Anthropology

Students in Brady G'sell's class sitting in a circle for a class discussion

The comparative study of peoples and cultures, past and present.

Why Iowa?

If you like history, people, and hands-on learning, studying anthropology at the University of Iowa is the place for you.

Study Here

Students in a cultural anthropology class discussing an item one of the students is holding

Build a foundation

The Department of Anthropology offers both BA and BS degrees in anthropology, as well as an anthropology minor. The department offers two specialized tracks within the major—archaeology and medical anthropology—for students wishing a greater focus within the major.

Build a foundation

Student in gold sweatshirt examining a skull she is holding

Expand your horizons

The Department of Anthropology grants both MA and PhD degrees in anthropology, and also offers a specialized MA in Cultural Resource Management, working closely with faculty and staff from the Office of the State Archaeologist.

Expand your horizons

Cynthia Chou and a student reviewing a file of booklets in her cultural anthropology class

Learn from experts

Faculty in our department pursue research in all four subfields of anthropology, and conduct research at locations around the globe, including East, South, and Southeast Asia; Europe; southern Africa; North America; South America; and the Pacific.

Learn from experts

See yourself here

As a discipline centered on human life, anthropology offers unique tools to analyze, understand, and address pressing issues facing people and the planet.

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News and announcements

Anthropology student gets hands dirty in CLAS

Monday, February 9, 2026

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Breaking rocks and building a future through anthropology.

Examining rural life in Portugal during the Modern Period

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

University of Iowa Graduate College

Connecting the daily lives of rural people to large-scale cultural change in 15th and 16th Portugal is the cornerstone of second-year doctoral student Shannon Casey’s research.

Global Health student gains internship experience abroad this summer

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

International Programs

Veronica Ramirez, a global health major stepped far outside her comfort zone to complete an internship in South Africa, gaining professional experience while immersing in a new culture.

Upcoming events

The Future of Democracy in Post-Election Bangladesh: A conversation with Dr. Rezwana Karim Snigdha

Thursday, April 9, 2026 5:00pm to 6:15pm

Virtual

Political transitions often bring both opportunity and uncertainty. On April 9, join the University of Iowa (UI) South Asian Studies Program, an International Programs affinity group, for the chance to examine those dynamics during a virtual conversation on the future of democracy in Bangladesh.

Book Matters: James Costa and Elizabeth Yale

Thursday, April 9, 2026 7:00pm to 8:30pm

Prairie Lights Books

Join us for a reading and discussion to celebrate The Descent of Man: An Annotated Edition of Darwin’s Classic Work, annotated by James Costa, professor of biology and executive director of the Highlands Biological Station at Western Carolina University, and Elizabeth Yale, associate professor of history at the University of Iowa.

Targeting the Psychological Roots, Not Branches, of Vaccine Confidence

Friday, April 10, 2026 3:00pm to 3:45pm

Biology Building East

Aaron Scherer examines the psychological roots of vaccine confidence and how to communicate more effectively about science.

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Write your story

Our teaching, research and public engagement are animated by anthropology’s appreciation for and study of all aspects of human difference.

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