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What kind of career positions are available for someone who majors in anthropology?

I am interested in anthropology and I wanted to discover more about it. Like what are some career positions available? What exactly can you do if you major in anthropology? #college #majors #careers #anthropology

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Hossam’s Answer

Anthropology majors have an intense curiosity about the diversity of cultures throughout human history. They are open to new ideas and new ways of thinking about life roles. Many factors, such as your personal values, abilities, interests, and graduate training, will impact your career choices if you major in anthropology. However, here are just a few options to consider as you brainstorm possibilities:

1. Attorney

Attorneys practicing in the areas of international, immigration, and human rights law benefit from an understanding of the varied cultural contexts of different foreign countries. Anthropology majors tend to empathize with and understand underrepresented individuals, and want to advocate for their interests. They can communicate effectively with diverse individuals and groups.

2. Diversity Officer

Diversity officers work to promote diversity in various organizations. In this role, they need the anthropology major’s knowledge of different socioeconomic and cultural groups. Diversity officers analyze current organizational practices and suggest alternative ways to recruit and retain employees from different backgrounds.

3. Foreign Language Teacher

Foreign language teachers teach students how to speak, write, and understand a particular foreign language. They also typically educate students about the countries and cultures that speak the language they are teaching. Anthropology majors understand the cultural basis of idioms and other subtleties of language, so they are well equipped for this role. They are enthusiastic about foreign cultures and can skillfully impart an appreciation for cultures to their students as part of their language instruction.

4. Human Resources Representative

Human resources (HR) representatives help to define the roles of employees and the makeup of the workforce at organizations. They cultivate an office culture that supports creativity, productivity, and loyalty among staff. They write newsletters and other intra-company communications, and organize events to enhance staff morale. HR representatives tap the problem-solving and interpersonal skills of the anthropology major to resolve issues among employees, and between employers and employees.
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Jaleel’s Answer

Hello, Andrea!


This is a great question as Anthropology is a broad field of study with many facets, and most students, myself included, don't know where to being when they first start looking into the major. Thank you for asking.


I studied american studies and ethnicity while in college which is also a very broad major with elements of anthropology, history, political science, sociology, and a few more "ologies." :) Anthropology, by definition, is the study of humankind. There are four main types of anthropologists: sociocultural, archaeological, linguistic (language), and biological.


Sociocultural anthropology allows for the study of the past and present culture, art, political systems, media, history, social movements, etc. of a group of people and develop understandings about how the culture, art, political systems, media, etc. shape the lives of those groups of people.


Archaeological anthropology is the study of the human past through artifacts, altered landscapes, etc. to understand the culture and habits of the group being studied.


Linguistic anthropology is all about the use of language and how languages are created. It's also a study of the evolution of language in a culture over time (like "omg" and "lol") as well as how a language goes extinct.


Biological anthropology is all about the study of people and primates through ideas of biology and evolution.


Most times, the information you learn in your study is shared in the form of videos (documentaries), photographs, essays, articles, blog posts, and books.


So, to answer your question, you can become a professor (with some additional years in graduate school), a documentary film maker (you can double-major in film.. one of my friends from college majored in anthropology and film. Now she's a screenwriter in Los Angeles), a researcher, a museum employee, a blogger, a writer, an archaeologist, a novelist, the sky's the limit. Anthropology teaches you to understand how people interact and make sense of the world around them. You get to choose how you want to use that knowledge.


I've used what I've learned to inform my writing. I write poetry, blog posts, short stories, essays, and articles about socially conscious topics.


Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you continue to explore anthropology:



  1. Is there a certain group of people, a certain time period, a culture, a language I'm really interested in?

  2. Do I have an interest in studying those things? And if so, how do I want to share my findings with the world?

  3. What are my interests and hobbies? Can I find a way to make those a career in anthropology?

  4. What minor, second major, other courses can I take to give me practical, career ready skills to leverage myself in the professional world (e.g. film, accounting, business management, photography)?


I hope this was helpful. I'm excited for you, Andrea! Anthropology is a great field of study. Let me know if I can clarify anything for you or add to this answer. Good luck!


All the best,


Jaleel

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