• To prepare students for life in an increasingly multicultural workplace and society,

• To prepare students for participation in an increasingly global economy and international society,

• To promote an understanding and appreciation for the past, particularly the heritage of Missouri and the Ozarks region,

• To provide a broad liberal arts education, which can serve as a "gateway" to many careers,

• To prepare students for entry-level positions, primarily as archaeological field and laboratory technicians,

• To prepare students for postgraduate (M.A. and Ph.D.) study in anthropology and related fields, and

• To offer occasional lectures and other programs to the public which enrich our common understanding of the human condition.