Anthropology

About the Program

Summer 2024 students standing in front of a white single room schoolhouse

Summer field school students on the Clear Lake Archaeology Project, July 2024.

Summer Field School at Clear Lake in the NEWS!

Our FALL 2024 NEWSLETTER IS HERE!

Native Plants of Foothill College (plant names gathered at Jasper Ridge)

CLICK FOR ANTH CLASSES AVAILABLE

Welcome to Foothill Anthropology!

We are an informative, exciting, and challenging science that should be part of every global citizen's education. Find out what Anthropologists do. Our professors are busy. Dr. Kathryn Maurer got back from leading a trip to Cuba. Dr. Julie Jenkins is presenting at the Stanford Epic Symposium. Dr. Sam Connell was highlighted in the campus newspaper - The Script.

And our students are also doing stuff! Currently everyone is deciding where to matriculate. Also many are coming on Fridays for the Hidden Villa archaeology project. That's the tip of the iceberg, the 'etic' perspective, if you will, there is so much more of the iceberg under the ocean surface.

Our New Archaeology Field Work Certificate has been approved by the State!

Check it out here.

The entire Anthro Major and Certificate Selection is here.

What this means is that our students can now be officially recognized as having completed a serious field work certificate and will be able to apply directly to jobs at major Cultural Resource Management companies throughout the country.

Here is the link to our local California Field School on Fridays

survey

Summer field programs (July-August)

Link for 2025 Ecuador Program

Link for 2025 Clear Lake California Program

A Broad Global Understanding

Anthropology, the science of humankind, explores what it means to be human from the broadest possible perspective. An anthropological perspective is essential to thriving personally and professionally in our 21st century globalized world.

Because of its study of culture and human behavior, anthropology is a social science; in its study of human physical traits, anthropology is a biological science.

To investigate human behavior, anthropologists collect and analyze data from every type of society, past and present. From this wide perspective, anthropology helps us understand other peoples and thereby enables us to better understand ourselves.

Anthropology at Foothill

Join a community...

with amazing faculty,

a diverse array of classes,

summer field programs in California, Ecuador, Ireland and Hawai‘i,

that shares your passion for research and discovery.

anthro club

Field Programs

Students on a wall

Looking at catle tower

Ballintober castle where we are excavating in County Roscommon, Ireland

Kaloko Fishpond on the Island of Hawaii

working at fishpond

Restoration of the fishpond

Explore our Center for Applied Anthropology

Room 3102 houses our Center for Applied Anthropology where students meet to design and carry out research projects aimed at helping the wider community. Check out the website. Come inside and say hello when the door is open.

https://sites.google.com/view/foothillcollegecaa/

drawing of student inspecting trash

A vision of archaeology by Foothill student Leela Salim

Degrees & Certificates

View the list below for programs offered at Foothill. Then select a program map for a possible schedule that fulfills program and college requirements.

For program requirements and full course listings, view degrees and certificates information.

Note: Certificates of Proficiency and Career Certificates are non-transcriptable and consist of 13-35 units. These certificates are designed as a career advancement tool. Courses focus on practical knowledge and skill development.

Associate in Arts for Transfer Degree

Anthropology, AA-T Program Map

Associate in Arts Degree

Anthropology, AA Program Map

Certificate of Proficiency

View academic catalog for Anthropology certificate of proficiency requirements.

Cultural Resource Management
Medical Anthropology
Applied Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology
Forensic Anthropology
Physical Anthropology
Archaeology
Archaeological Field School

Courses

We offer a broad range of anthropology courses in all four fields: Physical (Biological) Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Archaeology and Linguistic Anthropology, as well as a number of courses in Applied Anthropology (including Forensics, Medical Anthropolog and Archaeology Field and Lab Methods).

See our course catalog for detailed descriptions.

See schedule of classes for courses offered this and upcoming term.

In the Classroom

The Department of Anthropology at Foothill College turns the traditional classroom inside out by emphasizing experiential learning.

We offer an excellent range of courses that expose students to all facets of anthropology, including cultural anthropology, archaeology, human evolution, forensics, linguistics, medical anthropology, magic and religion, lost civilizations, and modern and ancient cultures of California and the world.

Tutoring now available for all classes!

The drop-in tutoring hours for Anthropology students for Winter quarter. On campus - STEM Success Center in Building 4200, Room 4213. Online Zoom Room - use "Foothill Tutoring" link on your class site

Studying in Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is the hub of global technology change and its people are in the business of redefining traditional cultural barriers with technology.

As the world increasingly becomes integrated it is important that we understand ourselves and others from an anthropological perspective. Employers look to see that you have developed the tools necessary to compete in the world today. You are the next generation of anthropology students, those that understand the new world in which we live and use that knowledge to improve our way of life.

Career Opportunities

The number one thing that students are asked coming out of an anthropology course, is "What are you going to do with that degree?" The answers are limitless.

What can someone do with an Anthropology major? Download the Major in Anthropology document to learn what you can do. Also check out this recent Sapiens article that wonderfully explains it all!

28% Projected employment growth for anthropologists

What can you do with a degree in anthropology?

User Experience Researcher
Field Archaeologist
Laboratory Assistant
UX Researcher

Museum Technician
Teacher
Analyst
Community Development Specialist

Applied Anthropology in the Community

Our faculty and students are actively conducting research and learning about social science research methods in the community.

Applied anthropology is the process of doing anthropology to serve the public.

A critically important aspect of the student experience at Foothill Anthropology has been to use the much needed anthropological perspective as a way to inform people about their world.

Community outreach and K-12 education has been a hallmark of our recent work. Our Anthropology in Action program has begun to connect with local grade schools and we are working to develop many new avenues for integrating with the community, such as working with local businesses to improve cultural competence and joining with public health institutions to improve their understanding of medical anthropology.

Additional Information Links

Ireland Program: Castles in Communities (Facebook)
Website for Ireland Program: Castles in Communities (Google Sites)

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