What is Anthropology?
Anthropology is the scientific study of humankind from its beginnings, millions of years ago, to the present day. Nothing human is alien to anthropology. Of the many sciences that study certain aspects of our species, only anthropology attempts to understand the whole panorama, in time and space, of the human condition. While other academic disciplines may concentrate on one aspect of human experience, anthropology is an integrated study of the whole range of human activities, including communication and language, economics, political organization, religion, the arts, philosophy, education, medical and nutritional practices, social interaction, marriage, child rearing, science, and technology. Anthropology enables the study of people from all over the world as they live now, as the lived in the prehistoric and historic past, and as they may live in the future. Anthropology also studies people as biological-psychological-cultural-social wholes living in relationship with their environment; a major goal is to understand human beings from this overall perspective.
The major in Anthropology is designed to prepare students for advanced degrees in Anthropology as well as for positions in the private and public sector. Social service occupations, work in urban centers, museum work, health professions, natural resources management, and overseas work are some of the areas that offer many opportunities for anthropology graduates.
International Aspects of Anthropology
Anthropology is inherently international in scope, drawing on world-wide cross-cultural comparisons for understanding culture and what it means to be human, and offers an inter-, multi-, and trans-disciplinary perspective to promote an understanding of global networks that occur in transnational cultural contexts such as ethnicity, business, religion and education. Anthropology studies the global flow of information and channels of communication that cross spatial, national-territorial boundaries; and it studies transnational actors who enter into the spaces opened up by the intersection of corporate capital, labor mobility and new information, communication, and transportation technologies. The department encourages study in different cultures and will provide, where appropriate, academic credit for educational experiences abroad.
Multiple and/or Single Subject Teaching Credential
Information
Put your anthropology degree to work, teaching diverse students the meanings of cultural relativity and acceptance.
If you are an undergraduate student, the Anthropology degree may be effectively combined with subject matter studies for either the multiple subject credential (K-8) or single subject credential (7-12) in Social Science. Undergraduates are encouraged to visit the Center for Careers in Teaching (714-278-7130) or www.fullerton.edu/CCT as early as possible in their academic careers to plan efficient course selections for general education, major and electives. Please meet with Dr. Greathouse often, to go over your course selections and to keep up-to-date with the current requirements to enter into the credential program. With careful planning, it may be possible to enter the credential program in the senior year of the bachelor’s degree.
Please go to the CCT website (above) to gather study plans or to check out what is available and what the credential program is all about. Please meet with Dr. Greathouse, the teaching credential advisor for anthropology, to discuss the options, and the courses so that we can tailor a study plan to suit your needs and interests.
Postgraduate students should contact the Admission to Teacher Education office in the School of Education (714-278-3411) to obtain information on attending an overview presentation, as your requirements will be different.