As anthropologists, we are guided by principles that emphasize openness, respect for innate human dignity, and a deep commitment to understanding and improving the human condition.

GVSU Anthropology is committed to welcoming and supporting all students, faculty, and staff. Please read our full Affirmation of Inclusion.

Studying Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of humans. The sub-fields within anthropology are Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, and Linguistics. Anthropology as a discipline teaches/promotes:

holism - the concept that all aspects of human behavior are interrelated and important in understanding what it means to be human,
cross-cultural analyses - to understand the wide range of diversity in human behavior in order to eliminate prejudice and bias,
human diversity - uses a variety of methods to observe and measure the range of human behavior and culture,
problem solving - using Applied Anthropology to assess and solve social problems.

Anthropological perspectives provide students with unique abilities to contribute to standard job skills such as: diversity sensitivity, management, interviewing techniques, research/program design, statistical/survey techniques, teaching/training, communication.