About

Anthropology is the study of humanity. Appalachian State University’s Bachelor of Science degree in anthropology immerses students in the content, methods, theory and practice of this field from a science-based perspective. 

Alumni of this degree program typically seek careers that require a selection of courses in either, or both, of these two areas:

• Archaeology — the study of material remains, stone tools, GIS, built environments, landscapes and settlements.
• Biological anthropology — the study of humans and non-human primates from a biological and evolutionary perspective, skeletal analysis, human evolution, biocultural adaptation, paleontology, forensics, ecology, and primate conservation and behavior.

After Graduation

Employment: Many students receive job offers after graduation. See a list of employers

Graduate school: App State students with an anthropology degree have been accepted at the master’s and doctoral level in a variety of fields: biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, archaeology, art history, geoarchaeology, political science, global studies, international development, health sciences, history, museum studies, nursing, physician assistant program, psychology, social work, Latin American studies, linguistics, urban and regional planning, public health, and law programs. See a list of schools

Career Exploration website

People

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  Faculty Profile: Dr. Alice Wright and Dr. Cameron Gokee

  Wright and Gokee are leading an App State research team into the Linville Gorge Wilderness area in search of probable archaeological sites. They hope to learn more about the lives of ancestral Cherokee and Catawba and other Indigenous people who once used the land — while facilitating the preservation of cultural resources. Learn more.

  Meet more faculty

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  Student Profile: Rachel Anderson

  Anderson was selected to participate in the American Indian Language Development Institute, which provides critical training to strengthen efforts to revitalize and promote the use of Indigenous languages.

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  Alumna Profile: Callie Gunzenhauser ’21

  Gunzenhauser reports on her study abroad at American University in Bulgaria, applying skills learned in App State’s Department of Anthropology.

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  Alumni Profiles: Cala Castleberry ’17 and Hayley Wynn ’17

  After graduation, Castleberry and Wynn completed internships with the National Park Service related to historical preservation — assessing archaeological sites in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and digitizing site reports from archaeological surveys completed between the 1940s and early 2000s in other southeastern parks.

Related Programs

• Anthropology (BA)
• Anthropology (BS) – Multidisciplinary

Minors

A minor is required.

View all minors

Engagement Outside the Classroom

Anthropology Club — A student group that discusses the field of anthropology and different aspects of culture and society.

Global Learning

Appalachian is committed to introducing students to different cultures and teaching them how to live and interact in a global society.

The Department of Anthropology regularly offers field schools in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Italy and Wales, as well as areas of North America.

Admission Requirements

There are no admission requirements beyond admission to Appalachian State University.