SJSU Catalog

Anthropology Department

Introduction

The BA in Anthropology prepares students for living and working in today's complex, culturally diverse world. Students majoring in anthropology gain knowledge about the different ways that humans have lived, both past and present, and they develop their abilities in applying this knowledge to contemporary issues. The Anthropology major helps students develop skills in conducting research, analyzing data in a logical and consistent way, and communicating clearly and effectively. The skills and knowledge gained by students provide a solid foundation for many careers. Students majoring in Anthropology complete a core curriculum that provides an overview to the discipline, as well as courses in Cultural Anthropology, Archaeology, and Physical Anthropology. Departmental resources include Archaeology, Physical Anthropology, and Ethnographic laboratories. Anthropologists are employed in a great variety of public and private sector jobs. The Anthropology program provides appropriate preparation for professions such as law, medicine, business, social work, and health care, as well as the increasing number of jobs that require working in a culturally diverse environment. Anthropology is also an important component in a liberal arts education since it broadens our view of what it means to be human. The anthropology minor is flexible and it complements almost any major. Interested students are encouraged to pursue their minor in Native American studies.

The anthropology faculty are scholars who bring their research into the classroom in ways that engage students and enhance learning. There are many opportunities for students to become involved in research and service projects that further develop skills and the ability to apply anthropological knowledge. The department is committed to providing timely and helpful academic advising, as well as an intellectual environment that supports learning. Interested students are encouraged to call the department for additional information, including the availability of advisors who can answer your questions.

MA Applied Anthropology

The program will produce skilled practitioners at the MA level who can move into positions in the public and private sectors as researchers, administrators and program developers. They will do so by applying anthropological knowledge and skills to regional problems and issues. The core of the program is built around skill “clusters” and content “tracks”. The program is built around three broad clusters of research skills that can be used within the different content tracks. The first cluster consists of basic and advanced ethnographic methods for understanding how social systems, including organizations and communities, function in the regional environment. The second consists of skills in applying anthropology to the planning and design of programs and organizations, services and artifacts. The third skill cluster concerns assessment and evaluation skills, especially those based on qualitative methods that complement the familiar quantitative methods. Content Tracks are the substantive areas in which students will apply the skills they are learning. Tracks will be adjusted based on student demand, community needs, faculty expertise, and job opportunities. They are linked to partners in the university and the region whose interests, expertise and resources are complementary. The content tracks are (1) health care, (2) business and industry, (3) immigration and immigrant services, and (4) regional sustainability. Students will work in a variety of relationships with the people they serve, including advocacy, public anthropology, consultation, and employment. Students will be conversant with the ethical and political implications of each relationship, and the personal and professional skills needed to be effective. They will master a variety of models of application, such as needs assessment, program evaluation, social impact assessment, and risk assessment. While much of applied anthropology emerges from the subfield of cultural anthropology there are applied aspects to physical anthropology, especially in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. Archaeology too has applied facets in cultural resource management and museum studies. This proposal includes facets of all subfields although it is predominately based in cultural anthropology.

Behavioral Science Program

The Behavioral Science Program is designed for students who wish to develop an interdisciplinary perspective on human behavior. The program is offered cooperatively by the Departments of Anthropology, Psychology and Sociology, although all academic advising is performed by the Department of Anthropology. Students majoring in behavioral science may also fulfill the requirements of the behavioral science/anthropology double major. This option is recommended for students who anticipate continuing their education beyond the BA degree. The requirements for the BA - Behavioral Science are located under the Behavioral Science Program listing in this catalog. The requirements for the behavioral science/anthropology double major are listed under the behavioral science section. Students interested in further information about the double major should contact the Department of Anthropology, 408-924-5710.