Biological Anthropology
Introduction
Biological anthropology explores human biological evolution and variation through time and across space. Biological anthropologists work with contemporary populations to better understand the ways in which different aspects of culture such as political economy, socioeconomics, migration, and stress, affect human diversity. Through the archaeological and fossil record, biological anthropologists seek to understand how the human population has evolved over time and in comparison to other living primates. Biological anthropology encompasses a diverse range of specialties, including primatology, ancient and modern DNA, nutrition and diet, human ecology, human variation, bioarchaeology, biomedical anthropology, biocultural anthropology, and forensic anthropology. Through an evolutionary understanding of bones, genetics, and morphological variation, biological anthropologists contribute to a greater understanding of health, disease, and human adaptations to environmental conditions. By employing these areas of study, biological anthropologists are ultimately interested in the intersections between the environments we occupy, the cultures we develop, and the physical bodies we inhabit.
Biological Anthropology at UIC
The biological anthropology program at UIC primarily includes laboratory-based courses focusing on human osteology in modern people, ancient people, and the fossils of human ancestors. The courses below are taught at regular intervals and represent the current range of biological anthropology courses offered at UIC.
Undergraduate Courses
ANTH 105 Human Evolution
ANTH 233 Forensic Anthropology
ANTH 237 The Human Skeleton
ANTH 433 Ancient Diseases
ANTH 437 Bioarchaeology
Graduate Courses
ANTH 433 Ancient Diseases
ANTH 437 Bioarchaeology
ANTH 503 Seminar in Bioanthropology
ANTH 534 Dental Anthropology
Core UIC-Field Museum Biological Anthropology Faculty
Graduate Admissions
We invite applications to our M.A. program from students interested in human osteology, bioarchaeology, NAGPRA, and pedagogy in biological anthropology. Reaching out to individual faculty members is required to discuss shared interests and potential mentorship. We approach graduate admissions as a crucial process for building our intellectual community, seeking students who will both benefit from and contribute to our program’s dynamic environment.
For detailed information regarding application requirements, deadlines, and financial support opportunities for graduate students, please visit our How to Apply page.