Anthropology Concentration

At SUNY Adirondack, students can enroll in a two–year Liberal Arts Associate (AA) degree in Humanities and Social Science with an Anthropology Concentration.  

Anthropology is the study of humankind in all of its facets. Invaluable skills such as communication, critical thinking, and problem solving are at the core of the program and help students to see the diversity in cultures and peoples around the world.  The discipline utilizes a holistic approach that combines anthropological knowledge with information and skills from the related fields of sociology, biology, geology, political science, economics, geography, psychology and forensic science among a number of other disciplines. Both humanistic and scientific orientations are used, or as Eric Wolf has commented, “anthropology is the most humanist of the sciences and the most scientific of the humanities.”

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Anthropology Concentration at SUNY Adirondack thoroughly prepares students to continue their education in a variety of disciplines at a four-year college upon their completion of the degree.

During the program, students take introductory courses in three of the four traditional areas of anthropology which are cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, and archaeology. A fourth course, that can be either a topics course or an area course, is required to complete the Anthropology Concentration. In addition, students have the opportunity to enroll in several of the following elective courses in order to pursue their interests or better prepare themselves for further educational or job-related opportunities:

  • Ancient World Civilizations (ANT 107)
  • Archaeology Field School (ANT 204)
  • Magic, Religion & Witchcraft (ANT 220)
  • Race, Class, Gender, & Ethnicity (ANT 225)
  • Intro to Forensic Anthropology (ANT 230)

UNIQUE FEATURES

There are a number of unique features that are associated with the Anthropology Concentration at SUNY Adirondack including:

  • Archaeology field-school held in a local venue each year that provides practical experience in the field.
  • Award-winning Anthropology Club that provides an opportunity for students to engage in extra-curricular activities including trips to places of anthropological interest in cities such as Boston, St. Louis, Tucson, Washington D .C., Montreal,  Philadelphia, and New York .
  • Employment opportunities in a broad range of careers beyond traditional anthropology positions due to the transferable skills that are acquired in the program.
  • Ten different anthropology courses to choose from including multiple courses in cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, and archaeology.
  • Extreme flexibility in meeting general education requirements in three different categories.
  • Courses infused with an emphasis on globalization and diversity.
  • Forensic Anthropology course offered on a yearly basis that includes a field project.

 

     

       

         

         

          CAREER & TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES

          This program prepares students for further education and eventual careers in several fields including but not limited to: cultural and physical anthropology, archaeology including cultural resource management, historic preservation, museum work, public service, government, public relations, business, tourism, pre-law, international relations, and secondary education.   In addition, a number of federal government agencies and corporations employ anthropologists.  

          The Humanities and Social Science—Anthropology Concentration program is designed to prepare students for transfer to a four-year college or university, including but not limited to the many institutions SUNY Adirondack cooperates with to maintain seamless transfer agreements, such as:

          • SUNY Albany
          • SUNY Plattsburgh
          • SUNY Potsdam
          • SUNY Binghamton

          For additional information about this program, please contact Valerie Haskins at haskinsv@sunyacc.edu or Phillip Naftaly atnaftalyp@sunyacc.edu.

          Program Learning Outcomes

          1. Develop sufficient background in a Humanities or Social Science discipline to qualify for upper level study.
          2. Demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed to think critically.
          3. Employ effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
          4. Articulate the presence and influence of diversity within societies such as the United States and those in Western Europe, as well as throughout the world.
          5. Demonstrate the skills and knowledge related to personal health and fitness, life-long sports, and recreational wellness.
          6. Examine expression and the creative process in one or more of the areas of humanities.
          7. Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method.
          8. Identify basic factors relevant to the analysis of human behavior.