Right now Anthropology majors are saving lives in West Africa.

Discover Anthropology at The Ohio State University.

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During the 2000 Uganda Ebola outbreak, medical officials found themselves fighting a war on two fronts—the first against the deadly virus itself—the second against superstitions. Many in the local communities blamed the deaths on evil spirits or sorcery; others pointed fingers at the HAZMAT suit clad aid workers themselves. Rumors of the sale of body parts ran rampant as the sick and dying were quarantined in isolation units, never to be seen again by friends or family. A lack of understanding of local customs, fears and practices aggravated an already dire situation and put even more lives at risk.

That’s why during this most recent outbreak of Ebola, Anthropologists were called in to assist. Anthropology is the study of the biology, society, and culture of humans and our nearest biological relatives, past and present. Anthropologists focus on the nature and history of the human condition in all times and in all places, addressing a wide range of evolutionary and behavioral issues of interest to the social and biological sciences.

During the 2014 outbreak, Anthropologists worked with doctors on the ground to help better communicate with the afflicted population to contain the damage and keep an already tragic situation from spreading. It is these vital skills that make public health just one of the many fields—from law enforcement to business—where Anthropology majors are in demand.

RESEARCH AT OSU

The Ohio State University Department of Anthropology is among the leading departments in the United States emphasizing scientific approaches to the study of all humans, past and present. Our students and faculty work in every continent, studying the origins and evolution of complex societies, the evolution of primates and origins of humans, primate ecology and behavior, health in the earliest societies and in living people, and food production and sustainability in the modern world, to name a few of our interests.

AREAS OF FOCUS

Our research programs are closely linked with our educational mission, including the traditional sub-fields—biological anthropology, archaeology and cultural anthropology. Our department is recognized nationally and internationally for its educational and research focus in a range of specializations, including bioarchaeology, dental anthropology, evolutionary anthropology, forensic anthropology, medical anthropology, nutritional anthropology, paleoecology, primatology and environmental anthropology.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Undergraduate Anthropology Club is focused on creating undergraduate-graduate relationships, as well as helping students find field schools, graduate schools, research opportunities and promoting academic activities.

Medical Anthropology Club is for students interested in how cultural and historical conditions shape medical practices and policies.

Undergraduate Anthropology Mentorship Program pairs undergraduate anthropology majors and minors with a long-term graduate student mentor.

CAREERS IN ANTHROPOLOGY

Gwendolyn Donley, Senior
Anthropological Sciences & Italian major

I declared a major in Anthropological Sciences because I knew that I was generally interested in the social sciences, as well of aspects of the humanities, like history, and the natural sciences, like biology. My third quarter here, I was paired with a graduate student mentor who helped me hone my interests in primatology and find a field school.

I love that the Anthropology department encourages every opportunity to get involved with research and field schools and supports undergraduates attending conferences. I began a research project my sophomore year, examining genotypic associations with stress in American Samoans. This project culminated in eight presentations, both in the United States and abroad. Our department hosts a huge range of interests, from forensic anthropology to primatology to medical anthropology and much more. Anyone in any field of anthropology can find a faculty member willing and eager to work with them on independent study or research.

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ANTHROPOLOGY (BA)

Our Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology program takes a holistic, hands-on approach to the study of primate evolution and cultural development throughout the ages.
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ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES (BS)

Our Bachelor of Science in Anthropology program explores the growth and development of primates and human culture with a special emphasis on science and math.
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ANTHROPOLOGY MINORS

A minor in Anthropology is available along four specialized tracks, Forensic Science, Archaeological Track, Cultural Track, and Physical Anthropology.
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