Anthropology/Archaeology ***Major Not Available at UNA***

What can I do with this major?

Education

Area

  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Administration
  • Student Affairs
  • Library/Information Science
  • Non-classroom Education

Employer

  • Universities/colleges/community colleges
  • University research institutes or laboratories
  • Campus museums
  • Zoos
  • Nature centers

Information / Strategies

  • 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.

Museums and Archives

Area

  • Management/Administration
  • Curatorship
  • Conservation
  • Restoration
  • Research
  • Education
  • Libraries
  • Development

Employer

  • Natural history or history museums:
    • Universities
    • State, federal or local
    • Private
  • Archives
  • Historical Societies

Information / Strategies

  • 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.

Archeology

Area

  • Cultural Resource Management
  • Research
  • Excavation
  • Field Work

Employer

  • Consulting firms
  • Environmental/engineering companies
  • Firms specializing in archaeological investigation
  • Federal, state and local government
  • Urban and city planning offices
  • Historic preservation societies

Information / Strategies

  • 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.

Government

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

Employer

  • 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

Information / Strategies

  • 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.

Nonprofit

Area

  • Administration
  • Program Management and Development
  • Policy Analysis
  • Fund Raising/Development
  • Research
  • Grant Writing
  • Counseling

Employer

  • 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

Information / Strategies

  • 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.

Business

Area

  • Management
  • Sales/Marketing
  • Human Resources
  • Public Relations
  • Consulting

Employer

  • 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

Information / Strategies

  • 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.

Communications

Area

  • Documentary Film Production
  • Photography/Photojournalism
  • Journalism
  • Writing/Editing
  • Publishing

Employer

  • 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

Information / Strategies

  • 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.