Anthropology at Syracuse is committed to comparative research on the diversity of human life and advocates a holistic viewpoint that attends to ramifications of human life as seen through the traditional four subfields of anthropology (archaeology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology and socio-cultural anthropology).

Within sociocultural anthropology, the department has strengths in: issues of cultural and socio-economic change, of language and power, the cultural and political dimensions of religious systems, space and its use by humans, environmental issues, conflict studies, and local-level political economies and their ties with the larger global political economy, particularly through processes of globalization.

The field of anthropological praxis is continually evolving, encompassing applied anthropology, activist anthropology, and the study of social movements. We see it primarily as a study of participatory processes, including social movements, that seek to address social inequality, oppression, conflict and violence. At the same time, we recognize that the field incorporates issues of public policy, representation (as in museums or tourism), and preservation. For students whose goal is directed more to anthropology within the public sector, the Master’s in Public Administration through the Executive Education Program is a possibility. Other students may seek additional work in Museum Studies. Yet others may be drawn to additional resources in the State University of New York School of Environmental Science and Forestry which adjoins our campus. The Upstate Medical School (State University of New York Health Science Center) and the Gender and Health Initiative linking Syracuse University and Upstate Medical School are other ways of focusing one’s work.

Graduate study in historical archaeology combines the theory and techniques of anthropological archaeology with the use of documentation and oral history. The department offers a strong program focusing on Africa and the African diaspora. The Maxwell setting provides access to interdisciplinary issues of historical archaeology, such as museum studies, environmental topics, historical preservation, and policy planning.

Reflecting current anthropological theory, the department makes continuous efforts to link anthropology with the other social sciences and with the humanities. Some anthropology graduate students take courses in feminist philosophy or theories of development. Others draw on History, English Textual Studies, or International Relations for exploring themes such as colonialism or gender. Many anthropology students also receive a graduate certificate in Women's Studies, South Asian Studies, Middle Eastern Affairs, Latin American Studies, Cultural Heritage Preservation or Conflict Resolution.

Anthropology here is primarily a Ph.D. program.  A master's degree is earned as a step toward a doctorate. Most graduate students are funded through teaching assistantships and fellowships.  The anthropology department offers a course in grant writing, and many graduate students successfully secure funding for their fieldwork and research.

Each fall six to ten new students join those (currently numbering some 50 students) in residence. Anthropology graduate students comprise a multi-ethnic, international community, and more than half of the students are women. The program is large enough to provide focused breadth yet small enough to allow faculty to work closely with and mentor graduate students.

The Anthropology Department participates in the University-wide Future Professoriate Project, which trains graduate students for college teaching. Graduates in anthropology are prepared for academic careers and for professional work in international, governmental and voluntary agencies, both in the United States and abroad.