell@qc.cuny.edu

For Anthropology Advising:

Anthropology at QC

Anthropology’s unique cross-cultural and deeply temporal approach to understanding human diversity is perhaps the smartest and most practical route that a general liberal arts student can select.  A major or minor in anthropology can be easily supplemented with a variety of relevant courses focused on any number of specific career goals and orientations.  If a solid liberal arts foundation is your first educational goal, consider a major in anthropology. It offers a way of “seeing” and “reading” the world that is in increasing demand in these changing multicultural times.

For a printable overview of Anthropology and the majors and minors, click here.

Looking to the past, preparing for the future

A major or minor in anthropology provides the necessary preparation for a variety of careers, including education, international studies, medicine and allied professions, social work, corporate consulting, market research, museum work, community organizing, academia, and many more.  Students may focus mainly in one of the anthropological subfields – cultural, biological, archaeological, or linguistic anthropology – or they may follow a more general program of study that includes all four subfields.

Anthropology News

Jan 6th, 2025

Research by Professor Thomas Plummer and his team was recently featured on CBS Saturday Morning.  Professor Plummer’s work demonstrates compelling evidence for the earliest tool use by our hominin ancestors 3 million years ago on the Homa Peninsula in western Kenya, findings that were also recently published in Science.

Spring 2025 course schedule now available

Jan 6th, 2025

Explore our upcoming semester course offerings here.

Explore our specialized minors

August 16th, 2024

In addition to an Anthropology major and minor, students may sign up for specialized minors including Human Ecology, Power and Inequality, Cultural Heritage and Memory, and Health and Culture. For more information on our majors and minors, click here.

View our minors:

General | Human Ecology | Power and Inequality | Cultural Heritage and Memory | Health and Culture