WHAT CAN I DO WITH A
MAJOR IN...
ANTHROPOLOGY
www.sc.edu/career
an·thro·pol·o·gy
The scientific study of the origin, the
behavior, and the physical, social, and
cultural development of human beings.*
*"Anthropology." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English
Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 24
Jul. 2009. <Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Anthropology>.
Last updated 3/2011 by A. Bervine
Anthropology Majors
Study
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Human behavior
Cultural and societal relations
Human biology and evolution
Languages
Music, art, and architecture
Human migration patterns
Cultural similarities and differences
...and more
Specializations
Anthropology involves several broad fields
including:
•Socio-cultural Anthropology
•Linguistic Anthropology
•Physical Anthropology
•Archaeology
Each field teaches distinct skills, such as
applying theories, employing research
methodologies, formulating and testing
hypotheses, and developing extensive data
sets.
1. Socio-cultural Anthropology
• Study of customs and group culture in
settings that vary from non-industrial
societies to modern urban centers.
• Can prepare one for work in
development, community
organization, policy analysis, and
social research.
2. Linguistic Anthropology
• Study of the role language plays in
various cultures as well as its
development.
• Can work in the areas of inter-cultural
communication, language
revitalization, and literacy
programming.
3. Physical Anthropology
• Study the evolution of the human
body, looking for the earliest evidence
of human life, and analyzing how
culture and biology influence one
another.
• Useful skills developed for the
growing health related occupations
sector as well as positions in
traditional research.
4. Archaeology
• Recover and examine material evidence
such as ruins, pottery and tools
remaining from past human cultures to
determine history, customs, and living
habits of earlier civilizations.
• Archaeology skills can prepare one for
entry-level employment in research or
with government or private agencies
involved in resource management.
Anthropology Degrees Available
At The University Of South
Carolina
Ph.D
MA
BA
Anthropology at the
University of South Carolina
Undergraduate
Options
Graduate
Options
Certificates of
Graduate Study
Degrees:
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Majors:
Anthropology
Minors:
Anthropology
Degrees:
Master of Arts (MA)
Doctor of Philosophy
(Ph.D.)
Specializations:
archeology, cultural
anthropology,
linguistic
anthropology,
physical/biological
anthropology
Visual Anthropology
Museum Studies
Women’s Studies
TOEFL (Teaching
English as a Foreign
Language)
Anthropology Degrees
Develop Skills in
• Critical analysis
• Oral and written
communication
• Interpersonal relations
• Understanding of
different cultures
• Problem solving
• Using scientific
equipment and
instruments
• Working cooperatively
with others
• Adapting to varied and
changing conditions
• Data analysis
• Adapting cultural
theories to other
populations
• Intentional interviewing
Employment Settings
• Teaching/Research in Universities
and Colleges: In anthropology
departments, medical schools, and
international programs.
• Museums: Exhibit design,
conservation of and research of
collections, and museum
administration.
Employment Settings
• Government Agencies: National
Park Service, Agency for International
Development, the National Institutes
of Health, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
and Congressional committees.
• International Agencies: United
Nations, the World Health
Organization, and the World Bank.
Employment Settings
• Consulting: Includes historical and
ethnographic research of Indian
tribes, forensic work for political
anthropological survey and
excavation, social/cultural impact
assessment for large-scale
construction, designing bilingual and
bicultural curricula with school
professionals, and assessing health
care services.
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated With
Teaching/Research
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Academic advisor
Archivist
Art conservator
Behavioral science
advisor
Collections manager
College professor
Ethnologist
Field archaeologist
• Foundation program
manager
• Genealogist
• Librarian
• Media planner
• Multicultural education
specialist
• Museum technician
• Vocational instructor
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated with Museums
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Anthropologist
Archaeologist
Archivist
Art historian
Artifact specialist
Biographer
Collections manager
Curator
• Cultural resource
manager
• Display technician
• Ethnologist
• Museum education
director
• Museologist
• Paleontologist
• Preservationist
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated with Government
Agencies
• Community
development officer
• Congressional staffer
• Cultural artifact
specialist
• Cultural researcher
• Elected official
• Environmental impact
assessor
• Foreign affairs officer
• Government policy
analyst
• Immigration inspector
• Probation officer
• Program director
• Social insurance
representative
• Urban/rural planner
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated with International
Agencies
• Bicultural program
director
• Communications
consultant
• Employee relations
specialist
• Environmental impact
assessor
• International protocol
consultant
• International marketing
director
• Linguist
• Policy analyst
• Social worker
• Teacher of english as a
second language
• Ethnographer
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated with Consulting
• Actuary
• Bicultural curricula
developer
• Community planner
• Corporate
communications
consultant
• Employee relations
specialist
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Historical researcher
Management consultant
Political anthropologist
Public health advisor
Recruitment consultant
Training specialist
Distribution of Employed Persons
With a Bachelor’s Degree in
Anthropology, by Sector
Government/Millitary
12%
Private For-Profit
40%
Self-Employed
18%
Non-Profit
7%
Education
23%
Top 10 Occupations That Employ
Persons with only a Bachelor’s
Degree in Anthropology
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Top and mid-level managers, executives
Broadcasters, writers, public relations specialists
Teachers, elementary
Low-level administrators (record clerks)
Low-level managers (shift supervisors)
Sales (including retail)
Insurance, securities, real estate, business services
Transportation, material-moving
Marketing, sales management
Social scientists
Source: Fogg, N.P, Harrington, P.E. & Harrington, T.F, (2004). College Majors
Handbook (2nd ed). Indianapolis, IN: Jist Publishing.
Strategies For Developing Skills To
Get The Job You Want
• Work on ability to
communicate well in
speech and writing
• Obtain volunteer,
internship, co-op,
and work experience
• Develop
interpersonal skills
• Meet and exceed
deadlines
• Develop ability to
work as a team
member
• Develop the ability to
work with people of
other cultures
• Obtain a minor in a
specific field of
interest (psychology,
music, political
science)
Strategies For Developing Skills
To Get The Job You Want
• Develop ability to work
with public
administration
• Work on public
speaking skills
• Develop computer skills
• Visit museums
• Learn other languages
• Attend and help
organize cultural events
• Work on developing
conceptual and
analytical abilities
• Travel to and visit other
cultural regions
• Join a professional or
student organization
Books And Web
Resources
Books
Great Jobs For
Anthropology Majors – by
Blythe Camenson
Careers In Anthropology:
What An Anthropology
Degree Can Do For You –
by W. Rrichard Stephens
Web Resources
American Anthropological
Association
http://www.aaanet.org/
NAPA: National
Association for the
Practice of Anthropology
http://www.practicinganthr
opology.org/
Resources For More
Information
Department of Anthropology
http://www.cas.sc.edu/anth/
Career Center library
http://www.sc.edu/career/Library/library.html
Related websites
http://www.sc.edu/career/la/anthropology.html
CAS career development website
www.sc.edu/career/cascdp/
Career Center Contact
Information
University of South Carolina Career Center
6th Floor, H. William Close Building (BA Building)
Columbia, SC 29208
Phone: 803-777-7280
On-call counseling without an appointment:
M - F, 1:00 am - 4:00 pm
(Summer and holiday hours may differ, please check the website at
www.sc/edu/career)