Anthropology 445 Seminar: Applied Anthropology

Dr. Bruce D. Roberts
Department of Anthropology and Earth Science

Official Course Description: Selected topics in Anthropology. Students are expected to do research in subjects related to the topic of the course. May be repeated when topic varies.

This semester the topic I have selected is applied anthropology. Applied anthropology is the application of anthropological concepts and methods in addressing contemporary problems/issues. I like to think of it as the answer to the “so what?” question some people may ask when they hear about anthropology being the study of humanity. “So what? What can you do with that?” That is precisely what we’re going to examine this semester. Admittedly, while applied anthropology is practiced in all four anthropological subfields, this course will be oriented toward sociocultural anthropology since that is my own area of expertise and what I know best. However, for your individual research projects you are free (and encouraged) to explore applications of anthropology in any anthropological subfield.