Welcome to Anthropology

About Anthropology

What is anthropology?

Anthropology is the study of diverse cultures and societies. Studying anthropology involves:

• Working in a Discipline to understand the contemporary world.
• Investigating cultures and societies both far away and at home.
• Researching local and global identities, religious beliefs, emerging technologies, changing lifestyles & environments, traditional and changing family lives and gender relations.

Who are the anthropology staff?

Anthropology staff at The University of Queensland employ a broad approach that also draws on other disciplines including archaeology, cultural studies, geography, human biology, linguistics, material culture studies & sociology. The main method is ethnography involving in depth qualitative time spent among people to understand their beliefs and behaviour.

Where do anthropology staff carry out their studies?

Anthropologists at UQ work in Australia, Chile, Laos, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Philippines, Solomon Islands and other countries. We do both academic work and applied contracts on such issues as Aboriginal cultural heritage and native title, environmental management, social impacts of resource developments and the significance of changing gender roles for social and economic well being. You can follow the links to staff members and their specialities.

Career opportunities?

Anthropology teaches people how to understand cultural difference, so graduates can be employed in government, industry or community organisations working with people of many diverse backgrounds and lifestyles. In Australia, this could mean work on migrant or ethnic issues, on how and why people may be prepared to adopt new technologies, or on resolution of Aboriginal native title claims and negotiation of resource developments like mining, tourism and fishing. International work might involve economic and social development in Pacific Island countries, attitudes to environmental conservation across the globe, or corporate attempts to engage with the wide range of societies in Asia.

Anthropology staff are happy for you to contact them for more information.

On this site