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

Anthropologist Poole Publishes in Journal of Refugee Studies

Why does education harm refugees? Amanda Poole of the Department of Anthropology tackles this vexing question in an article published in the Journal of Refugee studies titled “What Kind of Weapon Is Education? Teleological Violence, Local Integration, and Refugee Education in Northern Ethiopia.”

Ford Selected as IUP Distinguished University Professor for 2023–24 Academic Year

Ben Ford, Indiana University of Pennsylvania professor of anthropology and chair IUP’s Department of Anthropology, has been selected as IUP’s 2023–24 Distinguished University Professor.

Anthropology Students Make a Splash at Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology Annual Meeting

Five Applied Archaeology program students presented research at the ninety-second annual meeting of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology. Four brought home awards. They were joined by alumni and emeritus professors in representing IUP.

Anthropology Students Show Their Depth at Scholars Forum

Seventeen anthropology students presented a wide range of papers and posters at the April 5 IUP Scholars Forum. Topics ranged from coronavirus to shipwrecks and from equality to animal bones. The faculty and staff judges recognized four anthropology students with awards.

Anthropology has Strong Showing at National Archaeology Conference

IUP anthropologists were busy at the recent (March 29–April 2) Society for American Archaeology annual meeting. All of the archaeology faculty gave talks, as well as several talks and posters by graduate students. The IUP Ethics Bowl team took second in that competition.

Events