Applying Anthropology. Making a Difference.

Anthropology is the study of humankind across the world and throughout time. Anthropologists study human behavior, biology, material culture, and language in the past and present. This holistic approach offers a unique perspective to understand other societies as well as our own. Representing the discipline’s four major subfields (cultural, biological, archaeological, and linguistic), the USF anthropology faculty maintain a strong commitment to working with families and communities to address contemporary human problems by applying anthropological perspectives.

Established in 1967, the USF Anthropology Department was the first in the nation to establish M.A. and Ph.D. programs in Applied Anthropology. It has since risen to national prominence as a premiere educational program offering advanced degrees in this rapidly expanding field. With 23 full-time faculty members and 17 affiliated faculty in other departments and colleges on the Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses, USF’s Anthropology Department has grown to become one of the largest programs in the Southeastern United States, attracting students from around the world.