人类学家在各种地理位置和学科领域进行研究和教学。文化人类学，考古学和生物人类学的现场和实验室培训在各种课程中以及通过个人研究提供。语言学子领域的课程与英语系交叉列出。该系设有历史考古学课程，并在各个地点赞助夏季野外学校。威廉和玛丽考古保护中心和考古研究中心也提供研究机会和学生指导。人类学专业的学生可以自由选择组成学位的课程。共有三门必修的必修课，它们将使您对我们学科的概念基础有一个总体了解。您将选择其余的课程，以使您的专业专注于人类学的特定方面，或建立广泛的基础。您将与您的主要顾问合作，制定出符合您的目标
Simply put, Anthropology is the study of human beings, their complex relationships with one another, and with the world around them. Of course, this is an inexhaustible subject. Historically (and in our department) Anthropology has been divided into four sub-fields: Archaeology (the study of the past through changes in human landscapes, material artifacts, and documentary records) Biological Anthropology (the study of the biological evidence for such phenomena as evolution, population change, health, and social inequality), Linguistics (the use and transformation of language in social practices and cultural contexts) and Social, or Cultural Anthropology (the study of human relationships and activities, and the meanings and values that motivate them). In our department, we offer an array of coursework in all four of these sub-fields, and promote opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students to develop their own research projects. The Anthropology department at William & Mary is especially interested in promoting engaged anthropology, scholarship and teaching that works with members of diverse communities from Virginia Indians to Mexican farmers to carry out research that addresses their concerns and interests. These projects are crucial dimension of our ethics and practice.<br>Because the study of human relationships touches on literally every aspect of our world, studying anthropology provides students with an array of indispensable opportunities. Our majors have gone on to work as everything from physicians and journalists, to playwrights and software designers. We provide access to specific institutions like museums, laboratories, and cultural resource management firms that directly make use of anthropological skills and insights. Some of our students participate in internships or conduct research within local cultural institutions that include Colonial Williamsburg and Historic Jamestowne. Our methods are as diverse as scientific techniques used to understand the biochemistry of ancient agricultural or hunting practices, and the interpretive skills necessary to an ethnographic understanding of immigrants and refugees around the world. Our faculty are dedicated to insuring that our students develop the skills, concepts, and experience they need to make vital contributions to the world beyond William & Mary.