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Our undergraduate programs

Mankind, from yesterday to today

Fascinated by human behavior, the diversity of cultures and languages, the birth origin of societies, and the mysteries of human origins?

Are you passionate about prehistory, and want to understand the evolution of the human species?

Studying Anthropology means plunging into this vast universe. It means stepping into the footsteps of the human adventure, step by step, with a unique perspective on human societies, past and present.

A program rooted in the 21st century

Thanks to concrete, practical approaches, including workshops, laboratory sessions, fieldwork internships and the opportunity to carry out individual ethnographic research, the Anthropology program at Université de Montréal reveals a society, an era, a region of the world or the entire planet.

Whether it is through interculturalism, multiculturalism, ethnicity, development, humanitarianism or globalization, students will address issues specific to the human being in relation to the different social and cultural systems that shaped them and in which they evolve.

Studying Anthropology is a way to acquire a multifaceted education that truly reflects 21st century concerns and challenges.

« The Bachelor’s program highlights the four sub-disciplines of Anthropology and attracted me with its interdisciplinary curriculum, allowing me to explore my interests more extensively. »

– Agathe Cadieux, B.A. graduate and Master’s student in Anthropology

Our programs

Our bidisciplinary programs

A world of possibilities

To study Anthropology is to examine the human in all its facets.

  • Human biology and evolution, including studies of our primate ancestors
  • The emergence of traits characterizing the biological and cultural dimensions of humanity (paleontology, archaeology and ethnology)
  • Linguistic diversity and the role of language in producing and expressing culture (ethnolinguistics)
  • Issues concerning health, well-being, psychic equilibrium and how these dimensions are linked to political and social conditions
  • Various symbolic expressions of culture (texts, images, sounds, movement)
  • Individual and group behavior to determine the complexity and contradictory relationship between the act and the imaginary

A versatile training in 4 stages

Studying in Anthropology enables you to explore the 4 specializations of this fascinating discipline, which helps you to better understand specific aspects of the human being.

  • Archaeology observes our species, from its origins to the present day. It reconstructs ways of life based on material data from archaeological digs, and involves learning excavation techniques, recording artifacts and laboratory analysis.
  • Bio-anthropology focuses on the origins and evolution of the human species, using primatology, paleontology and genetics. It studies biological variability between individuals from the same or different populations, and the complex relationship between nature and culture.
  • Ethnology considers human societies from the point of view of their structural and imagined organization (ecology, politics, law, economics, religion, kinship, health, technology) and their lived expression (migrations and exiles, cultural productions, globalization). It involves learning methods of inquiry with individuals, ethno-cinematography and auto-ethnography.
  • Ethnolinguistics examines the diversity of linguistics practices in communities (multilingualism, registers, styles). It focuses on the particularities of languages, human communication and linguistic communities.

The Department also offers a wide choice of optional courses for a complete education or to begin a specialization in one of these 4 sub-disciplines.

See the ”What is Anthropology?” section for more information on the 4 sub-disciplines of Anthropology.

An ideal learning environment

  • The only training program in Bioanthropology in Quebec.
  • An internship in prehistoric archaeology (in French) in Iroquoian villages in the Saint-Anicet region.
  • Excavation internships elsewhere in Quebec, Guatemala, Italy and beyond.
  • A collection of ethnographic objects (in French) numbering close to 4,000 pieces, dating from the early 20th century to the present day.
  • A dynamic community life (in French).
  • Interdisciplinary training in human behavior, integrating the common evolutionary heritage of humanity and cultural adaptability.