The Anthropology Program is an important part of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology at Missouri State University. There are currently five anthropologists in the department and we will be adding a sixth in fall 2008.  In addition, there are four research anthropologists at the University’s Center for Archaeological Research.  The University is also the headquarters for the Missouri Archaeological Society.

The Department offers a four-field program in anthropology, with courses and faculty in archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Beginning fall 2008 we will be adding a fifth field, applied anthropology.  We offer over forty different courses in anthropology.  The B.S. and B.A. in general anthropology have been offered since 1997, and we currently have more than 100 majors.  A new M.S. in applied anthropology begins in Fall 2008.

Our faculty have expertise in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and with Hispanic and Native American communities in the U.S.  We are engaged in teaching and research on topics such as community development, cultural resource management, ethnography, ethnohistory, ethnomusicology, forensic anthropology, gender, health care, primatology, and religion.

The undergraduate major is student-oriented and emphasizes a “hands-on” approach.  We offer lab courses in archaeology and bioanthropology, field schools in archaeology and ethnography, and research and study abroad opportunities in cultural anthropology.  The Masters program is applied or practice-oriented and focuses on cultural heritage.

Anthropology also offers courses for degrees in African American Studies, Antiquities, Asian Studies, Global Studies, Latin American Studies, Linguistics, Middle Eastern Studies, and Native American Studies.

For more information, please contact Dr. William Wedenoja, Coordinator of Anthropology.