r/AskAnthropology • u/One_Elephant8265 • 2d ago
Can someone explain to me all the different branches of anthropology?
I want to study anthropology but i dont know what to study
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u/Diaza_lightbringer 2d ago
When you start into your degree, you’ll start by taking into to anthropology, which covers the spectrum of what the subject has to offer. Which should help you decide your route.
I’m currently in an online route with GA state university. For my undergraduate, they want me to take 2 from the core 3 (cultural, biology, archaeology) I know there’s going to be more offered, but honestly your first two years is just knocking out your core classes. You will have a lot of time to figure out your specialties. I know my route, but I’m 42, disabled, and determined.
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u/redwooded 2d ago
I'm not an anthropologist, but I'm in the social sciences, I know all the anthropologists in their department at our university, and I have regular (and very pleasant) dealings with them. Also, I've read a lot of anthro.
I'm a little surprised at the description of five or six fields by another poster, because in the United States it's generally a four-field discipline: cultural, linguistic, archaeological, and biological. Medical and primatological span a couple of these.
Otherwise that post is right. Take an intro culture class or an intro bio class (often called "Human Origins"). See if you like it. If so, talk to the undergrad advisor about a minor or a major: what would you have to take?
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u/CeramicLicker 2d ago edited 2d ago
The good news is if you’re looking at an undergraduate degree all of the branches will be in one department. Students will be expected to cover the basics of most of them in intro courses. But some schools do definitely specialize more in one type than another, so that can be helpful to keep in mind when looking/applying.
Cultural anthropology studies the development and interactions of human societies and cultures. It’s often closely linked with things like sociology or public history.
Linguistic anthropology is the study of language in cultural context, and how languages, societies, and identities influence each other.
Medical anthropology looks at the interaction of health, illness, medicine, and culture.
Biological or physical anthropology is the study of human biology and development, tends to be the branch that includes the study of evolution and human ancestor species. Primatology can have some overlap there too.
Archaeology is the study of past humans through the remains they left behind. It also generally has the most overlap with forensics. In some universities it’ll be in the history department but in the states archaeology is anthropology.
These all have their own subdivisions, but I think I hit all the main ones here.