Brown University: Student Opinion on Anthropology

College Majors
1

<p>Heyy :) (to current Brown students or anyone else chancing upon this thread)
I've been looking into the Anthropology undergraduate program but I haven't quite got the right feel for it. Sure, I see all the awards and honors. I also took note of the fact that Brown describes this program as "a vibrant, award-winning group of scholars" and that they don't restrict the class to only one part of anthropology. Brown also states that they have, "conversations in our classrooms and seminar rooms attempt to put behavior in the broadest contexts of meaning, power, institutions, and history." I like that. I do well in seminars and love seeing how it all applies to the big picture.
They also encourage student to travel abroad, which I am definitely going to do.
Sooo, I'll get to the point. Here are my questions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Is the program good (enriching, interesting, great professors, engaging)? </p></li>
<li><p>I am leaning toward forensic anthropology but I couldn't find too much about it on the Brown website. Does this mean they don't have a class that covers forensics? If they do, what do you think of it?</p></li>
<li><p>(to all those who have gone abroad) How is the program? Did you enjoy it? </p></li>
</ol>

<p>I am aware that there are several other schools that have anthropology programs that are even more amazing than Brown, but I'm in love with Brown because of other reasons as well, so I'm willing to pursue it. (with your help of course :] ) </p>

<p>Thank you so much (in advance)!!</p>

2

<p>EDIT:
Courses that I’m thinking about (if I were to get in)
Anth0300 Culture and Health

  • Instructor: S. Hamdy
    Power, Profit, and Pillage (spring)
  • Instructor: D. Anderson</p>

<p>juniors/seniors only
Medical Humanities

  • Instructor: B. Dahl</p>
3

<p>Seems you’re interested in anthropology, history and society.</p>

<p>The best major for studying these issues in depth would be Math or Civil Engineering. Not anthropology itself, which gives you a mere introduction.</p>

4

<p>I did not go to Brown, but at least I won’t try to talk you into engineering…</p>

<p>If you are into forensic anthropology, be aware you cannot major in it as an undergrad, anywhere in the US. Just isn’t offered. However, you may want to consider a more physical/medical anthropology route. The nice thing about undergrad anthropology is that it can be very strong anywhere you go. My advice is to go to Brown’s website for anthropology and check out the research of the professors. See if the research interests you, since professors tend to teach what they research.</p>

5

<p>LastThreeYears: thanks, but no thanks. I’m not really that interested in engineering and I can’t really see how it applies to anthropology so…</p>

<p>baked_potato: hahaha ok. (: Thanks! I’m thinking about medical anthropology so I’ll go and check out the research (: Thanks again!</p>