Dr. J. Johnson
Applied anthropology is the application of anthropological knowledge, theory, and methods to the solution of practical problems or “putting anthropology to use”. The overall objective of this course is to give students an introductory understanding of the elements of applied anthropological work and the work of actual applied anthropologists in universities, government, and industry, both in the profit and non-profit sectors. A series of applied anthropological examples will be explored focusing on the lives of applied anthropologists who were instrumental in solving global problems concerning human health, international development, the development and marketing of new products, consumer behavior, corporate culture, natural resource conservation and management, and human adaptations to climate change. In addition, examples will include “practicing anthropologists” who work outside universities in government and industry putting anthropological knowledge to work.