60 credit hours

Anthropology takes as its subject the unity and diversity of our single human species in its total history.  Its intellectual origins are in both the natural sciences, and the humanities. Anthropology concerns itself with real people living now and throughout history.  Hence anthropology asks questions such as “What defines being human?" "Who are the ancestors of modern humans?”  “What are our physical traits?" "How do we behave?" "Why are there variations and differences among different groups of humans?" "How has the evolutionary past of humans influenced social organization and culture?"    Most importantly anthropologists seek to ask themselves the twin questions of “What in my world gives rise to my reaction to what other folks do?” and “What in their world makes it sensible for them to do what they do, even if  it would never occur to me to do the same thing?”

Cultural anthropology is often based on ethnography, a kind of writing used throughout anthropology to present data on a particular people or folk (from the Greek, ethnos/), often based on observation research. In some European countries, cultural anthropology is known as ethnology (a term coined and defined by Adam F. Kolár in 1783). Ethnology involves the systematic comparison of different cultures. The study of kinship and social organization is a central focus of cultural anthropology, as kinship is common to all human groups. Cultural anthropology also covers: economic and political organization, law and conflict resolution, patterns of consumption and exchange, material culture, technology, infrastructure, gender relations, ethnicity, childrearing and socialization, religion, myth, symbols, worldview, sports, music, nutrition, recreation, games, food, festivals, and language, which is also the object of study in linguistics. Note the way in which some of these topics overlap with topics in the other subfields. 

Anthropology students will gain skills essential to better understand the complexity of the human world and the role of human beings within that complex world.  Collin students who study anthropology will gain a foundation in the discipline sufficient for them to transfer to a university program.

Career Options

The study of Anthropology is good preparation for people interested in teaching the human sciences or development activities, conducting research or planning in a wide variety of settings.  Anthropology is also a foundation for careers in medicine, law, government, diplomacy or business.  Cultural resource management companies and museums offer some entry level positions for persons who have completed an associate degree and have taken several courses in anthropology.

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