About

Advance knowledge and understanding of human diversity and adaptation—past, present, and future—while seeking answers to the most vexing issues and problems affecting our species and our planet


Quick facts
  • Three- or four-year degree
  • Full- or part-time program
  • You can enter this program directly from high school
  • You can begin this program off-campus

Understanding What it Means to be Human – Celebrating Diversity

Located on Treaty 6 territory and the homeland of the Métis, the Department of Anthropology is a vibrant department of engaged students and scholars working to advance knowledge and understanding of human diversity and adaptation—past, present, and future—while seeking answers to the most vexing issues and problems affecting our species and our planet. Our mission is to conjoin extraordinary teaching and research to provide students with learning experiences that will contribute to their life-long intellectual and personal development.

What you will learn

Anthropology is the comprehensive study of human beings, past and present, in comparative, cross-cultural, and holistic light. Archaeology is a sub-discipline of Anthropology that focuses on the study of artifacts and other physical remains of past peoples in order to explore adaptation and cultural diversity over time. The Archaeology and Anthropology program at the University of Saskatchewan offers training that emphasizes the role of culture in past and present human behaviour and diversity, and that exposes students to human evolutionary, environmental, and social development and adaptation. The program demonstrates particular expertise in medical anthropology, environmental anthropology, applied (practicing) anthropology, anthropological archaeology, environmental archaeology, and bioarchaeology. We emphasize community-based and engaged learning, a commitment to reconciliation, and a broad disciplinary foundation in both anthropology and archaeology.

A first-year schedule sample

Degree programs in Arts and Science are flexible and offer you the opportunity to take courses in many different subject areas. Here’s what a typical first-year schedule might look like:

Course Description

Fall Term
ANTH 111a One World Many Peoples Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
HIST 115b History Matters Ideas and Culture
ECON 111c Introductory Microeconomics
BIOL 120d The Nature of Life
ENG 114d Literature and Composition Reading Culture

Winter Term
ARCH 112a The Human Journey Introduction to Archaeology and Biological Anthropology
WGST 112d Introduction to Womens and Gender Studies
POLS 112d Justice and Injustice in Politics and Law
GEOG 125d Environmental Science and Society
SOC 112d Foundations in Sociology Social Construction of Everyday Life

a Required course for the major
b One of the course options to complete the English Language Writing Requirement
c One of the course options to complete the Quantitative Reasoning Requirement
d One of the course options which may be used in the Breadth, Cognate, and/or Electives Requirements

The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program.

ANTH 240: Cultural Landscapes and Environments
This course examines the cultural construction of landscapes, as well as of built and social environments, through a series of topical readings focusing on historical, archaeological, literary, and ethnographic understandings: predominantly of western North American environments, as these places have been known by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.

ARCH 361: Archaeological Field Methods
Six weeks of field experience in archaeological research techniques including site survey, excavation, and laboratory analysis. The field location will depend on areas of departmental projects. Offered only in Spring and Summer Session.

ANTH 403: Anthropology of Healing
This course exposes students to critical anthropological perspectives on the concepts of healing, health, and well-being. Emphasis is placed on understanding the meaning of healing in cultural context, and on the cultural bases of psychosocial, medical, restorative, and transformational therapeutic processes.

  • EXPLORE contemporary and past life ways of people around the globe.
  • UNRAVEL the mysteries behind human cultural behaviour across time and place.
  • SEARCH for the answers to the complex problems facing humans in a rapidly changing, globalizing world.
  • LEARN how we are all different, and how we are all connected!
  • These OPPORTUNITIES and more are available to you when you choose to major in Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Saskatchewan.

Careers

  • Government sector, working for departments such as health, environment, and cultural resources, social services.
  • Non-government, social services, and business sectors, working for a range of private companies and organizations focused on, for example: 
    • research with Indigenous communities and agencies
    • social service delivery
    • social and cultural policy and program development and implementation
    • health and environmental issues
    • social and cultural impact assessment
    • counseling
    • urban planning
  • Communications
  • Education, as teachers, professors and researchers
  • Museum and archives curator

Tuition estimates

Canadian students International students
Tuition $7,257 $30,480
Student fees $1,089 $1,089
Books $1,500 $1,500
Total $9,846 $33,069

Tuition will vary depending on the type and number of classes you take in a year. This estimate reflects a typical amount you could expect to pay in your first year if you enroll in a full course load, the maximum number of courses allowed (2023-2024 Canadian dollar rates).
Student fees are used to fund specific student benefits, including health, vision and dental coverage, a bus pass, recreational programs and fitness centre access.
The cost of books and supplies varies widely depending on the courses you choose. It is recommended that you budget between $1,500-$2,500 per year.

Program options

These Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Archaeology and Anthropology degrees are offered by the University of Saskatchewan's College of Arts and Science:

To decide which option is the right fit, you should consult with an academic advisor in the college when you begin your studies.

Admission requirements and deadlines

Deadlines

Start term Application DeadlineInternational Deadline
Winter
January 2024
Dec 1, 2023
Documents due: Dec 15, 2023
Sep 1, 2023
Documents due: Oct 1, 2023
Spring
May 2024
Apr 1, 2024
Documents due: May 1, 2024
Feb 1, 2024
Documents due: Mar 1, 2024
Summer
July 2024
May 1, 2024
Documents due: Jun 1, 2024
Mar 1, 2024
Documents due: Apr 1, 2024
Fall
September 2024
Aug 15, 2024
Documents due: Aug 15, 2024
May 1, 2024
Documents due: Jun 1, 2024
Winter
January 2025
Dec 1, 2024
Documents due: Dec 15, 2024
Sep 1, 2024
Documents due: Oct 1, 2024

Ready to apply?

A non-refundable application fee of $90 CAD is required before your application will be processed.

Explore related programs

If you are looking for graduate level (Master or Ph.D.) programs please consult our graduate students' website.

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