Minor in Anthropology

Anthropology is an intrinsically interdisciplinary field, and the ethical, cross-cultural foundation it provides can benefit a range of academic disciplines across UMass Amherst, from health care and biology to gender studies and public policy.

The rigorous and flexible study of anthropology will help you understand more about the nature and significance of human diversity. We offer a range of courses in archaeology, bio-archaeology, socio-cultural, linguistic, and biological anthropology to suit your personal and professional goals.

As an anthropology minor, you’ll choose five courses that give you a grounding in a particular facet of the discipline, such as:

• One of the four subfields (archaeology or cultural, biological, or linguistic anthropology)
• The cultural past and present in a specific region of the world

The Anthropology Department at UMass is especially known for research in the anthropology of Europe, indigenous and Afro-diasporic archaeology, community-based research methods, and for leading the way in developing a biocultural perspective on human adaptability, enhanced by a strong foundation in political economy.