Douglas V. Armstrong, Chair
209 Maxwell Hall
315-443-2200

Faculty

Douglas V. Armstrong, Hans C. Buechler, John S. Burdick, A.H. Peter Castro, Christopher R. DeCorse, Azra Hromadzic, Shannon A. Novak, Deborah Pellow, Guido Pezzarossi, Lars Rodseth, Robert A. Rubinstein, Maureen Trudelle Schwarz, Theresa A. Singleton, John Marshall Townsend, Susan S. Wadley

Anthropology explores the entire range of human experiences in the past and present. Our department offers undergraduate courses covering the breadth of the discipline, including physical anthropology (the study of human evolution and biological variation); archaeology (the study of prehistoric and historic cultures through material remains); linguistics (the study of language - its structure, historic developments, and social aspects); cultural anthropology (the study of contemporary societies); and applied anthropology (the use of anthropological methods and theory to solve real-world problems). Ongoing research by our faculty and graduate students covers a broad array of topics, from slave settlements in Jamaica to women and development in India; from religious movements in Brazil to sustainable agriculture in Nepal; from forestry in Kenya to the Underground Railroad in Syracuse. Current research sites span the globe, including South and East Asia, South and North America, West and East Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Caribbean.

Undergraduate training in anthropology is useful in many fields, including education, international business, law, journalism, cultural resources management and public service. For students interested in future graduate studies in anthropology, our program offers a solid ground in theory, methods, ethics and practical application.

Undergraduate students are encouraged to explore anthropology not only through course work, but with direct involvement in laboratory research and field work. Our department has fully equipped archeology and physical anthropology laboratories, providing a variety of research opportunities. A well-established archaeological field training program is offered each summer. Field experience in cultural anthropology is available through community internships, independent studies, and ongoing faculty research. We also recommend that students consider spending a semester or two in another country through the University’s SU Abroad Program, as a way of enhancing their major with true cross-cultural experience. For information contact the Anthropology Department Undergraduate Director.

The minor in anthropology is designed to encourage students to pursue breadth in areas which complement their major. With the assistance of their faculty advisors, students can design a minor reflecting their interest in any of the subfields of anthropology: socio/cultural, biological/physical, archaeological, applied, and policy-related studies.

To complete the minor in anthropology, students take 18 credits. No more than 6 credits at the 100-200 level can count toward the minor.