Anthropology
Investigate Social and Cultural Life in UNC Asheville’s Anthropology Program
A Bachelor’s in Anthropology at UNC Asheville invites students to explore the rich diversity of human experience across cultures and throughout history. One of the most global of the social sciences, anthropology helps students understand different ways of life, systems of belief, and social structures while developing a deeper awareness of their own place in the world. At UNC Asheville, curiosity drives discovery, empowering students to connect cultural insight with some of today’s most pressing global issues.
Rigorous Courses
Exploring human cultures, behaviors, and belief systems through global, historical, and scientific perspectives, the Anthropology program at UNC Asheville offers a rigorous academic experience grounded in real-world relevance. Students study cultural anthropology, archaeology, and biological anthropology while gaining hands-on experience through fieldwork, research, and community engagement.
Career Paths
UNC Asheville’s Anthropology program provides a strong foundation for a wide range of career paths and graduate study. With an interdisciplinary approach and comprehensive coursework, students develop the analytical and communication skills needed for roles in social research, cultural preservation, nonprofit and community work, public service, or advanced academic programs in anthropology and related fields.
Undergraduate Research
Anthropology students can conduct research through their coursework and internship experiences. Opportunities include getting grants from the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity program, community outreach, personal topic exploration, and participation in the Undergraduate Research Program, with options to publish or present findings at conferences.
Explore the Intricacies of Life.
Anthropology majors journey through time and culture, illuminating what it means to be human.
All of the classes I have taken in the major have consistently acknowledged the colonial past of anthropology. Whereas a lot of the academic fields have not engaged in this discussion of decolonizing or acknowledging their roots, anthropology at UNC Asheville is ahead in these aspects.
Concentrations & Certificates
Concentrations & Certificates
Become a Teacher in Anthropology
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology at UNC Asheville can blend anthropology coursework with education training to culminate in hands-on teaching experience. Rooted in UNC Asheville’s strong liberal arts tradition and nationally recognized teacher education program, students graduate in four years with both a degree in anthropology and a teaching license, making them well-prepared and highly marketable as educators with expertise in both content and pedagogy.
Dig Deeper. Learn Differently.
The path toward a UNC Asheville anthropology degree is deeply rooted in connection and community. Students build meaningful relationships through campus events, collaborative research, and internships, as well as active participation in student clubs and organizations—creating a vibrant academic experience that extends well beyond the classroom.
Anthropology of Bees
Curious how bees can teach us about ourselves? In this course, unique to UNC Asheville, students uncover the surprising ways human culture and honeybees intertwine—revealing what our relationship with these tiny architects can tell us about cooperation, survival, and our place in nature.
Internship in Anthropology
Abigail Fry’s internship as Volunteer Coordinator at 12 Baskets Cafe broadened her perspective on poverty, and the mission for abundance and community. The cafe, funded by the Asheville Poverty Initiative, offers free meals to those in need.
Collaborative Research
Want to collaborate with faculty on current research? Student assistant Samantha Adams helped collect interviews with landslide victims in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, providing key support to further the effort towards improving USGS emergency messaging during landslides.
Meet the Faculty
Meet the Faculty
At UNC Asheville, sociology and anthropology students thrive in small classes where faculty mentorship is a core part of the experience. Our professors are deeply committed to student success, offering guidance, expertise, and opportunities to explore the cultural and biological dimensions of human life.
Related Programs
Ready for What's Next?
Earn a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of North Carolina Asheville and explore human cultures, societies, and behaviors—past and present—while preparing for impactful careers in research, education, community work, cultural resource management, and beyond.