Anthropology: Related Fields of Study

Anthropology covers such a broad range of topics that it integrates easily with many other disciplines and programs. One measure of this is the way anthropology courses often figure into the interdisciplinary programs and concentrations at Kenyon. International Studies, Asian Studies, African Diaspora Studies, and Women and Gender Studies all list anthropology courses as part of their curricula. Another measure of anthropology's reach is the way non-majors take courses in anthropology: students in dance and studio arts often take cultural anthropology courses looking for creative inspiration from other cultures; pre-med students are attracted to our osteology courses, where the labs give them experience in learning anatomy with human skeletal materials; students in history and classics are particularly drawn to our courses in archaeology.

Likewise, the electives that anthropology majors take can complement their majors in a wide variety of ways. Those majors whose main focus is physical anthropology generally take a good measure of their electives in biology. Those who focus on archaeology are often drawn to electives in classics, history or art history to complement their major. Those interested in cultural anthropology may be studying Spanish or Japanese in anticipation of a semester abroad. Majors should, therefore, work closely with their faculty advisors and should tailor electives carefully to enhance and complement their particular interests and career goals.

Those who anticipate graduate study in anthropology, however, will be especially well-served by courses in sociology, especially those in theory and methods. Anthropology and sociology begin from the same theoretical roots. As anthropologists' research takes place increasingly in literate, complex societies, furthermore, researchers rely increasingly on methods that resemble those of sociologists, and anthropologists who work in applied fields, especially, must utilize quantitative methods. Students can count up to two upper level sociology courses when fulfilling a major in anthropology.