Courses in Anthropology and Geography at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln date to the earliest years of the University. Separate Departments of Anthropology and Geography were maintained until 2001 when a merger created the Department of Anthropology and Geography (the name decided with a coin flip). Initially viewed as an administrative and cost-saving effort, the merger has provided the basis for new interdisciplinary initiatives while still accommodating the distinctive natures and traditions of both fields.

The Department still maintains separate degree programs. We offer the B.A., B.S. and M.A. in Anthropology, while Geography has B.A., B.S., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. Even though degree programs remain separate, Anthropology faculty members are members of the Geography Graduate Program and often serve on Geography student advisory committees. Geography faculty likewise often serve on Anthropology student committees. Additionally, it is not unusual for students who have received M.A. degrees in Anthropology to continue their educations as Ph.D. students in Geography. We welcome applicants who wish to study either Anthropology or Geography, as well as those whose interests overlap both fields. We now offer a new doctoral level specialization in Indigenous Peoples.

The Department fosters strong existing linkages with other UNL and governmental activities. The Nebraska State Museum, the Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies (CALMIT) for research in geospatial technologies, and the Midwest Archaeological Center (MWAC) of the National Park Service, are institutions having long-standing scholarly and employment relationships with Anthropology and Geography.