A degree in anthropology

Anthropology is the study of humankind from its origins five million years ago to the present. Among other disciplines that study human behavior, anthropology is distinctive because of its holistic emphasis, a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, the pursuit of fieldwork and laboratory science and application of approaches from STEM and the humanities alike.

Why study anthropology at Wayne State?

College to Career Spotlight: Q&A with anthropology alum Indy Carter

Two-time Wayne State anthropology alumnus, Indy Carter, B.A. '17, M.A. '18, serves as a senior researcher for Bold Insight – a full-service human factors and UX research consultancy – designing, procuring sales and executing human factors (HF) and user experience (UX) research projects for clients.

Colleen Linn: Exploring how groundwater contamination affects state-citizen relationships

Ph.D. candidate Colleen Linn spent three months conducting ethnographic fieldwork in areas of Michigan impacted by PFAS contamination. She'll be using this data to further understand how governance response to environmental pollution is perceived by households and communities and what meaningful progress means for those impacted.

Amanda Stockton: The changing fabric of urban social life in Hamtramck around the Prohibition era

After receiving an Undergraduate Research Opportunities (UROP) Award, Amanda Stockton began analyzing the connection between the glass beverage bottle artifacts recovered from Hamtramck's Gass Saloon site to the changing fabric of urban social life in Hamtramck before and during the Prohibition era. One of her most thrilling findings is the collection of 13 Hiram Walker Canadian Club Whisky bottles, showcasing the historical impact of Canadian Club’s Whisky on Detroit and Hamtramck.

Julie Julison: Sex workers and the 19th-century city

It isn’t surprising that in addition to research on entomophagy (eating insects) in the archaeological record, Julie Julison now finds herself exploring another major topic in the discipline. Julie Julison is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Wayne State's anthropology department immersing herself in researching sex workers in Detroit and Hamtramck from 1830-1930 by examining the material culture from archaeological sites.

College to Career Spotlight: Q&A with anthropology alum Brendan Doucet

Meet Brendan Doucet, a dedicated National Park Service archaeologist and section 106 coordinator for the Western Arctic National Parklands. Brendan's journey from Wayne State University's anthropology program to his current role in Kotzebue, Alaska, showcases the significant impact of his academic training and fieldwork experiences.

College to Career Spotlight: Q&A with alumni Amy Krull

Amy Krull earned both her B.A. (2011) and M.A. (2014) in anthropology from Wayne State University. Her journey into archaeology began as a student volunteer at the Grosscup Museum and continued through hands-on fieldwork experiences. Her deep dive into laws like the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), shaped her passion for archaeological research, preservation and cultural resource management. Learn about her journey from College to Career.