Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past. Anthropologists study everything about being human, including our origins as a species, our present-day cultures, and how humanity has evolved over time. Anthropology is divided into three subfields: sociocultural, biological, and archaeology.
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Sociocultural anthropology: Sociocultural anthropologists interpret the content of particular cultures, explain variation among cultures, and study processes of cultural change and social transformation. They conduct research on most areas of the world, focusing on topics that include human ecology, gender relations, culture and ideology, demography and family systems, race, class and gender inequality, resistance movements, colonialism, neocolonialism, and development.
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Biological anthropology: Biological anthropologists study a variety of aspects of human evolutionary biology. Some examine fossils and apply their observations to understanding human evolution; others compare morphological, biochemical genetic, and physiological adaptations of living humans to their environments; still others observe the behavior and ecology of nonhuman primates to gain insights into human evolution.
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Archaeology: Archaeologists study past human societies and cultures through the recovery, analysis, and interpretation of material culture and environmental data. They use a variety of methods, including excavation, survey, and analysis of artifacts, to reconstruct past ways of life.
Anthropologists typically hold graduate degrees, either doctorates or masters degrees, and are employed in a variety of settings, including academia, government, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. Anthropology is a broad field that draws on many different disciplines, including biology, history, linguistics, and sociology.
