At UNLV,
Anthropology is
approached as a four-field curriculum, Archaeology, Cultural
Anthropology, Linguistics and Physical Anthropology. Within each
of these fields an interdisciplinary and inter-field approach is
considered both appropriate and necessary to achieve high
standards in research and preparation for future employment as
anthropologists in academic, governmental and private settings.
The Department of Anthropology &
Ethnic Studies offers programs leading to the B.A., M.A., and
Ph.D. degrees. Unlike other
departments with Ph.D. programs, the department continues its
commitment to a strong M.A. program.
As the department has
expanded, it has identified three themes that represent
departmental strengths: biocultural evolution, arid lands, and
ethnicity and identity. These themes take advantage
of the holistic philosophy and four field structure of
anthropology itself.
Department strengths are
evident in several geographic and culture areas, including
Native North America, Latin America, Asia, and the Eastern
Mediterranean.
The
Anthropology department provides its majors with the best possible training for professions in
anthropology and ethnic studies. Faculty members
have offered field schools in Nevada,
Arizona,
New Mexico and opportunities to
participate on archaeological excavations in Cyprus, and Jordan.
Both undergraduates and graduate students are
encouraged to participate in faculty research projects, which often
lead to co-authorship of professional papers and presentations of
papers at professional meetings.
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Anthropology graduate students with
specializations in archaeology, physical anthropology, and
medical/cultural anthropology have garnered the President's
Graduate Fellowship (2003, 2004), the Barrick Graduate
Fellowship (2003, 2004), and the Regent's Fellowship
(2002) and numerous grants from the GPSA at
UNLV, government agencies and many
associations.
Our students have also been successful at winning graduate
fellowships that support summer research and study.
The department's B.A. and M.A.
graduates have gone on to obtain advanced degrees at many of the
nations foremost universities.
Many work on historic preservation for government agencies, such as
the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Air Force. Others
work in private archaeological contracting agencies or operate their
own businesses. Several work as curators in museums.
The department is very proud of the success achieved by its
first Ph.D. graduates. A recent graduate directs a cultural resource management
firm and two others are tenure-track professors at major American universities.
To meet the needs of undergraduate
majors, the department offers introductory and upper division
courses in all four of anthropology's traditional sub disciplines:
archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and
physical anthropology. Majors take introductory courses in at least
three of these. Majors also take fieldwork or laboratory courses,
upper division area and topic courses, and a course in the history
of anthropology.
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