In the U-M Department of Anthropology, we explore questions about humanity’s past, present, and future. How are we affecting our planet? Are our political and economic systems just and sustainable? Where have we come from as a species, and where are we headed? Our mission is to advance and share anthropological knowledge through research, teaching, publication, and community engagement, and we are recognized as one of the best programs in the world due to the intellectual leadership of our faculty and our varied, real-world research opportunities for students.
Anthropology cultivates a fluency with issues of culture and change that is more vital than ever in our increasingly global society. From corporate boardrooms to urban communities, from remote settings to familiar neighborhoods, anthropologists are studying the moral and material interests that influence us. Our research identifies solutions to worldwide problems, influences government policies, guides industry practices, and advances new knowledge about what makes us human.
Undergrads may choose to major in anthropology (with an option to focus on one of six submajors) or human origins, biology, and behavior (HOBB). After graduation, our alums find success in fields such as business, government, medicine, science, conservation, law, social work, and the arts.
Our renowned Ph.D. program equips the next generation of leading scholars for advanced work in the field through concentrated study and research in one of four subfields: anthropological archaeology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and sociocultural anthropology. We also offer joint degree programs in anthropology and history, anthropology and social work, and a student-initiated combined doctoral program.
No matter their specialization, all U-M anthropology students will explore the discipline’s history and foundational ideas, new developments, area and topical literatures, practical methods, and advanced modes of data collection and interpretation in an environment of inclusion, innovation, rigorous scholarship, and generous support for research and study.
