Anthropology of the Americas

Anthropological research of the Americas explores the cultural development of Latin America. Studies in this field focus primarily on the indigenous societies of South and Middle America as well as their global interconnectedness, both in history and today.

Social developments in the early days of complex societies, during the time of Spanish and Portuguese conquest and colonial rule as well as in times of independence are covered. This includes exploring current political and social processes. A particular focus lies on the indigenous population. This includes an interdisciplinary perspective, combining archaeological, historical and cultural-anthropological research approaches, as well as analyzing cultural developments in historical detail. Learning an Amerind language (Nahuatl, Yucatec Maya, K‘iche‘ Maya or Quechua) is another aspect of the degree program. In addition, students can choose an individual regional focus (South or Middle America). A Latin-America-related internship lasting several weeks offers students initial insights into possible lines of work.

This subject must be combined with a second subject.

Possible lines of work:

Museums, cultural/research management, media, publishing, international organizations, development cooperation, foundations, public authorities, public relations, private sector (e.g. tourism), adult education, academia (teaching/research at universities, research institutes, etc.)