Earn a Ph.D. in Anthropology for university and college faculty positions or an M.A./M.S. for community college positions.
Earn a graduate degree in College Student Affairs, Library/Information Science or related field for work in student affairs, administration, or libraries.
Gain research experience by assisting professors or participating in independent studies.
Maintain a high g.p.a and develop strong personal recommendations.
Develop excellent communication and presentation skills.
Get involved in campus leadership positions such as Resident Assistant, Peer Advisor, or Admissions Tour Guide.
Area:
Museums and Archives
Sub-Area:
Management/Administration
Curatorship
Conservation
Restoration
Research
Education
Libraries
Development
Employers:
Natural history or history museums:
Universities
State, federal or local
Private
Archives
Historical Societies
Strategies & Information:
Plan to earn a graduate degree in anthropology, museum studies, library science (with an emphasis on archives) or other related discipline depending upon specific interests.
Gain relevant experience through internships or volunteering positions in museums.
Develop a strong attention to detail.
Be prepared to relocate to access the most employment opportunities.
Area:
Archeology
Sub-Area:
Cultural Resource Management
Research
Excavation
Field Work
Employers:
Consulting firms
Environmental/engineering companies
Firms specializing in archaeological investigation
Federal, state and local government
Urban and city planning offices
Historic preservation societies
Strategies & Information:
Field positions require a B.S./B.A. and previous field experience. Get involved with faculty research or other research programs.
Obtain a graduate degree to direct field crews.
May need a willingness to travel and endure adverse living/working conditions during field studies or excavations. Working conditions and hours vary with the type of work/research performed.
Area:
Government
Sub-Area:
Administration
Cultural Resource Management
Surveying
Site Management
Excavation
Research
Museum Conservation
Legislative Compliance Review
Program Management and Evaluation
Impact Assessment:
Social
Environmental
Policy Analysis
Urban Planning
Translation/Interpretation
Employers:
Federal agencies including:
Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Bureau of Land Management
Central Intelligence Agency
Departments of:
Conservation
Health and Human Services
Housing and Urban Development
Natural Resources
Federal Bureau of Investigation
National Institutes of Health
National Park Service
Public Health Service
Smithsonian Institute
Tennessee Valley Authority
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Forest Service
State agencies including:
Historic Preservation Offices
Parks Departments
Highway Departments
Strategies & Information:
Learn federal or state application procedures.
Graduate degree generally required for higher level positions.
Gain related experience through internships in areas of interest.
Develop statistical, analytical and computer skills and learn various research methodologies.
Get involved in campus organizations to develop leadership abilities and interpersonal skills.
Consider earning a minor or double major to qualify for particular areas of interest, e.g. learn a foreign language for translating/interpreting positions.
Area:
Nonprofit
Sub-Area:
Administration
Program Management and Development
Policy Analysis
Fund Raising/Development
Research
Grant Writing
Counseling
Employers:
Nonprofit organizations
Social service agencies
Hospitals and medical centers
Private foundations, e.g. The Ford Foundation
International organizations, e.g. The World Health Organization, The International Red Cross, and the United Nations
Strategies & Information:
Seek volunteer and internship positions to gain experience.
Hone skills in public speaking, writing, and programming.
Obtain a degree in counseling for therapy positions.
Learn to work well with people from varying back-grounds.
Area:
Business
Sub-Area:
Management
Sales/Marketing
Human Resources
Public Relations
Consulting
Employers:
Business corporations in various industries such as:
Banking
Retailing
Insurance
Financial services
Travel and Tourism
Cultural resource firms
International companies
Consulting firms:
Management
Scientific
Technical
Strategies & Information:
Many businesses hire students of "any major" if they have relevant experience and have developed the skills employers seek.
Minor in business or another relevant field.
Obtain related experience through internships, summer and part-time jobs.
Develop strong analytical and computer skills.
Learn to work well on a team.
Get involved in campus organizations and seek leadership roles.
Area:
Communications
Sub-Area:
Documentary Film Production
Photography/Photojournalism
Journalism
Writing/Editing
Publishing
Employers:
Colleges and universities
Government agencies
Government or private museums
Local historical societies or sites
Television and motion picture industry
Internet media companies
Independent production companies
Publishing houses
Newspapers and magazines
Freelance/self-employed
Strategies & Information:
Minor or double major in a communications field.
Develop excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
Submit articles or books for publication.
Work for campus or student run publications.
Demonstrate talent, persistence, assertiveness, competitive spirit, and enthusiasm.
Compile a portfolio of writing, graphics and ideas.
Develop strong computer skills.
Obtain internship, summer or part-time experience with book, magazine, or newspaper publishers.
Develop an attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.
General Information and Strategies
Most professional anthropological jobs require a graduate degree.
Those interested in anthropology may specialize in one of its four branches: archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistics, or physical anthropology. Many subfields exist within the larger specialties such as forensic anthropology, a subfield of physical anthropology. Typically students take a general curriculum as an undergraduate and specialize through graduate studies.
As the demand for university/college faculty positions decreases, most openings will exist in consulting firms and government agencies.
To increase your employment opportunities with a bachelors degree, consider minoring or double majoring in another field such as sociology, business, urban planning, or public administration.
Anthropology provides a solid background for a variety of graduate programs including law, medicine, forensics, or genetic counseling. Research admissions requirements and take prerequisite courses.
Anthropology is good preparation for jobs that involve people skills and require an understanding of cultural differences.
Spend a summer in field school or travel and study other cultures.
Volunteer to help with a professor's research.
Gaining relevant work experience through internships, practicums, part-time jobs, or volunteer positions is critical.
