Engaged. Critical. Transformative.
Anthropology is the study of human experience and social change. It explores how people live, relate, struggle, imagine and make sense of their life worlds—across diverse settings and scales, and in the context of complex historical, cultural, political and material forces. Through relational and situated methods like ethnography and collaborative fieldwork, anthropologists examine everyday life with an eye to the broader structures that shape it. In doing so, they ask some of the most urgent and foundational questions of our time: How do people resist inequality? What forms of care and solidarity sustain communities? What might alternative futures look like?
The Department of Anthropology at York University is recognized as one of the top four socio-cultural anthropology programs in Canada. Our faculty—internationally known for their innovative, community-engaged and multimodal research—bring this work directly into the classroom, guiding students through contemporary debates and toward meaningful academic and professional pathways.
We offer undergraduate and graduate degrees that provide a strong foundation in critical thought, interdisciplinary analysis and qualitative research. Our courses examine vital topics such as race and racism, health and the body, media and technology, archaeology and cultural heritage, politics, religion, migration and environmental justice.
What sets us apart:
- Rigorous training in qualitative and ethnographic methods that prepare students to analyze complex social realities
- Specialized certificate programs in Advocacy and Public Engagement, and Culture, Medicine and Health, supporting focused, applied learning
- A placement course that connects students to professional opportunities in law, education, health, public policy, research, advocacy and more
- A commitment to developing critical, creative and collaborative thinkers equipped for a wide range of careers and engaged public life
In an era of global transformation, anthropological thinking—curious, grounded, and attuned to human complexity—has never been more necessary.
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- Support the Student Awards in Anthropology
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QS University Rankings
In the 2025 Quacquerelli Symonds (QS) University Rankings by Subject report, Anthropology tied for #4 in Canada.
Read our Land Acknowledgement, which recognizes the unique and enduring relationship of Indigenous people and their traditional territory.
