About Anthropology

Photograph by Christine Scheer
 

What does it mean to be human? How did we get to be the way we are? What will become of humans in the future?

Students and faculty in the School of Anthropology at The University of Arizona try to answer these questions – and many more – about our species. Our anthropologists ask questions about all components of the human experience, and seek to describe and interpret human behavior and culture, language, biology, and the environment at many levels of organization – from molecules to ecosystems.

The School of Anthropology is one of the few institutions to fully support the integrated sub-discipline approach to anthropology, with research embracing Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Sociocultural Anthropology (including Applied Anthropology). Through the School, the University of Arizona provides meaningful opportunities to learn about what is human, how we evolved, and what lies in our future.

The School of Anthropology enjoys a long tradition of academic excellence, and today is ranked one of the top five programs in the United States. Well respected by researchers throughout the world, it is home to a diverse community of anthropologists who study all aspects of human life, from our hominid origins millions of years ago to the vast diversity of populations living in the world today.