Why join us?
One of the most important decisions you make in your career is where you train
for it.
Solving the planet’s most pressing challenges through innovation
We offer an array of degrees, but all of them share a belief in three basic principles that build great careers.
- First, we believe skills are crucial. Our graduates know how to do things, and have the resumes to prove it. We take our students into the field with us, we teach lots of methods, we run a wildly successful research apprenticeship program across our 40 labs, we publish with our students and we model collaboration and mentorship in everything we do. Grad students get the chance to learn to teach in multiple modalities, and undergrads can work with our graduate students and faculty as assistants on their projects and in their classes.
- Second, the scale is a major asset. Being big isn’t a bad thing. By being large and in the largest research university, a vast array of classroom and experiential options are available to everyone when they need them. Scale helps students find a wide array of collaborators, training and experiences that enrich their resumes.
- Third, we collaborate with each other as part of our basic DNA. This extends to faculty working with grad and undergrad students in all aspects of our scholarship, and everyone working across disciplines to get at the most interesting questions. You can read more about some of our major collaborative projects that link faculty, graduate students and undergrads here.
For undergraduates, we offer a huge array of courses, almost all of which are taught directly by our world-leading faculty. Our faculty also teach award-winning online versions of our most popular classes, providing working students with scheduling flexibility as needed.
All our undergraduates have the chance to work directly in labs with – and travel into the field with – our faculty. They also have access to the thousands of classes in other schools, and enough electives in our degrees to be able to take advantage of them.
Our award-winning advisors help students craft their own pathway to the career they want. Our bachelor degree graduates are extremely successful is getting into grad school or medical school, many with full scholarships.
For graduate students, we are committed to supporting and mentoring everyone individually. Each program of study is created with the student to allow unique training programs. Each faculty mentors only a few graduate students so they can do so intensively.
We are one of the largest and most diverse anthropology programs in the country, and we have smaller boutique programs, too, that enrich everyone, as students can take classes with and work with faculty in any part of the school, and beyond, easily.
Historically we have funded almost all our graduate students through research assistantships and teaching assistantships, both great CV builders. We also have graduate student governance of the school, meaning our students play a role in shaping our decisions and how we operate.
We have extremely high retention rates, with most of the students who start with us going on to finish their degrees. Most have published with at least one faculty.
Half of all our PhD graduates go on to traditional academic appointments, while the rest are driven to take their skills into a wider world to make a difference, such as working for government agencies and international corporations.
Hands-On Opportunities
Our students train not only in the classroom but also in a variety of unique field and lab settings, like the ASU Teotihuacan Research Laboratory, located outside the ruins of the ancient Mesoamerican metropolis.
Collections
Take your research to the next level with the school's extensive ethnographic, archaeological and paleoanthropological holdings.
Get an insider's look at some of the unique Southwestern specimens housed in the Center for Archaeology and Society's Repository, courtesy of ASU Now.
Our Societal Impact
Whether working with midwives in Guatemala to improve maternal and infant health or providing local policymakers with research results on human vulnerability to urban heat, our projects and programs make a difference. We encourage – and equip – our faculty and students to find ways to benefit our community, locally, nationally and globally.
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Our Alumni
Learn from and Work with the Best
World-Class Faculty
Problem-Driven Research
Community Engagement
Student Research
Clubs & Organizations
"To say that I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with SHESC would be an understatement. I could not have asked for better preparation, more opportunities, or more fulfilling experiences. My exposure to collaborative and transdisciplinary research has really shaped the way I approach my work."
“ASU was my first choice for graduate school because of the outstanding bioarchaeology faculty and research facilities. I feel very fortunate to be a part of the SHESC community and am grateful for the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with the amazing faculty and graduate students in the department.”
"The most rewarding elements of my college career have been the opportunities I experienced and the people I was lucky enough to connect with."
"I’ve been lucky to take so many interesting courses over the years and to be surrounded by so many intelligent and supportive people. The best part for me, though, has been collaborating on projects with my labmates and my advisor, Dr. Chris Stojanowski."
"My time at SHESC was an enlightening experience that has opened many doors in my academic and professional future."
"Pursuing a doctorate in SHESC has provided me with an array of interesting questions, and a wide range of resources to help me answer them."
"Being at SHESC has given me the opportunity to work with and learn from a world-class faculty and outstanding fellow graduate students, learn a wide variety of analytical techniques and collaborate on a range of international interdisciplinary projects."
"SHESC has been nothing short of wonderful since the day I enrolled. The guidance I've received opened my eyes to a field school experience in Italy and a chance to present at the upcoming SAA conference. I feel all the opportunities being offered to me are truly setting me up for a successful future."
"My time as a graduate student at SHESC has been formative. I have had the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with some of the top researchers in my field, which has fostered my growth as a scientist. Being a graduate student at SHESC has also helped me develop a passion for teaching. I hope to continue pursuing both research and teaching in the next stage of my career."
