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Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of what it means to be human, whether in the past, the present or the future.

Anthropologists apply research approaches including ethnography, audio-visual and digital methods, excavations, fieldwork and lab-based work. Faculty in the department have undertaken research around the world.

A female student sits with a bone collection

Study anthropology at UVic

Drawing on insights from the social sciences, the sciences and the humanities, anthropologists study how humans have emerged and organized ourselves. Embracing the full diversity of humanity across time and space, anthropologists at UVic work in fields such as:

  • human history and material culture (archaeology)
  • human evolution and primatology (biological anthropology)
  • human culture and society (socio-cultural anthropology)

At UVic, anthropology undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of hands-on and experiential learning opportunities, including field schools and co-operative education.

From small class sizes to hands-on and international learning, learn why you should study anthropology at UVic.

Announcements

Did we kill the Neandertals?

October 4, 2024

Latest article in which Dr. April Nowell is interviewed. Live Science on "Did we kill the Neanderthals? New research may finally answer an age-old question."

Ice Age Teens - Dr. Nowell

September 30, 2024

Ice Age Teens, Cross Country Checkup on CBC News Network, with Ian Hanomansing. See here - 2:06:50 - at UVic with Dr. April Nowell in our teaching lab.

Dr. Nowell comments on the last Neanderthal DNA study

September 26, 2024

Dr. Nowell comments on the last Neanderthal DNA study in an article in Live Science titled "DNA of 'Thorin,' one of the last Neanderthals, finally sequenced, revealing inbreeding and 50,000 years...

Dr. Rudnyckyj's new article

September 26, 2024

Dr. Daromir Rudnyckyj recently published the article “Econography: Observing Expert Capitalism” in the journal Current Anthropology .  The...

Dr. Nowell's latest on Ice Age teens

September 13, 2024

Dr. April Nowell's research on Ice Age teens appears on CBC radio and in a number of stories. CBC’s Quirks and Quarks audio link and the episode webpage. UVic news...

News & events

Open UVic's Vanier scholars and Banting Fellowship

UVic's Vanier scholars and Banting Fellowship

The University of Victoria is celebrating four outstanding researchers recently announced as 2024 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholars and one prestigious Banting Postdoctoral Fellow.

Open Anthropology grad's international experience

Anthropology grad's international experience

Graduating this spring, anthropology major/sociology minor undergraduate student, Emma Emile appreciates her time at UVic and especially how anthropology “sparked critical reflection on what it...

Open Woolly dog DNA

Woolly dog DNA

In a first high-resolution DNA study of "Mutton"—the only known woolly dog fleece in the world—an international researcher team from the Smithsonian’s Natural Museum of Natural History and UVic,...

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Territory acknowledgement

We acknowledge and respect the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and SÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.