Major in Anthropology, Biological Anthropology Concentration

Students in the Biological Anthropology concentration study humanity from a biological and evolutionary perspective. Two broad themes exist within our department. The first emphasizes evolutionary theory and morphological transformations, and the second is concerned with adaptations that are the product of the interaction between human biology and culture. Current faculty research and teaching address these themes through various foci including 1) examining how extinct humans interacted with their environment by researching their feeding behaviors, biology, spatio-temporal distribution and palaeoecological patterning, 2) examining how the biology and stress impact health outcomes in living populations, and 3) examining how skeletal anatomy can be used to reconstruct past and living populations and individuals including within forensic contexts. 

With a concentration in biological anthropology our students acquire theoretical and foundational knowledge in the classroom. They also acquire practical skills via experiential learning through lab work and our Paleontology Field School in Wyoming, and can earn a minor in Forensic Anthropology. Transferable skills include scientific research design and analysis, laboratory techniques and forensic analysis, conducting paleontological survey and analysis, critical thinking and communication, and statistical analysis and ability to synthesize complex information.

Our biological anthropology faculty research and teach courses that explore human evolution, biology, and anatomy with expertise in the following areas:

• Evolutionary theory

• Biocultural anthropology

• Dental anthropology

• Early hominin feeding ecology

• Forensic anthropology

• Human skeletal biology and analysis

• Neanderthal paleobiology and paleobiogeography

• Plio-Pleistocene Africa

• Pleistocene Asia

• Primate origins, biology, and locomotion

• Reproductive health and biology

• Taphonomy

• Hominin paleoenvironment and paleoecology

Faculty also provide many opportunities to work in labs and researcher centers including: the Bone Lab, the Zooarchaeology Lab, the Human Osteology Lab, the 3-D Imaging and Analysis lab, the Center for Paleoanthropological Research, and the Primate Origins Lab. The biological anthropology program sponsors an annual paleontology field school each summer in Wyoming. Existing faculty also have geographic foci significant to their research. Research areas include the United States, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Kenya, and Tanzania.

Careers in Biological Anthropology

The graduate in biological anthropology has skills in data analysis, critical thinking, writing, and oral presentations. Graduates pursue careers in health and medicine, criminal investigation, sports medicine, biology and science education, zoology, genetics, conservation biology, and museum curation. Common career paths for individuals who earn a degree in biological anthropology include:

• Museum curators, technicians, and collection managers
• Primatologist
• Cultural resource manager
• Archivists
• Forensic scientists and technicians
• Coroner and medical examiner
• Technical writer
• Human resources
• Applied anthropometry
• Zoo collection management & captive breeding programs
• National Park Ranger
• Public health specialist and community health worker
   

 Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, students will be able to:

1. Comprehend Human Diversity – Explain how culture, language, biology, and history shape human experiences across the world and through time.
2. Use Research Skills – Apply basic methods such as interviews, observation, and data analysis to study people and societies past and present.
3. Think Critically – Compare different perspectives and evaluate evidence before drawing conclusions.
4. Communicate Clearly – Express ideas about anthropological research findings in clear writing and presentations.
5. Connect Biological Anthropology to Today’s World – Demonstrate how understanding human biology and evolution addresses real-world issues like health, inequality, global change, and the environment, and how these skills are applicable to future careers.