Anthropology
Program Info
Get Your Hands Dirty with TROY's Anthropology Degree
Looking for a degree that combines history, sociology and science? The anthropology major at 星空传媒 prepares you to enter a fascinating and diverse field with rewarding career opportunities. Our program encompasses all four subfields of anthropology: Archaeology, Biological Anthropology (including Forensic Sciences), Cultural Anthropology and Linguistics. TROY's unique focus on archaeology and forensic anthropology, and it's extensive hands-on lab and field experience, help make the TROY program one of the best in the U.S.
Work with Artifacts and Participate in Digs as You Earn Your Degree in Anthropology
Choose a program that no other university in Alabama can rival for its depth of field experience. You'll learn research methods from experienced archaeologists and anthropologists in your courses. Then, you'll put those methods into practice through internships, independent research and study abroad programs specifically geared toward anthropology students. Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to work in modern anthropology labs. You'll also be able to participate in excavations and archaeological projects throughout the southeastern U.S. and Italy. You can even work part time as an undergraduate at the TROY Archaeological Research Center (TUARC).
Preparation for Graduate Studies in Anthropology, Archaeology and Related Fields
If you're interested in deeper research projects or teaching at the university level, a BS in anthropology from TROY prepares you for graduate work in various fields, including applied anthropology, archaeology, medical anthropology, museum studies and forensic anthropology. Our graduates have gone on to advanced degree programs at the University of Alabama, the University of Tennessee, the State University of New York (SUNY) system, the University of Virginia and others. You can also study law and anthropology through TROY's accelerated six-year BS/JD program for anthropology majors.
Anthropology Degree Curriculum
Anthropology Program Locations
Earn your anthropology degree online or take courses on the Troy Campus. For more information about program availability and delivery options, call 1-800-414-5756.
A Degree in Anthropology Where You Can Get Involved and Make Connections
Through the and the , you'll be surrounded by others who share your passion for anthropology. The TROY Anthropology Club routinely organizes lecture nights with anthropologists in a range of jobs and specialties. They also host outreach programs like TROY's celebration, where kids and adults can come to campus and learn about anthropology and human history. The Anthropology club also coordinates with other clubs on campus to host fun student events like 鈥�鈥� with the TROY history club or with the Pre-Law Society.
The meaningful connections you make could lead to future opportunities, from internships to research and anthropology jobs to graduate programs. And the fun you'll have will stay with you for a lifetime.
Careers with the TROY Anthropology Degree
TROY works hard to help our bachelor's in anthropology graduates secure anthropology jobs with local and national archaeology firms and gain admission to their top-choice graduate schools
Faculty Profiles
Dr. Stephen Carmody
Dr. Emilie Wiedenmeyer
Suggested Minors for the Anthropology Degree
Archaeology is a subset of anthropology that focuses on studying human history and
culture via physical remains. With this minor, you'll build upon the archaeology coursework
required for the major and gain more knowledge of and hands-on experience with different
methods and field research practices. The minor is interdisciplinary, allowing you
the flexibility to take courses from other departments, so you can specialize in areas
related to anthropology, like history, geography or chemistry.
If you're drawn to forensic anthropology, TROY is the place to gain hands-on experience.
For example, in 2022, forensic science students in the search for the remains of a 2012 murder victim. In addition to learning about
forensic techniques, ethics and evidence, the forensic science minor will give you
a more extensive biology, anatomy and psychology education than the anthropology major
alone, but with a focus on courses that apply to forensic sciences not found in any
of TROY's science bachelor's programs.
FAQ About the Anthropology Degree
Anthropology is a field that studies humanity and its culture, taking into account history, language, religion, social structures, economics, politics, biology and the environments in which people live. Anthropology includes four subfields:
- Archaeology, which focuses on studying humanity via the discovery and analysis of material remains, including artifacts, structures and settlements.
- Biology, which focuses on human biology and that of their ancestors, including evolution, genetics and variation across time and location.
- Social/Cultural, which focuses on human societies and their relationships with one another.
- Linguistics, which focuses on language, how it relates to humanity and its cultures and how it evolves over time.
Studying anthropology can prepare you for careers within the field, along with jobs in many others, such as criminal justice, museum studies, archaeology and historic preservation, public health, education, international development and law. At TROY, you'll join students from all walks of life who come together to study and understand culture and cultural change.
Forensic anthropology is the study of human remains in the context of legal/criminal investigations. It combines the subfields of biological anthropology and archaeology. Forensic anthropology uses empirical evidence, genetic information and computer technology to determine the physical characteristics of human specimens. If you want to help solve crimes involving human remains, studying forensic anthropology at TROY can prepare you for exciting and rewarding careers.
A bachelor's in anthropology can lead to career opportunities in numerous fields and prepare you for graduate study. Studying anthropology provides you with skills nearly every industry values, including critical thinking, research, communication and cultural awareness. Specific fields you can work in include education, public health, government, research, environmentalism and criminal justice.
Jobs within the field of anthropology include:
- Anthropologist
- Archaeologist
- Cultural resource manager
- Epidemiologist
- Forensic scientist
- Historians
- Museum curators
- Sociologist
No, working in anthropology doesn't require a master's degree. You can pursue anthropology-related jobs with a bachelor's in anthropology, such as contract archaeology or cultural resource management (CRM) jobs. But, like other professions, a higher degree leads to even more opportunities.
After earning your BS in anthropology, you'll be well-positioned to follow TROY graduates into advanced degree programs at institutions such as the University of Alabama, the University of Tennessee, the State University of New York (SUNY) system and the University of Virginia. Master's and PhD degrees can qualify you to work in advanced research roles, universities, public policy, cultural resource management, healthcare, nonprofit leadership and other specialized fields that require deep expertise in human behavior and culture.
According to the , in May 2024, the median annual wage for anthropologists and archeologists was $64,910.
Helpful Links
News
TROY Professor, Students Make Discoveries at Italian Excavation Sites
After partnering with Italy's University of Pisa to participate in archaeological digs, TROY anthropology/archaeology professor Dr. Stephen Carmody and his students have helped make several key discoveries in Italian history. The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program brings visiting scholars from abroad to鈥�