BA Applied Anthropology and Geography Colorado Mesa University

Program Description

The Applied Anthropology and Geography major combines academic preparation with practical skills in GIS (geographic information system), archaeology and forensic anthropology. Uniting these fields is the emphasis on spatial data, which is broadly defined to include cultural and physical landscapes as well as the human body. Our students receive practical training in archeological, geographic and forensic anthropological field research. The biological anthropology program includes the Forensic Investigation Research Station. Geography courses provide experience using GIS to analyze datasets derived from the social sciences. The archeology program provides knowledge of regional prehistory and cultural resource/heritage management. The BA in Applied Anthropology and Geography is more than another liberal arts major. It is designed to be interdisciplinary and skill-based. In particular, expertise in GIS sets the student up for a broad variety of careers in the public and private sectors in our outside of archaeology. Several recent graduates, for exmaple, are currently employed by KAART, a local geospatial data management firm. The biological/ forensic anthropology component has been used by graduates in their work as coroners and in law enforcement, as well as those who go on to graduate school. The archaeology component is designed to give students the backgrounds they need to excel in cultural research management or in graduate studies.

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