Anthropology Biological Anthropology - James Madison University

Anthropology Biological Anthropology from James Madison University is a Campus Bachelor Anthropology degree that prepares you for a Science career. Mission Statement Anthropology is unique among the social sciences in that it celebrates humans as biological organisms and as innovative, creative, culture-bearing beings. Through course work, field schools, study abroad, independent studies and internships, students learn about cultural, linguistic, and biological diversity, human biological characteristics, and the human past as revealed by archaeology. The anthropology program provides globally-oriented courses that stress critical thinking, method and theory, gathering and interpreting data, intensive reading and writing, hands-on learning, and the research methods and techniques used by anthropologists to understand contemporary human problems. Goals The anthropology program has the following goals: To introduce students to the nature of culture and of diverse cultural systems, their social organization, and how anthropologists interpret cultural differences and similarities. To introduce students to the relevance of human biology for understanding contemporary human populations and biological variation and disease and to provide them with the fundamentals of evolutionary theory and the fossil and genetic evidence that supports it. To develop student understanding of cultural origins and the development of human societies through the analysis of material remains (artifacts) left by prehistoric and historic cultures. To encourage an integrative approach to understanding the human condition that incorporates the contributions of all sub-disciplines of anthropology Career Opportunities and Marketable Skills An undergraduate degree in Anthropology provides a solid foundation for a wide range of rewarding careers. Students with a B.A. or B.S. degree in anthropology have gone on to become: Graduate students in archaeology, cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, linguistics and area studies programs Professors of anthropology in each of the sub-disciplines Professional students in law, medicine, education, international affairs, public policy and public health Americorps and Peace Corps volunteers Archivists Business executives City planners and government officials College librarians Field archaeologists Cultural affairs directors Historical preservationists Museum curators and staff International aid workers and development consultants Management trainees Nurses, medical technicians and physicians assistants Forensic analysts Coroners Technical writers Concentration Biological Anthropology The focus of biological anthropology is the study of human biology from an evolutionary perspective. Biological anthropology is interested in understanding how and why the human species became what it is today. Thus, it involves the study of human evolution, human biology and its variation, human ecology (how humans interrelate with their environment), and primate behavior and biology (to place humans in the proper comparative context). Biological anthropologists also recognize that human culture, and learned behavior in general, are fundamentally important to understanding the human condition which leads them to emphasize a bio-cultural approach in which both biology and culture are integrated into a holistic understanding of humanity. Students work closely with biological anthropology faculty to choose electives from both within and outside of the department to refine their own research and scholarly interests. Upper-level electives in biology and psychology are recommended depending on the student's particular goals. Students might consider taking a minor or second major in biology or psychology. View more details on James Madison University . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Anthropology courses.