Introduction to Anthropology at FSU

The Department of Anthropology at Florida State University celebrated its 50th anniversary in the year 2000. Founded by Hale G. Smith in 1950, the department grew around a nucleus of archaeologists and archaeological activity. The department began with a general four-field base (socio-cultural anthropology, archaeology, physical anthropology, and linguistics) and a commitment to field training and scholarly development. Fifty years later, a growing faculty maintains that commitment in the education and training of undergraduate, master's (MA, MS), and doctoral students (PhD) in all of the major sub-disciplines.

The Department of Anthropology offers undergraduate and graduate education in most of the major areas of anthropology. Course work and research experience are available in prehistoric and historic archaeology, Mesoamerican archaeology and linguistics, Maya hieroglyphic writing, underwater archaeology; both nautical and prehistoric, paleodemography, zooarchaeology, prehistoric archaeology of central/eastern Europe and the Balkans, regional systems, economic anthropology, interpretive anthropology, symbol and ritual, the anthropology of religion, ethnopoetics, osteology, forensic anthropology, and primate behavior, and primate and human brain evolution, and neuroanatomy. Geographic areas of study by the faculty include the Southeastern United States, the Andes and the Amazon, the Caribbean, Hungary and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, Mesoamerica, Africa, China, and Japan.

The Department continues working relationships with various anthropological institutions/ organizations in the region. In 1972, the Southeastern Archeological Center (SEAC) of the National Park Service (Department of the Interior) moved its staff and collections to Tallahassee. This agency manages the archaeological and curatorial needs of the Park Service's Southeast Region. Students in the Department of Anthropology are frequently involved in the opportunities for field and lab employment that the Center offers. The United States Forest Service (Department of Agriculture) also has a regional office in Tallahassee, and the Bureau of Archaeological Research of the Division of Historic Resources (Department of State) manages the archaeological needs of the state. Students may find employment and internship opportunities with these agencies. Students pursuing museum studies coursework may also find employment and internship opportunities with various museums in the area. Other possibilities (private, applied) for anthropological employment/ experience are sometimes available.

The department seeks to develop student teaching as well as research. Opportunities exist for graduate students to be teaching and/or research assistants and occasionally instructorships are available for advanced graduate students. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the office of instructional development, which hosts a number of workshops and seminars in teaching.