Anthropology, the broadest of all the social sciences, is the scientific study of human biological and cultural diversity. It is not bound by time, as it explores the human experience from our earliest ancestors to the present. It is also global, not bound by space. Anthropologists study peoples in remote corners of the world as well as those in our own society. Anthropology falls within the humanities and the natural sciences. It is a holistic discipline, for it looks at the mutual interdependence of the biological and cultural aspects of humans. The major subfields of anthropology are cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics.

Because of its holistic nature, anthropology helps us understand many contemporary social problems such as inequality, poverty, racism, sexism, and economic development. With many practical applications (including forensic anthropology, business anthropology, cultural ecology, urban anthropology, and medical anthropology), the major relates well to almost any subject that students pursue. It is a popular double major or minor for students in other fields.

The interdisciplinary nature of anthropology contributes to an integrated understanding of the various subjects that one studies at a liberal arts college.

The Anthropology Discipline is part of the Collegium of Comparative Cultures at Eckerd College. These pages are designed to familiarize you with what our Anthropology Discipline has to offer and to help you decide if a major or minor in anthropology might be interesting and valuable for you. Please contact any of the anthropology professors if you have any questions. We would be happy to chat with you--in person, by phone, or by email--about exciting opportunities that arise with the study of anthropology.