Anthropology is the study of people and cultures around the world, comparatively. It provides knowledge and skills that prepare graduates for work in international agencies, social services such as refugee work, cross-cultural church ministry, and other places where understanding cultural differences is needed.
Why Choose Eastern’s Anthropology Program?
- Four Fields Approach: The BA in Anthropology is a full "four-fields" degree, including cultural, biological, archaeological, and linguistic anthropology. Taken together, these four subfields of the discipline provide a holistic view of human beings in all aspects of their lives, past and present.
- Faith-Integrated Anthropology: The anthropology major at Eastern is unique in that its faith integration includes two classes in missiology (the study of missions), and a Christian faith perspective in all other courses. This allows us to study people from both theological and scientific perspectives, and to gain a better understanding of the human spirit and relationship to our Creator. All in all, a Christian faith integrated BA in Anthropology offers students more, not less, than a secular degree.
- Field Experience in Ethnography: Anthropology's research method is ethnography, the qualitative study of daily life. Students begin with a small project in the introductory course , move on to take a full course in ethnography, then finish with a 3-credit field experience that results in a full ethnography before graduation. This provides students with the opportunity to professionally hone their observing and interviewing skills.
- Preparation for Graduate School: Because all four fields of anthropology are covered in this major, students are uniquely qualified to go on to graduate studies in anthropology, archaeology, or other related fields. The anthropology presented in course materials is of the best and latest work in the field.
- Hands-on Faculty Assistance: Eastern faculty are acutely attuned to students and their needs. In this major, faculty get to know each student individually, and are happy to meet with students outside of class and assist them as they discover their next steps after college, both personally and professionally.
CareersÂ
Former students at Eastern are currently working: as community development, teaching English, as Bible translators, in relief and development, church ministry, and missionary service to countries such as Korea, Papua New Guinea, Azerbaijan, Sri Lanka, Haiti, Ethiopia, Netherlands, and elsewhere. They have gone on to doctoral programs in anthropology, medical school, law school, nursing, seminary, and other graduate studies.