Anthropologists study the full range of the human experience, from human origins to language to material culture to social organization. Each of its five fields ? archaeology, cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, linguistics and applied anthropology ? has a different focus but they share methods, theories and foundational concepts such as culture and cultural relativism. Anthropology students at SUNY Potsdam are trained in all five fields,?with?a particular?focus on the practical application of anthropological knowledge.

The Department of Anthropology encourages students to study abroad as one of the best ways to achieve understanding of other cultures. Special opportunities are available to complete part of the requirements for the anthropology major through programs of study abroad. For example, students may choose archaeology or cultural anthropology in Puebla, Mexico; women and development in Ghana; aboriginal studies in Australia; or Irish studies in Cork, Ireland, to name just a few of the places where students can study wholly or partly in English. The Office of International Education provides information about overseas study and assists students with planning their programs abroad.

The Department of Anthropology believes that all students who graduate with an anthropology major should have had an experience with another culture or anthropological task-something beyond a library term paper. Though not all students can be expected to do extracurricular activities while a major, they can at least be asked to prepare through coursework for the anthropological? experience. A portion of Senior Seminar is dedicated for speaking and writing reflectively as an anthropologist to come to grips intellectually and emotionally with the experience.