The Department of Anthropology is a medium sized department with an excellent faculty, diverse research interests, high national visibility, and a reputation for first-rate graduate and undergraduate programs. In addition to the quality of training offered by our faculty, we take pride in fostering an atmosphere of congeniality, which we believe greatly enhances students' experiences in our Department.

In October 2001, the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students survey of U.S. graduate programs rated UC Santa Barbara among its top five anthropology programs. Graduate study is offered in three areas of specialization: archaeology, biosocial anthropology, and sociocultural anthropology.

The Department averages about 85 graduate students enrolled at any one time. Since this program was initiated in 1965, 245 students have received the MA degree and 154 have earned a Ph.D.