Anthropology
The Anthropology program at Virginia Commonwealth University provides students with a rigorous foundation in the field
of Anthropology, including its foci on cultures past and present, human development, and tolerance of different
worldviews. Anthropology classes stress the exchange of ideas and build students’ strengths in critical thinking,
communication, and intellectual exploration. The anthropology faculty consists of active scholars in various areas of
expertise and it brings to the classroom a commitment to making the results of its scholarship relevant and useful. Students
are asked to engage in guided and independent studies in which they explore their own communities and venture into new
academic and social settings and situations. Anthropology is, by its nature, interdisciplinary and international in both theory
and practice. The anthropology program at VCU offers students from many diverse backgrounds the opportunity to
thoroughly and creatively explore the world and the peoples around them.
Traditionally, anthropologists have taught and conducted research at universities or worked as curators in museums. Today,
however, more and more have begun working in applied fields--environmental assessment, planning and development,
organizational consulting, medical research, or contract archaeology. While there are opportunities for students with only a
bachelors (e.g. with government agencies, museums, or archaeological consulting firms) most such work requires at least a
master's (2 years) or even a doctorate degree (5-7 years). Keep in mind... most careers in anthropology require a masters
or doctorate degree. Most Anthropology graduates who decide not to pursue a career in Anthropology chose some type of
Business career.
Concentration Areas
Academic. On campuses, in departments of anthropology, and in research laboratories, anthropologists teach and conduct
research. They spend a great deal of time preparing for classes, writing lectures, grading papers, working with individual
students, composing scholarly articles, and writing longer monographs and books. A number of academic anthropologists
find careers in other departments, such as schools of medicine, social sciences, epidemiology, public health, ethnic studies,
cultural studies, community or area studies, linguistics, education, ecology, cognitive psychology and neural science. A
doctorate is required for most academic jobs.
Corporations, Nonprofit organizations, and Government. Most non-teaching jobs are in the areas of archeology,
applied anthropology, and environmental studies. Non-governmental organizations, such as international health
organizations and development banks employ anthropologists to help design and implement a wide variety of programs.
State and local governments use anthropologists in planning, research and managerial capacities. Contract archaeology has
been a growth occupation with state and federal legislative mandates to assess cultural resources affected by government
funded projects. Forensic anthropologists not only work with police departments to help identify unknown remains but also
work in university and museum settings A corporate anthropologist working in market research might conduct targeted
focus groups to examine consumer preference patterns not readily apparent through statistical or survey methods.
Related Career Skill Sets
Planning projects
Examining data and artifacts
Interviewing individuals and groups
Writing grant proposals
Conducting field studies
Sampling, gathering and organizing
data
Summarizing results
Recognizing cultural differences/similarities
Communication across
cultures/languages
Related Career Titles (for additional titles, see career advisor)
Analyst
Community Development Specialist
Community Service Administrator
Employment Recruiter
Friend of the Court Caseworker
Legislative Aide
Marketing Researcher
Museum Technician
Peace Corps Volunteer
Program Coordinator/Assistant
Research Associate
Caseworker
Curatorial Assistant
Ecotourism Director
Field Archaeologist
Immigration Inspector
Management Trainee
Multicultural Program Leader
National/State Park Interpreter
Probation Officer
Public Relations Specialist
Social Worker
Experiential Learning: Ways to enhance your skills for the Job Market
 Study abroad either on your own through the Center for International Programs or through specific anthropology
courses that are offered during the summer
 Participate in summer programs include the The Maya of Yucatan: Past and Present (Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico) and
various historical archaeology field schools
 Faculty may be able to facilitate summer student field work that is administered by other universities or by other
anthropologists, to be used for credit in our program
 Develop an awareness of any new study abroad programs are being developed in the new School of World Studies
Career Resource Sites:
School of World Studies Internships http://www.has.vcu.edu/wld/experiential-learning/internships.html
American Anthropological Association’s Career Site, http://www.aaanet.org/careers.htm
AAA’s Careers in Anthropology, http://www.aaanet.org/careersbroch.htm
O*NET http://online.onetcenter.org/find/
Archaeological Institute of America: (Richmond Society) Burks Echols Call: 257-5405.
Archeological Society of Virginia: Harry A. Jaeger Call: 273-9291 Website: archeologyvirginia.org
BLOG: http://blog.vcu.edu/ejwaterman/jeanettes_majors/anthropology/