Welcome to the Department of Anthropology

Information for Prospective & Incoming First-Years

An education in Anthropology can help you understand diverse cultures around the world and across time, preparing you for a variety of exciting future paths. Learn more on our First-year Focus page.

 

NEWS & EVENTS:

Professor Jim brown Elected Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

 

The Jeremiah and Helen James Lecture
presented by Geoffrey Khan

The Language of the Modern Assyrians and its Historical Background

Thursday, May 10, 7 PM, Harris Hall, Rm 107, 1881 Sheridan Road, Evanston Campus
Reception follows lecture in Harris, Rm 108 (Leopold Rm)

 

In Memoriam - Northwestern remembers Professor Liz Brumfiel

• A campus memorial service will be held for Liz Brumfiel in June. Details forthcoming.
• To read the Department's tribute to Liz, click here.

 

Professor Jim Brown's Cahokia Research in the Spotlight

Chair of Anthropology contributes to Discovery Channel project on paleolithic living

NU Anthropologists make national headlines with study on hormonal effects of fatherhood on men:

• New York Times article
• Washington Post article

• Northwestern Newscenter article

 

FALL CLASS SCHEDULE 2012

Anthropology Yearly Course Planner 2011-12

The world is changing and shrinking. People from differing cultures, races, classes, and backgrounds meet and interact more often and more intensely than ever before. Anthropology, the study of humankind in broad perspective, is devoted to the proposition that the differences among us are understandable and enriching. It takes effort and discipline, however, to obtain such understanding and to appreciate human differences and similarities. Anthropology is devoted to discovering and explaining how humanity has developed differences and similarities whenever and wherever these have occurred.

Founded by Melville J. Herskovits in 1938, Northwestern’s Department of Anthropology is committed to fostering the historic diversity of the discipline by building an intellectual dialogue between humanistic and scientific perspectives. In particular the Department’s undergraduate and graduate programs emphasize the integration of the major anthropological subfields: archaeology, bioanthropology, cultural anthropology and linguistic anthropology. Undergraduate and graduate students are taught to harness these strengths in basic research as well as in the application of anthropology both inside and outside of academia.

Events and News Graduate Engagement Opportunities Community Practicum (GEO) Graduate Engagement Stories: GEO Student Makes a Difference for Foster Children Matilda Stubbs, a 3rd year Anthropology student, spent a significant part of Winter Quarter 2011 working at the Rice Child + Family Center in Evanston, simultaneously contributing to the wellbeing of its residents, and earning course credit through the Graduate Engagement Opportunities Program (GEO), a practicum and seminar series. Keep reading One Book One Northwestern One Book One Northwestern brings individuals together through the sharing of a common book, and provides people an opportunity to read and discuss influential pieces of literary work.  For more information on this year’s program, please visit the 2011-12 web site at www.onebooknu.com.

Department Administration Chair William R. Leonard Business Administrator Dana Fuller Coordinator of Administration Susan Higgins Director of Graduate Studies Robert Launay Graduate Program Assistant Tracy Tohtz Director of Undergraduate Studies Helen B. Schwartzman Undergraduate Program Assistant Cynthia Beth