Special Notice

A letter from the Chair and Graduate Director

31 May 2005

We are writing to let you know about new directions in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Maryland. We now integrate three areas of concentration into our standing commitments to the sub-disciplines of anthropology. The areas of concentration are :

• Anthropology of Environment
• Anthropology of Health
• Anthropology of Heritage

The areas can also be thought to contain and generate research problems within the field. These problems can be addressed through cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, and archaeology. We particularly encourage potential graduate students to enter this program who would like to use the scientific and scholarly traditions within the sub-fields to address problems within the anthropology of the environment, or of health, or of heritage. Our commitment to the sub-fields is strong. Our commitment to the interdisciplinary connections between them and these relevant areas of study forms the basis for accepting people into our program.

Cultural anthropology is particularly strong in this department and cross-cuts all of the important areas of concentration. We invite applicants who want training in ethnography, quantitative and qualitative methods, health and community development, and resource management.

Biological anthropology is strong in anthropological genetics, human/plant interactions, and the genetics of the African Diaspora.

Historical archaeology is strong in studies of the African Diaspora, the political uses of archaeology, landscapes, and ties between archaeological practice and community identity.

We seek talented students who are interested in using the scholarly and scientific strengths of anthropology to address the way that the areas listed above can be studied to understand and solve related problems. We maintain our overarching commitment to applied anthropology and seek graduate students who desire training in applied work that extends the uses of anthropology to matters of environment, health and heritage.

Sincerely,

Dr. Judith Freidenberg
Graduate Director

Dr. Erve Chambers
Chair