You are in the official 1996-97 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Anthropology
Anthropology
School of Social Sciences
Department of Anthropology
Roger M. La Jeunesse, Chair
Peters Business Building, Room 389
(559) 278-3002
Department of Anthropology
Roger M. La Jeunesse, Chair
Peters Business Building, Room 389
(559) 278-3002
Minor in Anthropology
Anthropology is concerned with everything that is human, in all parts
of the world, both present and past. It is unique among the social sciences
in the breadth of its scope. Most disciplines focus only on modern civilization
or concentrate on single aspects of life, such as government or the economy.
Anthropology is interested in all human societies and views life
as a complexly integrated whole that is more than the sum of its parts.
It is the human experience as a whole that anthropology seeks to understand.
The breadth of anthropology is reflected in its four subfields. Physical
anthropology studies biological evolution and how heredity conditions
the ways we conduct life. Cultural anthropology, by studying the
enormous diversity of lifeways in contemporary cultures throughout the world,
attempts to explain both differences and similarities in the way different
peoples carry out the process of living. Archaeology explores the
human past far beyond the range of written records, using specialized techniques
to probe human prehistory. Linguistic anthropology investigates the
nature of language and the critical role it has played in developing our
unique intellectual capabilities and behavior. The central concept in anthropology
is "culture," and it is this vital idea which binds the subfields
into an integrated discipline.
Our program has three goals:
- to provide students with a clear conception of human variability and its implications, enabling them to understand and deal with lifestyles other than those of Mainstream America,
- to provide students with the broad intellectual skills that are essential to the widest range of professional careers, and
- to provide students who wish to pursue a professional career in anthropology with a thorough preparation for graduate work in major doctoral programs.
The faculty is committed to working closely with students to encourage their intellectual growth and development of skills that are both personally satisfying and in demand by employers in many career settings. Anthropology courses, especially at the advanced level, teach students to read critically, write fluently, organize information cogently, and interrelate ideas logically and creatively. For those who may consider becoming professional anthropologists, we point with considerable pride to the fact that virtually all of our graduates who have chosen this path have been accepted into a graduate program of their choice.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities for anthropology graduates are increasingly numerous
and varied because cultural pluralism and international communication are
on the increase. There is a growing need for people with cross-cultural
sophistication and an ability to mediate between value systems. Graduates
of our department have established successful careers in such fields as
personnel work, mental health, social research, education, law enforcement,
business, and government. Students who contemplate graduate study, whether in anthropology or another field, find that our program is both rigorous and thorough. In fact, anthropological training at the undergraduate level is widely recognized as excellent preparation for advanced degrees in many professional fields. Graduates of this department have completed graduate programs in medicine, law, social work, international business, and international relations, to name a few.
Professional careers in anthropology itself usually require the Ph.D. At present, traditional academic posts are scarce. However, enterprising anthropologists throughout the nation have been remarkably successful in securing high-level positions in both government and business, usually under titles other than "anthropologist." These successes indicate that employers at the highest levels appreciate the unique training and capabilities of professional anthropologists. While such positions are not yet common, imaginative anthropologists who can communicate their special abilities should be able to establish rewarding careers in a variety of settings.
Anthropology - Degrees
Anthropology - Courses Return to Courses MenuReturn to General Catalog Home Page