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ANTHROPOLOGY

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A student with a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology has acquired critical analysis skills, oral and written communication skills, "people" skills, and a great understanding of many different cultures, which have many applications in public service, political activism and the private (business) sector. An emphasis in Socio-cultural Anthropology could prepare one for work in development, community organizing, policy analysis, and social research. Linguistic Anthropologists may work in the areas of inter-cultural communication, language revitalization, and literacy programs. An emphasis in Archaeology yields prospects for entry-level employment or degree-related careers with one of many Federal and State agencies and private cultural resource management firms. Biological and Medical Anthropologists have the skills which are useful in the growing sector of health related occupations and traditional research. 

Anthropology graduates are regarded as having excellent preparation for professional training in Law, Medicine, Public Health, School Administration, and Urban Planning. Some of the employment areas for Anthropology majors include: 

• Teaching in Universities and Colleges: In anthropology departments, medical schools, international studies programs.

• Museums: Exhibit design, conservation of and research with collections, museum administration. 

• Federal Agencies: Many archaeologists and cultural anthropologists work for the National Park Service, the Agency for International Development, the National Institutes of Health, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other agencies. Some are also employed as staff members for Congressional committees. 

• International Agencies: Anthropologists with expertise in cultures of developing countries are employed by the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the World Bank. 

• Consulting: Includes historical and ethnographic research for Indian tribes; forensic work for police agencies; archaeological survey and excavation, social/cultural impact assessment for large-scale construction projects; designing bilingual and bicultural curricula with school professionals; assessing health care services for specific cultural groups. (American Anthropological Association)

Anthropologists are increasingly being employed in non-academic (applied) settings as well as in academia. Students obtaining employment immediately upon graduation are usually those with the best college records and a willingness to relocate to find a job. Use the following examples of employment opportunities for Anthropology majors as an idea list, and remember that it represents some, but certainly not all, of the careers you might consider. Some of these jobs also require education beyond the bachelors’ degree.  

Related Career Titles for Anthropology Majors

Health and Human Services

Advocate	Health Science  Administrator	Physician	Social Worker
Family Service  Counselor	Job Counselor	Public Health  Educator	Transplant Registry  Database Manager
Genetic Counselor	Medical Anthropologist	Social Service Agency  Planner

Research/Education

Academic Advisor/ Counselor	Collections Manager	Foundation Program  Manager	Museum Curator/Technician
Anthropologist	College Professor	Genealogist	Museum Education Director
Archaeologist	Computer Simulation  Model Designer	Librarian	Paleontologist
Archivist	Contract Archaeologist	Linguist	Scientific Linguist
Art Conservator	Ethnologist	Marketing Researcher	Social Science Analyst
Behavioral Science Advisor	Field Archaeologist	Media Planner	Teacher, Elementary/Secondary
Bilingual/Bicultural  Program Specialist	Forensic Anthropologist	Multicultural Education Specialist/Director	Teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL)
Vocational Teacher

Government/Public Service

Bureau of Indian  Affairs Researcher	Cultural Artifact Specialist	Immigration Inspector	Peace Corps Volunteer
Community Development  Officer	Cultural Resource Manager	International Agency  Representative	Probation Officer
Community Planner	Foreign Affairs Officer	National/State Park  Interpreter	Rural Development Officer
Congressional Committee  Staff Director	Friend of the Court  Caseworker	Park Service  Supervisor/Director	Social Insurance Representative
Coroner/Medical  Examiner	Head Start Program  Director	Peace Corps Area  Director	State/Federal Government Policy Analyst
Urban Planner

Business

Actuary	Environmental Impact  Assessment Researcher	Loan Officer/Bank Officer	Staff Training Specialist
Advertiser	Human Resources Manager	Management Consultant	Technical Writer
Biographer	Industrial Psychologist	Management Consultant	Tour Guide
Corporate Communications  Consultant	Insurance Claims  Adjuster	Marketing Manager	Travel Agent/Guide
Employee Relations  Specialist	International Visitor  Escort/Consultant	Media Specialist	Travel Consultant
Employment Recruiter	Journalist	Personnel Management  Specialist	Union Legal Counsel

Anthropology Websites

Hunter College Department of Anthropology - Selected WWW Links

Forensic Anthropology - Dr. A.M. Baptista, UNC Wilmington

Frequently Asked Questions About a Career in Archaeology in the US - Texas A&M

ArchNet WWW Archaeology

World Email Address of Anthropologists

Sociology and Anthropology Department at DePauw University