If you're curious, empathetic, and eager to explore the complexity of human life, the Anthropology Program at the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis offers a dynamic, hands-on path to explore it. As the only discipline that integrates biological, cultural, linguistic, and archaeological perspectives, anthropology gives you a holistic framework to understand what it means to be human.
In this program, you won’t just study theory in the classroom. You’ll work in labs and in the field, collaborating with museums, health agencies, community organizations, and more. Through archaeological digs, ethnographic interviews, lab work, and community-based research, you’ll engage directly with the world around you. You’ll explore human diversity across time and place, sharpen your critical thinking, and learn to see global issues through both broad and deeply personal lenses.
The coursework builds a strong foundation in cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, and archaeology, while encouraging you to ask meaningful questions, analyze data, and connect ideas across disciplines. You’ll work alongside museums, health agencies, and local organizations, gaining real-world experience that prepares you for careers in public health, education, cultural resource management, global development, and more.
You’ll learn from professors who are not only experts in their fields but also deeply passionate about mentoring students. Their research spans everything from cultural and linguistic anthropology to archaeology and bioanthropology—bringing real-world discoveries straight into your classroom.
By the time you reach your capstone, you’ll be ready to design your own research project, interview professionals in the field, and create a portfolio that showcases your skills, insights, and experience. It’s a program designed to help you grow as a scholar, a citizen, and a future professional.
Undergraduate
B.A. Anthropology
Anthropology is a holistic discipline that explores human life across time and space—from ancient civilizations to modern social dynamics. As an Anthropology major, you’ll immerse yourself in three core subfields:
- Cultural Anthropology, where you’ll examine beliefs, rituals, and social structures across diverse communities.
- Biological/Physical Anthropology, which focuses on human evolution, health, and genetics.
- Archaeology, where you’ll investigate material culture to uncover the stories of past societies.
This interdisciplinary foundation equips you to understand humanity in all its complexity. You’ll learn to analyze human diversity, compare cultures, and understand ethical values in a global context—skills that are essential in today’s interconnected world.
The B.A. in Anthropology emphasizes hands-on, applied learning. You’ll gain field experience in archaeology and cultural anthropology, conduct lab research in areas like forensics and bioarchaeology, and collaborate with museums, health agencies, and community partners. These immersive experiences build your skills in data collection, analysis, and critical thinking, while fostering a deep understanding of diverse communities and real-world challenges.
You’ll graduate with a strong foundation in cultural, biological, and archaeological anthropology, along with the analytical tools to examine global issues and human inequality.
Minor in Anthropology
If you're fascinated by people—their cultures, histories, biology, and languages—but you’re majoring in something else, add a minor in anthropology for a deeper lens to understand human behavior across time and place. You’ll explore everything from ancient artifacts and human evolution to contemporary social systems and cultural practices, gaining insight into how people live, interact, and adapt.
This minor is ideal for undergraduate students who want to broaden their worldview, sharpen their critical thinking, and add a human-centered perspective to their primary field of study. You’ll get foundational training in anthropological inquiry, learn to interpret ethnic and cultural behavior, and dive into a specialized area that matches your interests—whether that’s archaeology, forensics, language, or global cultures.
Minor in Cultural Diversity
Cultural diversity refers to the coexistence of different cultural and ethnic groups within a society, reflected in language, traditions, beliefs, and social practices. It influences how people interact and understand one another across local and global contexts. The Minor in Cultural Diversity offers a structured way to explore these dynamics, adding depth to majors in liberal arts, sciences, and professional fields like education, nursing, social work, business, medicine, law, and public affairs.
Through focused coursework, you’ll study the origins and evolution of racial and ethnic categories, the relationship between culture and biology, and the processes of acculturation and pluralism. You’ll gain insight into how scholarly perspectives on human diversity have developed and how we learn to understand others in an increasingly interconnected world. This minor gives you a fresh, multicultural lens to explore big questions and navigate complex social dynamics, whether you're planning a career involving research or a professional path.
Graduate
M.A. in Anthropology
The Master of Arts in Applied Anthropology is a graduate program designed for students who want to turn anthropological theory into practical action. As a master’s student, you’ll work directly with communities and organizations to address real-world challenges, gaining hands-on experience through research and internships. Professors lead high-impact projects across Indianapolis, including archaeological investigations, cemetery analyses, and community-based research tied to social justice and public history. The curriculum blends core training with opportunities to specialize in areas like medical anthropology, urban issues, globalization, or museum studies.
Professionally, this degree opens doors to a wide range of careers. Graduates often pursue roles in cultural resource management, public health, international development, museum curation, nonprofit leadership, and community advocacy. You’ll be equipped to work in government agencies, NGOs, healthcare organizations, or cultural institutions—anywhere that values deep understanding of human behavior and social systems.
Anthropologists work in many fields
Anthropology offers a powerful lens for understanding human experience and provides a strong foundation for varied careers. Anthropologists work in public health, forensic science, business, media, museums, and more, applying their skills to solve problems and tell human stories. It’s a foundation that not only opens doors but also empowers you to make a lasting impact wherever your career takes you.
More information
For questions about any of these academic offerings, contact the Sociology and Anthropology Department chair, Brian Steensland.
