Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of what it means to be human, whether in the past, the present or the future.
Anthropologists apply research approaches including ethnography, audio-visual and digital methods, excavations, fieldwork and lab-based work. Faculty in the department have undertaken research around the world.
Study anthropology at UVic
Drawing on insights from the social sciences, the sciences and the humanities, anthropologists study how humans have emerged and organized ourselves. Embracing the full diversity of humanity across time and space, anthropologists at UVic work in fields such as:
- human history and material culture (archaeology)
- human evolution and primatology (biological anthropology)
- human culture and society (socio-cultural anthropology)
At UVic, anthropology undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of hands-on and experiential learning opportunities, including field schools and co-operative education.
From small class sizes to hands-on and international learning, learn why you should study anthropology at UVic.
News & stories
Dr. Murray on extreme multi-day racing
June 18, 2026
Congratulations to the authors of this new and important study on the effects of extreme multi-day racing on the human body.Dr. Alison Murray was involved in the study that followed Ultra endurance...
Dr. Nowell on prehistoric children
June 13, 2026
Dr. April Nowell's interview about prehistoric children with CBC Nature of Things was also aired recently on CBC Newsworld. See/listen here.
Dr. Thom's new publication
June 11, 2026
Congratulations to Dr. Brian Thom on a new publication co-authored with Penelakut Elder Kathleen Johnnie. Highlighted by a series of detailed maps, it bears witness to the territorial challenges to...
Tl'ul'thut, Robert Morales, receives honourary doctorate
June 5, 2026
UVic Anthropology professor Brian Thom and UVic Law Professor Sarah Morales co-hosted a symposium on Wednesday, in celebration of the honourary doctorate being presented next week to Tl'ul'thut,...
Article on chimpanzee rock throwing
June 2, 2026
New article by Dr. Ammie Kalan and PhD candidate Robyn Nakano titled "Why do male chimpanzees throw rocks at the same trees for more than a decade? We travelled to remote Guinea-Bissau to find...
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