The Graduate Program in Human Evolutionary Sciences (HES) has strengths in paleoanthropology: an integration of primatology, physical anthropology, and archaeology for the comprehensive study of human evolution. It also has a unique program in Evolution, Behavior, and Culture, a graduate concentration designed to provide students with an understanding of up-to-date theory and methods in the behavioral ecology of humans and nonhuman primates. Topical strengths in Evolutionary Anthropology include:

  • zooarchaeology
  • geoarchaeology
  • evolutionary genetics
  • evolutionary morphology and human osteology
  • nonhuman primate behavioral ecology
  • human behavioral ecology
  • hunter and gatherer studies
  • old world prehistory
  • historical archaeology
  • social organization and evolution

Rutgers Human Evolutionary Sciences applies a diversity of perspectives to research on human evolutionary history and the biological basis of human behavior. The evolutionary anthropologists in the department include archaeologists, geologists, human paleontologists, primatologists, behavioral ecologists and evolutionary biologists.

The program is guided by the principle that research and training in human evolutionary studies are most successful when conducted in a multidisciplinary mode. For this reason, the Evolutionary Anthropology program maintains strong links with other Rutgers programs such as Earth and Planetary Studies, and Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources.

Students may also supplement their training at Rutgers by taking courses offered through the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium at Princeton University, Columbia University, New York University and other institutions in the area.

HES Faculty