UNT Anthropology

Anthropology at UNT: An Applied Department in an Applied Social Science School

Our department emphasizes the practical use of anthropology to solve problems and improve people's lives. All faculty members are applied anthropologists. Furthermore, the department is located within UNT's College of Public Affairs and Community Service. This school houses applied social sciences at UNT, such as gerontology, public administration, and social work.

Two members of the UNT anthropology department are also on the steering committee of the Consortium of Practicing and Applied Anthropology Programs (COPAA).

However, our identity as a department is broader than just applied anthropology. UNT's undergraduate major in anthropology exposes students to the full range and breadth of what this field can be. The faculty also actively engage in traditional academic activities such as publication.

Specialty Areas

Business Anthropology
Ann Jordan and Christina Wasson specialize in this area. Topics include organizational culture and organizational change, teams, communication in the workplace, user-centered design, human-computer interaction, consumer behavior, and globalization.

Migration and Border Studies
Alicia Re Cruz and Doug Henry represent this area. Topics covered include the situations of migrants and refugees, cultures of Latin America, and Mexican-American experiences. Dr. Re Cruz also offers a summer field school in Mexico where students observe local community development processes.

Medical Anthropology
Beverly Davenport, Lisa Henry, and Doug Henry specialize in this area, which addresses public health, healthcare delivery, indigenous medicine, and the health issues of ethnic minorities, migrants, and/or refugees. We are affiliated with UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth.

Anthropology of Education
Mariela Nuñez-Janes and Alicia Re Cruz represent this area, which focuses on schools and the educational process. Connections between culture and education are explored in a variety of contexts, with attention to teaching and learning issues. Both faculty members focus on the challenges of bilingual education.

Environmental and Ecological Anthropology
This area includes community-based conservation of natural and cultural resources, cultural landscapes/seascapes, indigenous peoples and protected areas, traditional ecological knowledge, human ecology, sustainable development, ethnoecology, political ecology, environmental justice, world views concerning the environment, and globalization and environmental policy.

• Faculty's Applied Interests and Consulting Specialties
• Examples of Applied Projects of Faculty Members

Archaeology
Archaeology is generally considered to be part of anthropology. However, at UNT, our two archaeologists, Reid Ferring and Lisa Nagaoka, are housed in the Geography Department. Undergraduate students wishing to focus on archaeology will major in anthropology, but they should take as many courses as possible in archaeology, and they should feel welcome to consult Drs. Ferring and Nagaoka for advice on courses and career development. Archaeology courses are cross-listed in geography and anthropology. An archaeology field school is offered, and you can visit Dr. Nagaoka's website for more field school recommendations.

Physical Anthropology
Physical anthropology is generally considered to be part of anthropology. However, at UNT, physical/biological anthropology is housed in the Biology Department. Undergraduate students wishing to focus on physical anthropology will major in anthropology, but they should take as many courses as possible in physical/biological anthropology, and they should feel welcome to consult Dr. Gill-King for advice on courses and career development.

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Recent News:

Barbara Rose Johnson Lecture

The anthropology department welcomes Barbara Rose Johnson for a guest lecture on Friday, Nov 13 at 2pm in the ENV Bldg room 115.  Dr. Johnson is an environmental anthropologist who studies the relationships between environmental crisis and human rights.  Her current [...]

Jannell Robles

Anthropology senior Jannell Robles was recently invited to speak at the PACS Circle of Impact dinner about her experiences as an anthropology and PACS student.  Great job Jannell!