Anthropology

When majoring in Anthropology, students usually choose to specialize in a particular anthropological subfield.   The four subfields are:

1. Biological anthropology

Biological anthropology is study of the biological origin and physical variation among human populations and stresses an evolutionary and forensic perspective on humans. Faculty members have worked with the Spokane Police Department. Our students are prepared for careers in a variety of biomedical areas ranging from nutrition, public health, forensic studies, and other allied fields.

Australopithecus Africanus

Supporting Electives: Human Anatomy and Physiology, Genetics, Biology and Society and other courses in the Biology department 
 
Internships and Career Opportunities: International Red Cross; World Health Organization; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

2. Archaeology

Archaeology is the study of past human societies by analyzing material remains (sites and artifacts).  The Archeology curriculum stresses the archaeology of Europe, the Americas, and the Columbian Plateau region of Eastern Washington. The Department offers topical courses on Indians of North America, Principles of Archaeology, Underwater Archaeology, European Prehistory, Irish History and Culture, Archaeology of Meso-America, Pacific Northwest Archaeology, and World Archaeology and methodological courses such as Advanced Laboratory Techniques, and Archaeology Field Techniques.  Our students who focus on the archaeology curriculum are prepared for careers such as Cultural Resource Management and Historical Interpretation. Students interested in archaeology can potentially intern with EWU's Archaeological and Historical Services. 

AHS excavation of late prehistoric pithouse village site along the Columbia River

Supporting Electives:  American Indian Studies and courses in the department of history.

Internships and Career Opportunities: EWU's Archaeological and Historical Services; National Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management; Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

3. Cultural Anthropology

Cultural anthropology is the study of human cultural diversity. Faculty members have conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Africa, Central Eurasia, East Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East on topics such as the cultural aspects of health care delivery in post-war settings, human dynamics of environmental conservation in ethnic minority communities, the politics of heritage preservation in regions with ethnic conflict, and the economics of fair trade among marginalized agricultural communities. Students are prepared for a variety of careers in institutions and organizations that require an understanding of cultural diversity.  

EWU alumni Mary Gladhart in Vietnam with the Prosthetic Outreach Foundation

Supporting Electives: American Indian Studies, Africana and Chicano Education, Disability Studies, and Women and Gender Studies, as well as courses in International Affairs and Sociology.  

Internships and Career Opportunities:  Spokane Regional Health District, Centro Cultural Hispano Americano, U.S. Agency for International Development.

4. Linguistic anthropology

Linguistic anthropology is the study of human language and communicative diversity. Faculty members work on Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and Turkic languages, and also emphasize the anthropological study of non-verbal communication within architecture, dance and gesture, and other visual media, design and arts.

Writing characters in China

Supporting Electives:  American Indian Studies, Modern Languages and Literatures, Communication Disorders, Education, English, and Communication Studies, as well as courses in Electronic Media and Film. Students are prepared for a variety of careers in language education and communication fields.

Internships and Career Opportunities: Academy for Educational Development; Northwest Museum for Arts and Culture; Spokane Salish School.