Our Department and Facilities

The Department of Anthropology at the University of Utah is unique in its strong evolutionary focus and in its ability to bring together four main themes (Archaeology, Biological and Cultural Anthropology and Evolutionary Ecology) and exploit their intersections as novel approaches for research in Anthropology. Graduate students engage in cutting edge research that crosses disciplinary and sub-disciplinary lines to address questions about human biology, behavior, culture and evolution. Incoming students receive multi-year funding packages to support them throughout course of their degree. Our graduate students also maintain an extraordinary record of securing research funding both nationally and within the University.

Our students have access to large collections of human, animal and cultural remains for study in the state of the art Archaeological Center. In addition, the Department houses multiple cutting-edge laboratories including the Modern Genetics lab, Ancient DNA Lab, Zooarchaeology Lab, Stable Isotope Lab, Archaeobotany Lab, and Population Genetics lab.

Several department faculty hold joint appointments at the Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU). This partnership allows our students to access numerous museum collections and facilities to support their research. The museum houses an Anthropology Conservation Lab, Archaeobotany Lab, Archaeology Lab, Archaeological Collection, Ethnographic and Vertebrate Zoology Collections.

Explore our laboratories

Global Perspective

Our graduate students are engaged in field research across the world. Learn more about ongoing and recent research in the department.

RESOURCES AT NHMU

Graduate Community

We have a relatively small, highly talented cohort of Masters and PhD students who call Utah their home away from home. Our students play an integral part of the intellectual life of the department. Collaboration with graduate colleagues and faculty is consistently supported through academic seminars, monthly journal clubs, faculty mentorship, research support, professional development seminars, and opportunities to pursue interdisciplinary work.

Our renowned faculty are committed to mentoring excellence; including both the intellectual development and professional placement of our graduate students.

MEET OUR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Campus Life

The University of Utah Campus is situated in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, overlooking the urban center of Salt Lake City. On-campus amenities include the Student Life Fitness Center, the Utah Musem of Natural History, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Pioneer Theater Company, Kingsbury Hall music venue, the Crimson Lanes bowling ally, hiking trails in Red Butte Canyon, rotating local restaurants and much more.

The University of Utah has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the 115 research universities with the “highest research activity” in the nation and is the flagship of the Utah System of Higher Education. The University is located in Salt Lake City at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains. This location offers unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation, with ten world-class ski resorts and five national parks within hours of the city. Salt Lake City is the center of a metropolitan area with a population of approximately one million residents, has extensive arts and cultural activities, and has a major international airport with a Delta Airlines hub and direct flights to most U.S. cities and direct international flights to Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Mexico City. The area has received international recognition for its new light rail system, foodie culture, downtown renewal, and increasing diversity. In 2017, U.S News and World report ranked Salt Lake City as the 10th best place to live in the nation.

Salt Lake City is home to a robust array of diverse communities facilitating numerous opportunities for interaction with a range of civic and political organizations, given the city’s role as the governmental and social nerve center of the state. Utah public schools serve a diverse student body (statewide average: eight percent ELs and twenty-six percent non-white), notably higher in its urban districts. Utah is also home to the first state-legislated and funded K-16 dual language education model in the country.

High speed campus tour – created by U of U:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAdZLGtppgU

Walk through downtown SLC (in order of appearance: downtown SLC, Tracy Aviary, University of Utah, State Capitol, Sugarhouse) - created by WalkSLC:

https://www.youtube.com/c/WalkSLC/featured

Slow walk through campus – created by WalkSLC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XPJovS8MNU