Anthropology

Anthropology is the holistic study of people across time periods and geographic locations. It explores all aspects of culture, society, politics, and economics and provides students with the tools for understanding our diverse communities, our pasts, and our futures. Students learn about the four-fields of anthropology (archaeology, socio-cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and biological anthropology) and the discipline’s many areas of specialization including medical anthropology, environmental anthropology, and urban anthropology.

By exploring humans as both biological and cultural beings affected by their environments, anthropology offers students a comprehensive set of skills needed to address the most pressing issues of our time—issues like student protest, environmental racism, global health crises, war, migration, poverty, the legacies of colonialism, and cultural rights.

Anthropology is a flexible major with a dedicated faculty committed to the study of inequality and social justice in cities and rural places including New York City, Barbados, Egypt and Brazil, and in different historical moments. Anthropology plays a vital role within the College by providing students with foundational research methods and cutting-edge theories that can also support the College’s interdisciplinary programs such as Black Studies, Asian Studies, Middle East and North Africa Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, and International and Global Studies.

Students who study anthropology gain invaluable cross-cultural perspectives essential for the 21st century as they launch careers in fields such as social work, medicine and public health, engineering, education, heritage management (i.e. museums and public archaeology), international development and international relations, journalism, architecture, urban planning, business management, and allied professions. All of these fields require a respect for cultural difference, knowledge about how societies, politics, and economics interact, and a commitment to public and community engagement. This focus also provides students with an excellent foundation for graduate school in anthropology and related fields. Most importantly, anthropology provides all students with a framework for understanding themselves in the context of their community, nation, and world.

Program Resources

The Anthropology major and minor counts with a dedicated team of faculty that offer a range of introductory and advanced elective courses.

All ANTH majors and minors can receive individual advising from the department’s Anthropology Advisor regarding course selection and course of study.

For academic year 2024-2025, Dr. Omnia Khalil will serve as the Anthropology Faculty Advisor. Email: okhalil@ccny.cuny.edu

Students participate in ANTH-affiliated clubs including the Anthropology Student Association. This is a student-run organization that utilizes the four fields of Anthropology to create a platform for open minds; collaboration; and world understanding. They seek to provide a space that gives students a holistic view on Anthropology; helps to build leadership skills; allows room for creativity; and ensures preparation for the next stages in life. In this capacity they sponsor programs of anthropological interest.

Awards

The Ward Medal: The College gives the Ward Medal annually to the graduating senior demonstrating the greatest proficiency in the field of Anthropology.

St. Clair Drake Award: The Department of Anthropology and Interdisciplinary Programs gives this award annually to a student in recognition of community service.

Audre Lorde Award: The Department of Anthropology and Interdisciplinary Programs gives this award annually to a student in recognition of service to the Anthropology Student Association.

Faculty

The faculty of the program includes those professors who teach the program’s courses and those whose departmental courses may be credited to the major.