Anthropology courses are designed to provide an understanding of human beings and human society with respect to both biology and culture. Students are exposed to a broad historical and comparative framework within which to view the variety of human cultures. Coursework deals with concepts, techniques, and substantive knowledge of the various branches of the field, e.g., physical anthropology, social and cultural anthropology, ethnology, archaeology, linguistics and applied anthropology.

A liberal arts education and study in a particular major will lead to the acquisition of a group of skills which enable one to solve problems, communicate effectively, and perform complicated tasks. These skills are essential in any career. The following is a list of important and commonly agreed upon career skills identified by UMM Anthropology faculty as a part of the project to Improve Public Understanding of Liberal Learning (IMPULL). The skills are those which all or most students studying Anthropology are likely to acquire through classroom instruction, co-curricular or extra-curricular activities.