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The Anthropology Program at Johnson County Community College is the perfect way to combine the disciplines of history and the human experience.

New for Spring 2024: Food and Society
spices in bags

Unleash your appetite for understanding!

Explore powerful relationships and connections through our most basic human need: food. Discover the vast ways food shapes and expresses relationships based on its production and consumption.

While a full stomach is easily taken for granted by those who have plenty, the causes of hunger remain easily dismissed or misunderstood. Join us as we address these misunderstandings while diving into issues of culture, meaning, identity, power and ecology, all through a focus on food.

Enroll today! Choose from 3 credits in Anthropology (ANTH 220OR Sociology (SOC 220). Class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Questions? Contact Dr. Kerri Lesh at klesh@jccc.edu.

What will I learn in JCCC's Anthropology Program?

When you enroll in the Anthropology Program at JCCC, you will find out what makes each of us human through contemporary cultures and the evolution of our biological makeup. Our credentialed professors will work alongside you as you explore the latest developments in the five subfields of anthropology, which include:

  • Cultural anthropology
  • Biological anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Linguistics
  • Medical anthropology

If you’d like to move beyond our introductory courses and continue your studies of human diversity, gender studies, qualitative and quantitative research, or health and human service improvement, consider earning a bachelor's degree or minoring in anthropology through our growing list of partner universities and colleges. Make an appointment with a JCCC academic counselor specializing in social sciences to explore your transfer options

Anthropology at JCCC involves hands-on learning

Our faculty are engaged in ongoing research – you’ll learn about topics they are investigating and more as you:

  • Get On-Site Fieldwork Experience: This is a rare and valuable experience for undergrads.
  • Enjoy Small Class Sizes: Start a discussion about your interests and find out what others think.
  • Examine Our Extensive Artifact Collection: Learn about the past and grasp the scope of diversity.
  • Experience the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art’s Renowned Modern American Indian Art Collection – JCCC hosts the area’s most extensive collection that is used for classroom learning.
  • Collect data using archeological methods – uncover and understand the prehistory of the Kansas City area while working at a dig site near Longview Lake.
  • Consider applying for an Honors Program contract – you’ll get a deeper learning experience that will enhance your transfer application and résumé.

Why JCCC for Anthropology courses?

The Anthropology courses you take at JCCC cover the same material at the same level of rigor as at four-year schools. Meet your general education requirements or build a strong foundation in anthropological principles before moving on to your specialized field of study. You’ll get seamless transfer credits from two courses (ANTH 125 and ANTH 165) at Kansas Board of Regents schools.

JCCC also works with area colleges to develop transfer program guides. Make an appointment with an academic counselor who specializes in this area to develop your enrollment plan.
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Anthropologists are valued in any industry that is related to human society—governments, nonprofits, corporations, and businesses from retail to technology. Anthropologists also work in disaster areas, such as ground zero in New York City and the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Four main career paths for anthropologists may include:

  • Academic: Teaching, researching, and writing books in medicine, public health, ethnic studies, linguistics, ecology, and more.
  • Corporate and Business: Conducting market research and focus groups and studying consumer patterns.
  • Government: Planning, researching, and managing government-funded projects in international development, natural resource management, and security sectors.

Nonprofit and Community-Based: Working in local, community-based settings like the YMCA, local schools, or environmental organizations.


Need help with career decisions? Visit the Career Development Center.

Students may find the cost of going to school to be incredibly expensive, leading to high levels of stress. Fortunately, JCCC is always working to make tuition more affordable for every student in order to increase student success rates.

At JCCC, we offer:

There may be additional fees associated with textbooks and other supplies. The prices of these items will vary depending on which Anthropology courses at JCCC you are enrolled in.

There are several things to consider when budgeting for college. Visit our Cost of Attendance page for detailed information.

Resources and Tools at JCCC

JCCC offers a myriad of resources and tools for our students. Not only do we have small class sizes, but we also take pride in our personalized tutoring services and one-on-one learning experiences.

Our Financial Aid Office is a perfect resource for all students looking to lower their out-of-pocket costs each semester. Talk to one of our counselors about student loan and/or scholarship options and opportunities.

The Career Development Center, along with our Academic Counseling services, are great starting points for any students who are unsure about their plans post-graduation.

If you’re thinking about transferring your credits from JCCC to another university, we try to make the process as easy as possible.