Best Anthropology Programs in New Jersey for 2027

Rutgers–New Brunswick gives its B.A. track 38 credits, with at least 18 at the 300 or 400 level. You start with four introductions: culture and social life, human evolution, archaeology, and language, culture and society. After that you take one upper-level course in three of the four subfields, drawing from long menus such as medical anthropology, anthropology and human rights, visual ethnography and primate behavioral ecology. The department also runs a separate B.A. in Cultural Anthropology and a B.S. in Evolutionary Anthropology, so this is the broad, four-field route. Twenty-three students completed an anthropology bachelor’s here in 2023–24.

Introductory Courses

Culture, human evolution, archaeology, and language, culture and society (14 credits)

Upper-Level Breadth

One 300 or 400 level course in each of three of the four subfields

Related Majors

B.A. in Cultural Anthropology and B.S. in Evolutionary Anthropology

Program Sources: B.A. in Anthropology | Rutgers Department of AnthropologyB.A. in Anthropology | Rutgers Department of Anthropology

Princeton splits the major into three tracks: Sociocultural Anthropology, Medical Anthropology, and Law, Politics, and Economics. The sociocultural track takes nine courses, three of them required: Ethnography, Evidence and Experience, The Ethnographer’s Craft, and Anthropological Theory. Independent work is a big part of the degree. In junior year you write a paper of about 8,000 words, mostly from library research. Senior year brings a thesis of roughly 20,000 words, built on original research that can be ethnographic or a deep analysis of the literature. A thesis with an artistic component, such as a documentary film, still needs a substantial written essay. Thirty-nine students finished in 2023–24.

Tracks

Sociocultural Anthropology, Medical Anthropology, or Law, Politics, and Economics

Methods Sequence

Ethnography, Evidence and Experience, then The Ethnographer’s Craft

Independent Work

Junior paper of about 8,000 words and a senior thesis of about 20,000 words

Program Sources: Sociocultural Anthropology | Princeton Department of AnthropologySenior Thesis | Princeton Department of Anthropology

Monmouth’s 39-credit major begins with cultural anthropology, biological anthropology and archaeology, then asks you to choose a methods course: field research in archaeology or ethnographic methods. A spatial literacy requirement pulls in geography, from maps and mapping to tourism and urbanization. Human variation or an introduction to GIS covers technological literacy, and anthropological theory and a research seminar finish the major. Nine credits outside the department, in history, political science, psychology, sociology or criminal justice, widen the frame. The catalog also lists education-endorsement versions of the degree for people heading toward teaching. Ten students completed the major in 2023–24.

Methods Choice

Field Research in Archaeology or Ethnographic Methods

Spatial and Technical Skills

One geography or spatial literacy course, plus Human Variation or Introduction to GIS

Final Courses

Anthropological Theory and Research Seminar in Anthropology

Program Sources: B.A. in Anthropology (AN.BA) | Monmouth University Undergraduate CatalogB.A. in Anthropology (AN.BA) | Monmouth University Undergraduate Catalog

Eleven courses make up the major at TCNJ. You take introduction to cultural anthropology, a second introductory course in biological anthropology, archaeology or language and culture, and a socio-cultural theory course. You satisfy two methods requirements from a wide menu: quantitative methods, advanced language study, a semester abroad, human osteology and forensic anthropology, archaeological field methods or a field school, a research course, or urban ethnography. The senior capstone is either an internship paired with a senior seminar or a research project. A statistics or logic course satisfies the college’s quantitative requirement. Four students completed the degree in 2023–24.

Methods Menu

Quantitative methods, language study, study abroad, osteology, field methods, research course or urban ethnography

Capstone Options

Internship plus senior seminar, or senior capstone research

Theory Course

Development of Socio-Cultural Theory

Program Sources: Anthropology Major | TCNJ Sociology and AnthropologyAnthropology Major | TCNJ Sociology and Anthropology

Rowan’s anthropology major has 37 semester hours: five foundations in cultural anthropology, archaeology, human variation, anthropological linguistics and qualitative research, then theory, a senior seminar, and a four-credit lab choice between forensic anthropology and archaeological field methods. The forensic class is known as CSI Rowan, and students excavate and analyze a mock clandestine burial. Four elective courses fill out the rest, drawn from bioarchaeology, medical anthropology, magic and religion, media and psychological anthropology. The catalog describes optional subfield tracks in forensics, museum studies, medical anthropology, cultural resource management and archaeology. A foreign language, geography and an ethics-style course round out the non-major requirements. Ten students graduated in 2023–24.

Foundation Courses

Cultural anthropology, archaeology, human variation, linguistics and qualitative research

Lab Requirement

Forensic Anthropology or Archaeological Field Methods

Subfield Tracks

Forensic anthropology, museum studies, medical anthropology, cultural resource management and archaeology

Program Sources: Anthropology (B.A.) | Rowan University AdmissionsBachelor of Arts in Anthropology | Rowan University Catalog

Montclair draws on all four subfields plus applied anthropology, and the paths branch early. One option adds K-6 teacher certification, so you graduate qualified to teach elementary grades in New Jersey public schools. Another is a five-year combined BA in Anthropology and MS in Sustainability Sciences, in which seniors take graduate swing courses at the undergraduate rate. A community development track is also on the menu. The applied 400-level Primate Behavior and Ecology course meets on campus and at the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange. Fieldwork, lab excavation and internships supply the hands-on work. Eight students completed the degree in 2023–24.

Tracks

Community development, K-6 teacher certification, or combined BA and MS in Sustainability Sciences

Applied Course

Primate Behavior and Ecology, held on campus and at Turtle Back Zoo

Hands-On Work

Fieldwork, lab excavation, applied research and internships

Program Sources: Anthropology BA | Montclair State UniversityAnthropology BA | Montclair State University

Newark’s anthropology major is 33 credits, with only nine of them prescribed: introduction to cultural anthropology, a choice between ethnographic research and writing or anthropological theory and methods, and a seminar whose topic changes every semester. That leaves 24 credits of electives, and with departmental approval two related courses from sociology or other departments can count. The learning goals include data collection by ethnography and participant observation along with ethnographic photography, film and virtual ethnography, plus regional knowledge of some world areas. Four students graduated with the degree in 2023–24,.

Required Courses

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, a methods or theory course, and a Seminar in Anthropology

Elective Flexibility

24 elective credits, with two related courses from other departments with approval

Seminar

A different seminar topic each semester

Program Sources: B.A. in Anthropology | Sociology & Anthropology, Rutgers University–NewarkB.A. in Anthropology | Sociology & Anthropology, Rutgers University–Newark

Drew requires 44 credits, and 20 of them are a fixed core: archaeology, human evolution, cultural diversity with linguistics, the history of anthropological theory, and human osteology with its lab. Hands-on bone work is part of everyone’s degree. The other 24 credits come from electives that must touch at least three subfields, with options such as bioarchaeology, primatology, nutritional anthropology, museum studies, the archaeology of the Middle East and an archaeological field study. The department encourages summer field programs, internships and semester-long programs in junior year, and its archaeology minor runs a summer field school in Ecuador. Five students graduated in 2023–24.

Core Courses

Archaeology, human evolution, cultural anthropology and linguistics, theory history, and human osteology

Elective Breadth

24 credits spanning at least three of the subfields, including one 300-level course

Field Opportunities

Summer field programs, internships and an archaeology field school in Ecuador

Program Sources: ANTH - Anthropology Major | Drew University Undergraduate CatalogANTH - Anthropology Major | Drew University Undergraduate Catalog

Graduate work at Rutgers–New Brunswick runs through two tracks, Critical Interventions in Theory and Ethnography and Human Evolutionary Sciences. Most students enter the Ph.D. directly and pick up an M.A. along the way, while those arriving with a master’s may apply to transfer up to 24 graduate credits. Milestones include two field statements covering depth and breadth in defined areas, a second-year colloquium, a dissertation proposal, and a public defense read by a committee that includes someone from outside the program. Teaching preparation is built in, with Teaching Assistant Project involvement and Introduction to College Teaching I and II. Four doctorates were awarded in 2023–24.

Research Tracks

Critical Interventions in Theory and Ethnography, or Human Evolutionary Sciences

Doctoral Milestones

Two field statements, dissertation proposal, public dissertation defense

Teaching Preparation

Teaching Assistant Project and Introduction to College Teaching I and II

Program Sources: Learning Goals and Assessment | Rutgers Graduate Program in AnthropologyLearning Goals and Assessment | Rutgers Graduate Program in Anthropology

The first two years are on campus. A two-semester Proseminar opens year one, you take two departmentals each semester for eight in all, and a Co-seminar runs alongside, with a Field Research Practicum on the ethics and practice of fieldwork. After that you sit the General Examination. Third-year students write grant applications in the fall using the required Grant-Writing Practicum, then present a fieldwork proposal for departmental approval. Expect to qualify in a language tied to your fieldsite and to serve as a teaching assistant in at least two appointments, usually in years two and three. Basic fellowship support runs five years. Two doctorates were awarded in 2023–24.

Residency Coursework

Proseminar, Co-seminar, Field Research Practicum and eight departmentals over four semesters

Doctoral Milestones

General Examination, Grant-Writing Practicum and an approved fieldwork proposal

Fieldwork Preparation

Language qualification tied to the fieldsite and at least two teaching assistantships

Program Sources: Graduate Course of Study | Princeton Department of AnthropologyGraduate Course of Study | Princeton Department of AnthropologyGraduate Course of Study | Princeton Department of Anthropology