The mission of the anthropology program is to create a learning environment through which students can come to understand and appreciate human diversity, develop a critical perspective on their own society, and examine their role as citizens in a complex, global community.

The initial experience for many students occurs in one of the four introductory level courses (101, 102, 103, 104), which provide a solid grounding in the anthropological perspective. Beyond this introduction to the discipline, the research methods courses (210, 211) give students the background necessary to critically evaluate existing anthropological research and conduct independent anthropological inquiry. Electives and upper level coursework emphasize the discipline’s historical and theoretical foundations and provide in-depth exploration of a range of topics.  ANTH 485 senior capstone course serves as the bookend for the major and the minor and invites students to practice problem-solving skills and discern career opportunities. Opportunities for independent study and directed research allow students the ability to chart their own course within the major according to their academic interests.

In its entirety, the range of coursework required for the major is intentionally designed to encompass the following central learning goals, providing the tools and perspectives necessary for future work in the discipline.

Luther College Anthropology Program Learning Goals

Students who complete the anthropology major will:

Develop knowledge of the central units of anthropological analysis and their application in the four subfields of anthropology;

Have a solid understanding of the current standards for ethical practice, and the range of ethical dilemmas encountered in the practice of anthropology;

Be able to recognize and understand the ways in which culture shapes us as members of diverse communities;

Be able to discern anthropological questions of relevance to contemporary society and the ability to problem-solve using anthropological knowledge and methods;

Demonstrate the ability to collect and analyze relevant data, understand their relevance, and present the results to stakeholders.