WFU | Anthropology | About the Department

About Anthropology at Wake Forest

WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?

"Anthropology"--from the Greek anthropos ("human") and logia ("science") --is the scientific study of humankind, from its beginnings millions of years ago to the present day. Its subject matter is both exotic (initiation rites of the Ganda of Uganda) and commonplace (anatomy of the human hand). Its focus is both sweeping and microscopic. Anthropologists may study the environmental impact of a new industry, the folklore of West Virginia, primate disease patterns, prehistoric cultures in North Carolina, or secret societies.

A common thread links these vastly different projects. The common goal is to advance knowledge of who we are and how we came to be that way. Because the subject matter of anthropology is so broad, an undergraduate major in anthropology is part of a broad liberal arts background for men and women interested in any career, including law, environmental studies, government, business, international relations, medicine, and in just being a well-educated citizen.

With the current intensity of global actions and interactions and the increasing cultural diversity of our own society, anthropology becomes even more relevant to our lives. In these times of narrow specialization, anthropological study is refreshingly broad. This focus on comprehensive breadth is especially valuable to students seeking to develop expertise in planning, decision-making, and management. Anthropology's scope and intellectual perspective prepares students to make objective, far-sighted decisions at the professional level in any career field, either at home or abroad.

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THE SUBFIELDS OF ANTHROPOLOGY

Anthropology is traditionally divided into four subfields: linguistics, archeology, cultural anthropology, and physical (biological) anthropology. The Department of Anthropology at Wake Forest emphasizes all of the subfields within a general framework of human ecology. The courses offered provide a solid background in general anthropology and prepare students to succeed in graduate-level studies. The Department takes an active interest in the individual academic programs of majors. Students are encouraged to consult with the departmental undergraduate advisor whenever they need information or advice about their plans and goals. In addition, the advisor sees each major prior to registration for the upcoming semester. The services of the campus Career Services Office include useful workshops and the establishment of individual placement files.

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OPPORTUNITIES

Students who wish to gain additional experience in anthropology should be aware of the opportunities posted in the departmental lounge. These include job notices, brochures about summer fieldwork programs, notices of campus events and speakers, and brochures about graduate programs. Another source of information about the Department, students, and alumni is the annual Newsletter produced by anthropology students and distributed to members of the department as well as members of the administration.

Within the Department at Wake Forest, there also are opportunities to gain experience through volunteer work, such as in the Museum of Anthropology, through work-study positions with various faculty members, through participation in summer field schools and in individual faculty research projects, and through summer employment.

Anthropology majors also should be aware of another informative resource available to them--the American Anthropological Association's Guide to Departments of Anthropology (opens in a new window if javascript is enabled). This guide is especially valuable to students who want to pursue anthropology at the graduate level.

The faculty belong to various professional organizations, such as the American Anthropological Association, the Southern Anthropological Society, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the Society for Applied Anthropology, the Society for Medical Anthropology, the Society of Professional Archeologists, the American Ethnological Association, the Latin American Studies Association, the Association for Anthropology and Gerontology, the Society for American Archeology, the Council for Museum Anthropology, and the American Association of Physical Anthropologists. These professional organizations hold annual scientific meetings and each year some undergraduate majors attend one of these meetings in their area of interest. Students also may join these organizations at a special student rate and receive their publications. Some of these groups also award prizes for undergraduate research and papers. The National Association of Student Anthropologists publishes a bulletin containing useful information for anthropology students and awards a Distinguished Teaching Award. NASA is an affiliated unit of the American Anthropological Association.

Majors are encouraged to belong to and participate in the departmental Anthropology Club.

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THE ACADEMIC YEAR

The Department begins the academic year with an orientation for majors to introduce the faculty and the current program to students. Library orientation is offered through the Z. Smith Reynolds Library. Please check their schedule for dates and times. The Department also holds open house each semester for prospective students. Our majors help organize and host these events. In addition, the Department has a standing committee concerned with majors and the curriculum. This committee, chaired by Dr. Margaret Bender, welcomes input and suggestions from students. The Department ends the academic year with a graduation reception for our students and their guests. The reception is held in the Museum of Anthropology. This reception recognizes and celebrates the academic achievements of our graduating majors.

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THE ANTHROPOLOGY MAJOR

Students interested in majoring or minoring in Anthropology should visit our curriculum page.

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PREPARING FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL

Students who are interested in pursuing graduate training in anthropology should begin obtaining information during the second semester of their junior year, because the application process begins at most schools as early as October of the senior year. The Department keeps a copy of the American Anthropological Association Guide to Departments of Anthropology (opens in a new window if javascript is enabled), in which anthropology programs and museums in the United States and Canada are listed and described. Students may borrow the Guide. The Department also maintains a current set of announcements from various programs and departments on the bulletin board in the Department lounge.

Department faculty members are important resources in selecting a graduate program. For general information, students might consult with Dr. Bender (Major/Minor Advisor). Students should seek advice from all available sources. All faculty members have broad knowledge of anthropology graduate opportunities, and specific information concerning sub-field opportunities is best sought from:

Archeology - Dr. Thacker

Applied Anthropology - Dr. Simonelli

Cultural Anthropology - Drs. Bender, Folmar, and Simonelli

Linguistics - Dr. Bender

Museum Anthropology - Dr. Whittington

Physical Anthropology - Drs. Kaplan and Miller

Students should take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) early in the senior year so that scores will be available for submission with applications. Non-native speakers of English should take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) early in the senior year. Specific information concerning these tests is available from the office of the Dean of the Graduate School.

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