/College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Anthropology

Baccalaureate (BA) in Anthropology

Objective

Anthropology is a social science that seeks to understand and explain human cultural, behavioral, and biological variation through time and space. Stony Brook University's undergraduate Anthropology program introduces students to the field of anthropology, its branches, its theories and methods, and its relation to the other social sciences, natural sciences, and the humanities. 

Careers

Students with a degree in anthropology may take one of several post-graduate paths. Some continue their anthropology training in graduate schools, many at the finest graduate schools in the country. Others may pursue medical training. Historically, archaeology and cultural anthropology have appealed to students interested in education, government (foreign service), public health, business (e.g., overseas marketing), history, and ethnic/cultural studies. Biological anthropology has been popular with students interested in biology, medicine, dentistry, ecology, evolution, and the earth sciences. The American Anthropological Association page on Careers in Anthropology and the American Association of Biological Anthropologists page on Careers in Anthropology provide details about what career you might pursue with an Anthropology degree.

Research Opportunities

Students have the opportunity to earn ANT credit through research and study abroad programs. Anthropology students from Stony Brook have participated in programs, either supervised by SBU faculty or through other institutional arrangements, in states across the U.S. and countries such as England, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Türkiye, and South Africa. Stony Brook University Study Abroad programs that offer ANT credits are available as either full semesters or intersession (summer or winter) programs. Anthropology students often particularly appreciate the opportunity to work closely with departmental faculty in the study abroad programs currently running in Kenya (Human Origins, in collaboration with the Turkana Basin Institute) and Madagascar (Primate Behavior and Habitat Conservation, in collaboration with the Institute for Conservation of Tropical Environments). 

Requirements

  • A detailed description of the Anthropology BA requirements is found in the Undergraduate Catalog. The Director of Undergraduate Studies can provide more details. See below for contact information.
  • Contact the Academic Programs Coordinator for a major requirements checklist. See below for contact information. Seperate checklists are available for students who declared an Anthropology major before March 31 2025.
  • Students who wish to check their progress in the program should contact the Anthropology Departmental office.
  • All other requests (e.g., degree progress) should be addressed to the Academic and Transfer Advising Services.

Courses

You can choose from a variety of courses related to biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, archaeology, and human evolutionary biology. The listing of courses can be found on the University Registrar web page.

Honors Program

The honors program is designed for students preparing to undertake graduate work in anthropology. A detailed description of the honors program requirements is found in the Undergraduate Catalog (scroll down to Anthropology Honors Program).

BA Program Contacts

Director of Undergraduate Studies

Dr. Elisabeth Hildebrand
Phone: (631) 632-7163
Email: anthropologydus@stonybrook.edu


Academic Programs Coordinator

Tara Powers
Phone: (631) 632-7606
Email: tara.powers@stonybrook.edu