Department of Anthropology

2026 Anthropology Awards and Hooding Ceremony

• May 9th, 2026

Find out more information on the Announcement & Events page!

Congratulations Dr. Rougier!

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Rougier on her recent publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) as featured in CSUN's Newsroom.

The study integrates paleogenetic and archaeological data to reconstruct Neandertal population dynamics over the last 130,000 years of their existence. It shows that Neandertals underwent a major population turnover, leaving them with very low genetic diversity before their extinction around 40,000 years ago. The research suggests that a small group survived harsh Ice Age conditions in southwestern France about 75,000 years ago and later repopulated Europe, making most Late Neandertals genetically similar. The study also shows a rapid population decline between 45,000 and 42,000 years ago, indicating that low diversity and isolation may have contributed to their eventual extinction.

The article is available in open access:

Congratulations Dr. Rougier. Thank you for helping us to understand the history of human evolution!

AY 2026-2027 Part-Time Faculty Hiring:

• March 23, 2026 - application deadline

For more information, please visit our Employment Opportunities page.

AnthroExpo 2026

• Tuesday, February 17th, 2026
• 9am to 5pm
• Ferman Presentation Room, University Library

Find out more information on the Announcement & Events page!

Congratulations Dr. Liu!

We are excited to announce Dr. Chin-hsin Liu’s new publication in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology on ethics surrounding human remains from Southeast Asian perspectives! It highlights the voices of bioarchaeologists and forensic anthropologists who are from or have heritage in areas traditionally viewed as the ‘study sites”. It considers the different ways the scientists navigate public concerns around human remains, and strive to stay flexible, reflexive, and respectful in our professions. Their semi-autoethnographic, qualitative research highlights the great diversity in cultures, ideologies, and practices across Southeast Asia. This paper signifies the Southeast Asian scholars’ formal entry to the discourse of the skeletal ethical issues currently led by western scholars.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Liu on her latest publication. 

Department Graduate Program Application Deadlines:

• March 1, 2026 - department application deadline

For more information about the department’s graduate program, please visit our CSUN Graduate Programs in Anthropology and Archaeology page.

B.A. Anthropology

Apply to B.A. in Anthropology

Minor in Anthropology

To add the Minor, please contact the Undergraduate Advisor.

Minor in Applied Anthropology

To add the Minor, please contact the Undergraduate Advisor.

M.A. Anthropology

Apply to M.A. in Anthropology

M.A Public Archaeology

Apply to M.A. in Public Archaeology

Foundations of Anthropological and Archaeological Knowledge Certificates

Apply to the Certificate Programs