After the commencement of the teaching of Anthropology and Sociology in Bachelor Level in 1985, the Department of Sociology/Anthropology was established in 1989 as a wing department of the Department of Political Science in the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences. In 2002, the department separated and evolved as an independent department with the introduction of Master’s programme in Sociology/Anthropology. In fact, it is the first department to introduce the Master’s Degree in Sociology/Anthropology outside the Kathmandu valley. In 2004, the department was further extended as a responsible institution to introduce Rural development in the Bachelor of Arts (BA) programme. Then the department started to serve as a home to the students and scholars of the various disciplines of social sciences such as sociology, anthropology and rural development for about fifteen years. The Department of Anthropology was formally established in 2017 after its separation from Sociology. Now, the department runs the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Anthropology, which is a 4-year programme and the Master of Arts (MA) in Anthropology, which is a 2-year (4-semester) programme.

The department is one of the popular departments among 34 departments in the campus. At present, more than 200 students opt for Anthropology courses at the Bachelor’s and Master’s Level programmes. Right from its establishment, the Department has been endeavoring to fulfill the growing societal need for professional anthropologists capable of dealing with socio-cultural issues as they are engaged in a variety of institutional, local development and policy making contexts. It not only emphasizes theoretical knowledge, but also applies skills on research and policy analysis. Themes of the research areas of the department include social and cultural history of Nepali society, ethnographic studies of the various caste/ethnic groups and other contemporary socio-cultural issues of Nepali society.

Seminar, Workshop & Training
From the very beginning, the department has conducted various workshops, seminars and trainings that were participated by national and international professionals and senior professors from the Central Department of Anthropology, Kirtipur. The major events organized by this department after its independent establishment in 2017. 

• National Seminar on Anthropology of Nepal: Issues, Trends and Discources. Feb 16-17, 2018, Hotel Stay Pokhara, Damside Pokhara, Nepal
• Research Training on Ethnographic Research: Recent Trends and Practices. Baishakh 29-31, 2080 BS, Seminar Hall, Prithvi Narayan Campus, Pokhara
• National Seminar on Climate Change, Disasters and Resilience in Nepal, June 7-8, 2024, George John Seminar Hall, Prithvi Narayan Campus, Pokhara

Faculty Members 

Contact
Arjun Prasad Pokharel
Head
Department of Anthropology
Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Prithvi Narayan Campus (Tribhuvan University)
Bhimkali Patan, Bagar
Pokhara, Nepal
Contact: 9856029933
Email: arjun.pokharel@prnc.tu.edu.np