Graduate Overview
Advance your study of people, culture and the human experience
Graduate study in anthropology at the University at Buffalo prepares you to examine human life across time, place and context. Whether your focus is archaeology, culture, biology, museums, law or health, you will design original research, work closely with faculty mentors and build skills that support academic, professional and applied careers.
Anthropology graduate students at UB join a collaborative, research-driven community within a flagship public university. Faculty mentorship is central to the experience, with students shaping projects that reflect their intellectual interests and long-term goals.
What you can expect:
- Individual mentorship with faculty who support your research and professional growth
- Access to laboratories, collections, field sites and community partnerships
- Opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across the social sciences, humanities and health sciences
- A learning environment where theory, method and real-world application reinforce each other
Faculty research areas include law and culture, medical anthropology, bioarchaeology, cultural heritage, primate behavior, human evolution and archaeology in Europe, Mesoamerica, North America and the Caribbean.
What sets UB’s graduate experience apart
Interdisciplinary research
Work across departments and centers to expand your methodological and theoretical toolkit.
Hands-on learning
Gain experience with artifacts, collections, ethnographic research, field studies and community engaged projects.
Professional preparation
Develop advanced analytical, writing and presentation skills that support careers both inside and outside academia.
Life in Buffalo
A city with energy, culture and room to grow
Buffalo offers the culture and opportunity of a major city without the cost or congestion. You get professional sports, a nationally recognized orchestra, a vibrant theater district and one of the country’s leading art museums, all in a city that is easy to navigate. Restaurants, coffee shops and local markets make it easy to settle in and feel at home.
Love the outdoors? Lake Erie, the Niagara River and nearby state parks offer hiking, skiing, skating, camping and beaches throughout the year. Winter is part of life here and so is the energy that comes with it.
Buffalo is affordable, connected and growing. Toronto is just 90 minutes away, and the region’s expanding economy means new ideas and opportunities are always within reach.
Photographer: Douglas Levere
UB Anthropology offers a range of graduate programs designed for different scholarly and professional goals.
Graduate students build deep expertise while developing transferable research skills. You will learn to:
- Design and conduct original anthropological research
- Apply theory to cultural, archaeological and biological evidence
- Work with artifacts, collections, ethnographic data and human biological materials
- Communicate research in academic, professional and public settings
Anthropology graduate training develops skills that translate across sectors. Alumni pursue careers in:
- University teaching and research
- Museums and cultural institutions
- Public health and healthcare organizations
- Government, consulting and policy
- Nonprofits and community-based organizations
- Research and analysis roles in the private sector
Recent graduates work as research analysts, museum professionals, art consultants, family advocates, nonprofit leaders, medical directors and land survey specialists.
UB’s graduate programs in anthropology combine rigorous scholarship, close mentorship and a supportive research community. If you are ready to deepen your expertise and shape work that matters, UB offers the resources and guidance to help you move forward.
We are here to help you explore the right graduate path.
