Why Study Anthropology at Butler?

Are you interested in the mystery of what it means to be human? Do you like to travel, learn different languages, and explore new ways of life? Do you ever wonder how new technologies from social media to memes change the way people express themselves and what they believe about the world and their place in it? Ever wondered why people in different parts of the world have different customs and traditions? 

Well, we’ve got that covered. Anthropology is the science of what makes us human – all people, everywhere in the world and anytime in recorded history. 

Butler’s anthropology program offers a variety of courses that focus on specific topics (such as social identities, family models, medical and health beliefs, art and creativity, myth and folklore, sports, religion, food, and more) and examine their cultural settings to explain not just how we live, but why it matters. As you study, you will develop social skills such as empathy, community engagement, and impactful communication. 

Through fieldwork in course assignments, thesis projects, field schools, and/or study abroad, you will interact with different groups of people to investigate questions like: how they identify themselves through cultural practices such as storytelling and ritual, how they interact with each other, and how their way of life has changed over time. All this helps us to understand where we came from and to make informed decisions about where we go next. 

As social scientists, our anthropology faculty work across multiple fields of specialized studies including History, Archaeology, Classics, Museum Studies, Religious Studies, Sociology, Psychology and interdisciplinary programs in Race, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Public Health, and International Studies to address the many mysteries of human complexities found in the cultural diversities and global connections that shape our world.