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Studies & Degrees in Biological Anthropology

Biological anthropology, also called physical anthropology, studies humans as a biological species: how they evolved, how and why human bodies vary, and how humans relate to the other primates. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics describes biological and physical anthropologists as studying evolution and the changing nature of humans and primates. It is one of the main branches of anthropology, next to cultural anthropology, archaeology and linguistic anthropology.

Drew University lists what the field covers: human evolution, evolutionary genetics, the behavioural ecology of primates (humans included), forensic anthropology, which uses skeletal material in legal, disaster and human rights investigations, bioarchaeology, which analyses human remains from archaeological sites, and other aspects of human biology and disease. Students work with bones, fossils and casts, genetic data and observations of living primates, so laboratory and field methods are a large part of the training.

Qualifications and levels

Biological anthropology is usually studied inside an anthropology degree, as a named track, concentration or option, and then as a specialisation at master's or doctoral level.

  • Bachelor's degrees with a science profile. The University of California San Diego offers Biological Anthropology as both a B.A. and a B.S. The B.S. consists of twenty-two courses (eighty-eight units): 10 lower-division courses, including general biology, general chemistry and mathematics or statistics, and 12 upper-division courses. Students choose a methods course from a list that includes genetic anthropology lab techniques, the human skeleton and human anatomy. The department describes the B.S. as suited to students interested in graduate school, health careers and careers in science.
  • Options within an anthropology degree. At Penn State, the Bachelor of Science in Anthropological Science requires a minimum of 120 credits and has a Biological Anthropology option of 33 credits. According to the university, the option prepares students for graduate study, for training in the medical professions and for careers associated with biological anthropology.
  • Liberal arts degrees. At Drew University, biological anthropology is one of four sub-disciplines of the anthropology major, together with cultural anthropology, archaeology and linguistics, and students gain fieldwork and laboratory experience in them.
  • Master's degrees and PhD. Professional work as an anthropologist usually requires postgraduate study. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that master's programmes usually take 2 years and that some positions require a PhD. UC San Diego, for example, has a graduate programme leading to the doctoral degree.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 4 active schools for biological anthropology: three in the United States and one in the United Kingdom. They are The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), the University of California San Diego and Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, and the University of Kent in Canterbury. All four teach in English.

The research interests of a department matter in this subject, because they decide which laboratories, collections and field sites students can use. The biological anthropology research group at the University of Kent, for example, names osteology and the functional morphology of human and non-human primates, the fossil record of human evolution, and primate behaviour and ecology as its strengths, and also uses stable isotope analysis to reconstruct diet, disease and behaviour in past populations. Before applying, check which degree programmes a university currently offers and which of these areas its staff work in.

Careers

Graduates work in university and museum research, forensic and skeletal analysis, heritage and archaeological services, primate conservation, and public health and biomedical research. Many use the degree as a route into medicine and other health professions, as the UC San Diego and Penn State programme descriptions point out.

For the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that anthropologists and archeologists typically need at least a master's degree, and that some begin with a bachelor's degree and related experience as field or laboratory technicians or research assistants. It counted about 10,200 jobs for anthropologists and archeologists in 2025, across all branches of the discipline. The largest employers were consulting services (28 percent), research and development in the social sciences and humanities (23 percent) and the federal government (19 percent). Employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 800 openings a year. It is a small profession, so most graduates should plan for postgraduate study or for work in a related field.

Frequently asked questions

Is biological anthropology the same as physical anthropology?

Yes. Both names are used for the same field. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, for example, refers to biological and physical anthropologists together.

Do I need a science background?

For science-based degrees, yes. The B.S. in Biological Anthropology at UC San Diego includes courses in general biology, general chemistry and mathematics or statistics. A B.A. or a liberal arts major asks for less science.

Is forensic anthropology part of biological anthropology?

Yes. Drew University describes forensic anthropology as the use of skeletal material to aid legal, disaster and human rights investigations, and lists it within biological anthropology.

Can I work as an anthropologist with a bachelor's degree?

Only in some roles. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, anthropologists typically need at least a master's degree, although some start as field or laboratory technicians or research assistants with a bachelor's degree.