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Our Message

Mission Statement

We are a collegial and committed team who:

We enact these goals through the practical integration of teaching, research, and reflexive experience.

Anthropology at Kwantlen links the study of archaeology, biological anthropology, and cultural anthropology in our program through the theme Culture, Community, and Well-Being. Our courses address issues related to the interrelationships among the individual, society, and culture, and how these impact individual and community well-being at local, regional, national, and international levels. Areas of specialization include, but are not restricted to: Aboriginal studies; gender & women's studies; biological, forensic, medical & environmental anthropology; methods & ethics in anthropological research; human rights issues; audio-visual anthropology; religion and spirituality; archaeology; cultural resource management; and specific geographic area studies (e.g., Asia Pacific, British Columbia, Sicily).

An anthropological education provides students with a framework for critical and reflexive thinking to examine complex issues across cultures and through history. Anthropological learning skills can be applied to: planning projects; writing grant proposals; interviewing; surveying; sampling, gathering and organizing data; examining data and artifacts; conducting field studies; summarizing results; communication across cultures/languages; and recognizing cultural differences and similarities.

The general objective of a B.A., Minor in Anthropology is to prepare students for life, the workforce and advanced study in this or other fields. Anthropology students find employment in such areas as: governmental and non-governmental organizations; archaeology; law enforcement and forensic work; social work; counseling; public administration; education; urban planning; public relations; broadcasting and journalism. In a globalizing and increasingly multi-cultural world, an employee capable of working alongside persons from diverse cultural backgrounds is vital. Anthropology provides students with both the practical experience and the necessary tools to apply cross-cultural and cross-historical understanding to problem-solving strategies within the workplace.

Anthropology already provides numerous benefits and opportunities for Kwantlen students. Our courses are useful electives for students in Criminology, Geography, Sociology, Nursing and other departments. The 1000 level courses are an integral part of the current Associate of Arts Degree and Bachelor of Arts Degree programs, and will continue to comprise a large number of our sections. As well, ANTH 1217 (Forensic Anthropology) also serves as a science requirement for a minor degree, which is especially appealing to criminology students.

The Anthropology Department hosts an annual conference exploring the theme Culture, Community, and Well-Being. Since its inception, the conference has addressed topics such as: Research Ethics; Ethnocide, Genocide, and Human Rights; Global Climate and Cultural Change; Gender and Social Justice. The conference provides students with an opportunity to develop their skills in preparing and presenting their own research alongside professional researchers. Students also have the opportunity to learn about conference planning and implementation through volunteer positions.

We launched a B.A. Minor degree in Anthropology (September, 2008) and our department is very excited about our future and the future prospects for our students.

Sincerely,

Sam Migliore
Brian Pegg
Larissa Petrillo
Ken Stark
Sabine Stratton
Sara Yoshida