About the Undergraduate Program

The undergraduate program in Anthropology offers a B.A. degree. It includes the subfields of Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, Physical Anthropology and a Pre-medical/Pre-dental Concentration. Students may specialize in one of these sub-disciplines.

Anthropology - is the study of biological and cultural characteristics of the human species, past and present. SUNY/Buffalo's undergraduate program includes archaeology, cultural anthropology and physical anthropology. Each draws from and complements the others.

Archaeology - Archaeology is a diverse discipline that employs a multitude of historical and scientific methods to study past societies through material remains or 'material culture' with the goal of explaining development and change.studies the historical development of human cultures by analyzing cultural remains.

Cultural Anthropology - studies the shared and transmitted beliefs, behaviors and products of human societies. Its approach is descriptive, historical, and comparative. It enables students to develop increased awareness and understanding of the remarkable similarities among all peoples, as well as the diversity and complexity of human communities across the globe, and the importance of their interrelationships in the post-9/11 world.

Physical Anthropology - studies the origins, adaptations, and evolution of our own species and of our primate relatives.

Students in Cultural or Physical Anthropology may choose the Pre-medical/Pre-dental Concentration in preparation for application to professional schools of Medicine or Dentistry, or graduate study in Medical Anthropology. The Pre-medical/Pre-dental Concentration involves a series of recommended courses, listed elsewhere. Students in this concentration can use their pre-med/pre-dent courses to satisfy most regular departmental requirements.

Detailed descriptive materials concerning all departmental programs are available in the Department's Undergraduate Office.