Its many research specialists and instructors attempt to understand the unique nature of human biology and culture. Accordingly, the discipline is organized into four branches of research.
• Linguistic Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Biological Anthropology, and
• Sociocultural Anthropology
These branches, in turn, provide college and university-level instructors with a series of core subjects for
their students. Christians with backgrounds in anthropological research methods have provided church communities and missionaries with Biblical translations, and have been instrumental in finding cultural pathways to reach others with the love of Christ. The curriculum presented to Wisconsin Lutheran College students follows the guidelines established by the American Anthropological Association (AAA). Lecture topics, laboratory exercises, and student research are structured in such a way as to conform to the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of AAA (1983) and the guidelines established by the constitution of the World Council of Anthropological Associations (WCAA, 2010), the Register of Professional Archaeology (RPA), and the Wisconsin Archaeological Survey (WAS). Additionally, all research conducted as part of the study of anthropology at WLC follows the procedural guidelines of the National Science Board (NSB). The department of anthropology also follows the mission and vision of Wisconsin Lutheran College and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). Biological Anthropology
Biological anthropology is one of four research branches within the discipline of anthropology. By its nature, it provides students with a wide range of career options. Today, graduates of this field acquire work as laboratory assistants in offices of county coroners and they study human physiology and demography as it is applied to fields such as nursing, medical social work, nutrition and public health. Additionally, students holding degrees in biological anthropology work in contract field archaeology and often have the opportunity to work for Federal and State branches of the Parks Department. Students who choose to pursue graduate degrees in biological anthropology, often combine their undergraduate, academic experiences with research in forensics, criminology, primatology, and cultural resource management. The career paths that often follow from these added specializations and research partnerships allow students to acquire further certification with law enforcement programs and environmental protection agencies. Biological Anthropology Major
Since 2010, Wisconsin Lutheran College has offered of a major in biological anthropology. The Department of Anthropology recognizes that as biological anthropologists, primatologists, bioarchaeologists, and forensic anthropologists are required to possess knowledge associated with the biological sciences, including vertebrate zoology, botany, anatomy and physiology, immunology, and pathophysiology. The coursework associated with this major is designed in such as way, as to allow students to follow their career or graduate school research interests, while gathering a basic understanding of human biology and culture. Subsequently, the major is organized into three research tracks.
• Applied Anthropology
Applied anthropologists pair the basic frame of reference assigned to American Anthropology with current topics. Whether it is the study and conservation of non-human primates or pioneering new approaches toward local sustainability in rural China, students assigned to this applied track of the major attempt to devise a practical application for their knowledge with the hopes of organizing their experiences into a future career.
• Bioarchaeology
Students interested in bioarchaeology study the physiological and anatomical qualities of the adaptive success story of genus Homo. Course offerings and undergraduate research projects are organized around the notion of survival and reproductive success. Often, the methodological principles of paleodemography and archaeology are applied to mortuary communities across a variety of timelines.
• Forensic Anthropology
Forensic science is an important part of biological anthropology. Many of the concepts and techniques utilized by criminologists, forensic psychologists, and coroners have been drawn from the research of American Archaeologists and Anthropologists. Students interested in pursuing a graduate career in forensic science are challenged to apply current research in archaeology and biological anthropology with laboratory techniques designed around the work of toxicologists, forensic technicians, dissection specialists, and crime scene investigators.
