Unique Programs at York: Anthropology

Explore what it means to be human through culture, research, and real-world experiences.

If you're exploring programs to apply to, we've got you covered. Today, we're featuring the Anthropology program, offered through York University's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. If you're curious about what makes us human, from cultures and languages to histories and more, this program could be for you!

We connected with fourth-year anthropology student Niamh Heath to learn more about her experience.

Anthropology is the study of human experience and social change. Anthropologists ask questions like, “How do people resist inequality,” “What forms of care and solidarity sustain communities” and “What might alternative futures look like?”

Why did you choose this program?

“When I was researching programs, I was leaning towards biology or history,” Niamh says. “But when researching anthropology, I liked that it was interdisciplinary in the sense that it combines the two.”

"I also like learning about people and I like hearing stories, and I like that there's a personal aspect to this program."

Niamh says one of her favourite elements of the program is the opportunity to conduct research. “When you're doing research, you get to form relationships with people and get firsthand information,” she adds. “Rather than just reading about it, you experience it.”

Who should join this program?

Niamh says anthropology involves learning how people came to be who they are, how societies form and how cultures shape and evolve who we are today.

"I think anthropology is for students who love learning about what it is to be human."

How was your first-year experience?

Niamh says that while she had a lot of fun in her first year, she also had two busy semesters. “It was also my first year on the varsity basketball team, and I was taking a full course load! So, it was a lot of discovering how to balance school and playing sports.”

Do you have a favourite experience from this program so far?

In her third year, Niamh went on an academic exchange to Lisbon, Portugal, for a course called Anthropology Through the Visual. She and her classmates had the opportunity to explore the city while meeting with local artists to learn about their culture and history.

"Though my exchange, I learned that I love to travel. But I also learned that I'm passionate about meeting new people, hearing their stories and seeing how they came to be where they are in the world at that point in their life.”

Don't just learn about the world — experience it! Earn credits and immerse yourself in another country by going on academic exchange or taking a summer course abroad. Check out Study Abroad at York.

Do you have any favourite courses from this program?

Aside from her exchange, Niamh says her favourite course has been Acquiring Research Skills.

“I like this course because as you're learning about the anthropological concepts and lenses, you can actually apply them to your real-life research projects,” she says.

This course involves conducting research outside the classroom and putting the theories learned during lectures into practice. “You get to see how the course relates to real life,” Niamh adds.

Do you have any career plans after you graduate?

While Niamh says she's not completely sure where her degree will take her yet, she's grateful to have discovered where her passions lie. “I know from talking to my professors and hearing about their professional experiences, a lot of them did research overseas in Asia and Africa,” she says. “They have such beautiful stories, and they created connections with people that they're still friends with and talk to, to this day. I'd really like to do that with my life, too.”

Ready to explore what makes us human? Discover Anthropology and more than 150 undergraduate programs at York.

Pro tip: Start with what interests you. Enter a subject, passion or career area into York's program search and find programs to explore.