Anthropology is the study of humankind in cross-cultural and evolutionary perspectives. With one foot in the sciences (both social and biological) and the other in the humanities, anthropology takes a holistic approach and consists of four sub-disciplines: cultural anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, and linguistics. Anthropologists emphasize fieldwork as a means to investigate cultural diversity and human biology in our species, past, present, and future.
The Department of Anthropology at Drew University emphasizes the importance of fieldwork and laboratory expertise. Through the major program in anthropology, biological anthropology and in the archaeology minor, students will be expected to develop first-hand experience with the specific research methodologies of the sub-discipline (ethnographic fieldwork, excavation and laboratory research). Further, Drew University offers a wide array of off-campus study opportunities—many of which contain ethnographic or social science research content—and it is very much recommended that students attempt to include one of these experiences in their programs.