An Archaeology student takes a close look at an arrowhead.

Undergraduate Programs

Explore your options with three tracks that all offer hands-on learning opportunities and a wide scope of career-building experiences.

Applied Anthropology, Anthropology, BA

Archaeology, Anthropology, BA

Anthropology Honors Program

Anthropology Minor

Cultural Competencies Certificate

An Archaeology student looks at rock chips and arrowheads in a lab

Graduate Program

Expand your professional options with a graduate program that takes you directly into the material you'll need to advance your career.

Applied Archaeology, MA

Welcome to the Department of Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of humankind, including its biological evolution, the nature and development of culture, diversity across the globe, and archaeology. We use the insights gained from studying the many facets of the human experience to understand why we behave the way we do, how we differ, and how we are all alike.

The Department of Anthropology at IUP places special focus on Applied Anthropology, which uses anthropological knowledge to address practical, real-world applications, including forensic anthropology, the handling of archaeological remains to meet state and federal regulations (CRM), or work on environmental and social issues.

Whether you are an undergraduate student looking for a major, considering graduate school, or just hoping to find out more about our field, we welcome you to explore what our department has to offer!

For Current Students

Information on careers, internships, graduate school, Anthropology Club, and other opportunities.

Support IUP Anthropology Students

When you make a gift in support of our department, you invest in the world's next generation of leaders. Scholarships and program support create the best possible student experience.

Support Our Students

Anthropology Department Statement on Race and Diversity

The Anthropology Department is committed to combating racism through fostering inclusive and welcoming spaces for diverse students, and fostering student learning outcomes that expand the understanding of race: particularly, that race is not a biological reality, but that race and racism are cultural and social constructs that intersect with social class and other forms of social positionality to produce harm for people of color in our society and globally.

News

New Book by Poole Explores Realities of Refugees in Horn of Africa

Indiana University Press has just released "Hosting States and Unsettled Guests: Eritrean Refugees in a Time of Migration Deterrence," co-written by Amanda Poole, professor of Anthropology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Jennifer Riggan, professor of International Studies at Arcadia University.

Anthropology’s Ford Presents at International Underwater Cultural Heritage Conference

Professor Ben Ford recently traveled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to participate in the Underwater Cultural Heritage Conference organized by the Saudi Arabia Heritage Commission.

IUP Anthropology Summer Field Schools

IUP Anthropology believes that experiential learning is the cornerstone of student success. Anthropology is something that you have to do in order to really understand. An important part of that experience building is summer field schools. This summer, Anthropology is offering four field schools: Archaeological Field Schools, Advanced Archaeological Field Methods, Forensic Archaeology Field School, and Underwater Cultural Resource Management.

Archaeological Field School at Squirrel Hill Site

IUP will offer an Archaeological Field School this summer from May 20 to June 28, 2024, at the National Register listed site of Squirrel Hill (36Wm0035), located in New Florence, Pennsylvania.

Ford and Colleagues Publish on Gulf of Mexico Shipwrecks

Ben Ford (Anthropology), James Delgado (SEARCH) and Michael Brennan (SEARCH) published an article on the Gulf of Mexico maritime cultural landscape.