Cultural Anthropology
Cultural anthropology is a branch of anthropology focused on the study of cultural variation among humans. It is in contrast to social anthropology, which perceives cultural variation as a subset of the anthropological constant.
Cultural anthropology has a rich methodology, including participant observation (often called fieldwork because it requires the anthropologist spending an extended period of time at the research location), interviews, and surveys.
One of the earliest articulations of the anthropological meaning of the term "culture" came from Sir Edward Tylor who writes on the first page of his 1871 book: "Culture, or civilization, taken in its broad, ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society." The term "civilization" later gave way to definitions given by V. Gordon Childe, with culture forming an umbrella term and civilization becoming a particular kind of culture.
The anthropological concept of "culture" reflects in part a reaction against earlier Western discourses based on an opposition between "culture" and "nature", according to which some human beings lived in a "state of nature".[citation needed] Anthropologists have argued that culture is "human nature", and that all people have a capacity to classify experiences, encode classifications symbolically (i.e. in language), and teach such abstractions to others.
Since humans acquire culture through the learning processes of enculturation and socialization, people living in different places or different circumstances develop different cultures. Anthropologists have also pointed out that through culture people can adapt to their environment in non-genetic ways, so people living in different environments will often have different cultures. Much of anthropological theory has originated in an appreciation of and interest in the tension between the local (particular cultures) and the global (a universal human nature, or the web of connections between people in distinct places/circumstances).
The rise of cultural anthropology took place within the context of the late 19th century, when questions regarding which cultures were "primitive" and which were "civilized" occupied the minds of not only Marx and Freud, but many others. Colonialism and its processes increasingly brought European thinkers into direct or indirect contact with "primitive others." The relative status of various humans, some of whom had modern advanced technologies that included engines and telegraphs, while others lacked anything but face-to-face communication techniques and still lived a Paleolithic lifestyle, was of interest to the first generation of cultural anthropologists.
Parallel with the rise of cultural anthropology in the United States, social anthropology, in which sociality is the central concept and which focuses on the study of social statuses and roles, groups, institutions, and the relations among them—developed as an academic discipline in Britain and in France. The umbrella term socio-cultural anthropology draws upon both cultural and social anthropology traditions.
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Matching Cultural Anthropology Colleges
Ashford University
Four or more years; Private for profit; $13,280 average out-state tuition; $13,280 average in-state tuition |
The New School
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $51,122 average out-state tuition; $51,122 average in-state tuition |
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $6,068 average out-state tuition; $6,068 average in-state tuition |
University of Southern Maine
Four or more years; Public; $22,041 average out-state tuition; $8,064 average in-state tuition |
Arcadia University
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $45,520 average out-state tuition; $45,520 average in-state tuition |
Creighton University
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $42,618 average out-state tuition; $42,618 average in-state tuition |
Webster University
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $28,500 average out-state tuition; $28,500 average in-state tuition |
Scholarships for Cultural Anthropology Majors
Truman Scholars ProgramHarry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation |
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award $30,000 |
deadline February 04, 2025 |
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DescriptionThe Truman Scholars Program is open to full - time students in their penultimate year of school who are interested in pursuing any graduate degree, other than the MBA, in a field that is likely to lead to a career in public service. View Scholarship Details |
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Elevations Scholars at CUUniversity of Colorado Boulder |
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award $8,000 |
deadline March 15, 2025 |
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DescriptionThe Elevations Scholars at CU is available to full-time students at the University of Colorado Boulder who are residents of Colorado, demonstrate significant financial need, and show strong academic merit. Selected recipients should be members in good standing of Elevations Credit Union and agree to volunteer each September with the Buffalo... View Scholarship Details |
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Humanities Scholars Program - University of Maryland, Baltimore CountyUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore County |
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award Up to $22,000 |
deadline January 15, 2025 |
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DescriptionThe Humanities Scholars Program is open to incoming freshmen at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. You must major in: Africana or American studies, English, history, modern languages, linguistics, philosophy or any interdisciplinary humanities program to be eligible for this award. View Scholarship Details |
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APF Queen-Nellie Evans ScholarshipAmerican Psychological Foundation (APF) |
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award $4,000 |
deadline January 31, 2025 |
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DescriptionThe APF Queen-Nellie Evans Scholarship is available to underrepresented graduate students. Preference will be given to African American/Black students and students preparing for a career in academia, clinical service delivery, or public policy. Selection is based on academic merit, personal statement, and financial need. View Scholarship Details |
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WISE (Women in STEM Excel) ScholarshipAnderson Sobel Cosmetic Surgery |
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award $3,500 |
deadline December 13, 2024 |
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DescriptionThe WISE (Women in STEM Excel) Scholarship is open to female students who are residents of Washington. You must be pursuing a degree or career path in a STEM field in order to be considered for this award. View Scholarship Details |
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HUSAS ScholarshipSociety for American Archaeology |
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award $3,000 |
deadline January 31, 2025 |
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DescriptionThe HUSAS Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in archaeology. To be eligible for this award, you must identify as belonging to an underrepresented minority population and be a citizen of the U.S. or Canada. View Scholarship Details |
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ISF Policy ScholarshipIslamic Scholarship Fund |
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award Up to $10,000 |
deadline March 22, 2025 |
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DescriptionThe ISF Policy Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are Muslim or active members of the Muslim community. To be considered for this award, you must be pursuing a degree in international relations or affairs, political science, public policy, public administration, anthropology, or sociology. Additionally, you... View Scholarship Details |
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ISF Media ScholarshipIslamic Scholarship Fund |
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award Up to $10,000 |
deadline March 22, 2025 |
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DescriptionThe ISF Media Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are Muslim or active members of the Muslim community. To be considered for this award, you must be pursuing a degree in media studies, writing, or journalism. Additionally, you should have a minimum GPA of 3.0. View Scholarship Details |
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Kirsten C. Feldman Memorial ScholarshipWest Los Angeles College |
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award $1,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Kirsten C. Feldman Memorial Scholarship is available to students at West Los Angeles College who are majoring in social sciences. Preference will be given to students majoring in anthropology. View Scholarship Details |
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Dr. Anwar A. Al-Mudamgha ScholarshipOnondaga Community College Foundation |
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award $700 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Dr. Anwar A. Al-Mudamgha Scholarship is available to students at OCC who are studying social sciences. Preference will be given to refugee and female students. View Scholarship Details |
Cultural Anthropology Related Majors
- Political Science and Government
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