ANTHROPOLOGY

Anthropology is the holistic study of human cultures and the human place in nature. The
discipline emphasizes comparing human groups to understand the range of variation in
human behavior and biology, and therefore considers what it is to be human.

The Anthropology program in the College of Arts and Sciences is designed to provide
students with a broad, holistic, and scientific understanding of human culture and the
human place in nature. Anthropology helps students gain a fuller understanding of human
behavior through introductory and advanced courses in the subfields of archeology,
cultural anthropology, linguistics, and physical anthropology. Field courses in these
subfields are designed to take advantage of the varied ecology and history and the rich
multicultural environment of Hawaiʻi Island.

The international nature of anthropology makes this field of study increasingly important
in our shrinking world. People in all fields of business, politics, medicine, ecology, and
academia now work daily with people from other cultures. The success of their enterprise
often depends on their ability to understand and communicate with people whose cultures
differ from their own.

Anthropology attempts to provide a general worldview, characterized by its holistic ideal:

a belief that an understanding of human nature requires drawing together and relating
information from all aspects of the human condition. The contribution of anthropology is
in integrating concepts from many different disciplines into a meaningful understanding
of that most complex animal, Homo sapiens.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ANTHROPOLOGY
1. It transcends the interest of any particular culture or society .
2. It studies their differences and similarities.
3. It tries to explain fundamental questions that usually trouble mankind like the
origin of inequality , racism, sexism and the significance of mankind’s animal heritage.

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER SCIENCES

 To study human evolution - GEOLOGIST
 Taxonomy – Zoologist
 Dating Methods - Chemist
The Importance of Anthropology in Human History

Global Socialization

o Through the Internet or by plane, you

can visit almost anywhere in the
world. This increase in social
interaction makes the study of
humanity vital for etiquette and
understanding of other cultures and
peoples. With such a globalized
economy it's important to
understand cultural diversity,
particularly how it relates to everyday life. Many of today's careers involve
travel and meeting with people around the world. An appreciation of diversity
is helpful when dealing with other cultures.

Knowledge of Ourselves

o Anthropology allows us to look throughout history at past cultures and

civilizations. In this way, we can understand why people formed societies,
prayed to certain religious deities and ate certain foods. Each of these was a
building block to modern culture.

Retaining the Past

o Through anthropology we are able to study and reflect on humankind's

heritage. Linguistics opens the door to ancient languages that are widely
unused today. Biological anthropology teaches us about the humanoid man
and how we evolved to our present state. It is impossible to understand our
world today without the perspective of how we got here.

What Types of Different Jobs Derive from Anthropology?

Archaeologists are anthropologists who uncover ancient artifacts.

Anthropology is an exciting and rewarding career field. Many companies and

businesses hire anthropologists, with the federal government being one of the largest.
Different jobs derive from anthropology, including environmental, museum, business,
visual and forensic anthropologists. Anthropology jobs are available at schools,
companies and excavation sites throughout the world.
1. Education
o Most anthropology jobs require a master's or doctorate degree, preferably
in anthropology, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many
positions also require at least one to six years of experience in a related
field. Some anthropology jobs accept people with bachelor's degrees, but
they are usually positions helping an anthropologist and require years of
experience in a related field, such as project support or management.

Jobs

o Specific anthropology jobs include sociocultural anthropologists, who

study the general mindset of cultures and societies, and archaeologists,
who study cultures through the artifacts they left behind. Physical
anthropologists study the origins and evolutionary development of human
beings, while linguistic anthropologists investigate the role of language in
cultures and societies. Biophysical or medical anthropologists analyze the
influence that culture and physical biology have on each other.

Duties

o Sociocultural anthropologists compare research findings from different

geographical regions and observe the social structure of groups in different
economical and cultural settings. Archaeologists retrieve and analyze
artifacts, determine the customs and structure of ancient civilizations, and
document research findings for future analysis and interpretation.

Physical anthropologists interpret how ancient civilizations lived, based on

research findings regarding nutrition, disease and population density.
Linguistic anthropologists explain the evolution of language over time and
how it differs among various cultures and societies. Biophysical or
medical anthropologists investigate the relationship between illness and
disease in various cultural groups and analyze medical factors that may
influence human health.

Skills

o Anthropologists need to have excellent communication skills because they

are responsible for documenting and conveying their research findings in
written and oral form. They should also be able to think in a logical and
methodical way. This is because they must be able to analyze complicated
issues, such as the purpose and meaning of different cultural practices and
languages, as well as interpret various aspects of their research findings.

Anthropologists should also have an open mind because many of them

work among people who may have different social beliefs and customs.
They should also be able to work on their own with little direction, since
they may have to spend time working alone in remote regions of the
world.
 Salary
As of 2008, the average salary of anthropologists and archaeologists in the United States
was between about $54,000 and about $57,000, according to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics

Difference Between Anthropology & History

At its core, studying history is focused on learning about the past of human
civilizations. Unlike anthropology, in its study of the past, history seeks to answer
questions associated with cause and effect. Compared to anthropology, history has a
much broader focus. In fact, anthropology is actually part of the broader scope of history
because the study of human behavior is an important part of understanding the past

A historian is a scholar or individual who studies and writes about history. The
study of history takes a look at narratives or stories that have been recounted and
recorded in a range of media including writing, oral storytelling, speech, photos, video or
a direct account known as a primary source. These primary sources include newspaper
articles, journal entries or recorded interviews from the time period in which that
individual was alive

What is Anthropology and its importance to Religion?

Anthropology studies the science of human beings. From our ancestory, culture, physical
character, evironmental and social relations. The key issue with regard to religion starts
with the question, " Where did humans come from?". From this point on there are several
twists and turns depending on your source of information. There is little doubt that
religion has played a huge role in the development of mankind and his perception of the
world around him.

Prepared By :

HEIDI VINCY T. RIEGO

MAE – SOCIAL STUDIES