Key takeaways
- The simplest anthropology definition is that it is a study of human behaviors and adaptations in various contexts including physical, environmental, cultural, and societal development.
- An anthropology degree integrates various interdisciplinary elements such as sociology, psychology, biology, and even human evolution.
- Anthropology graduates develop critical thinking, research skills, communication, and socio-economic awareness.
- Anthropology degree jobs are often found commonly in organizations like government and law enforcement, as well as cultural institutes like museums.
- There are multiple specializations offered by colleges, including biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, forensic, and many more.
- The average annual salary for anthropologists is around $70,000, with an 8% projected growth rate over the next decade.
- Online anthropology degrees are offered by colleges like Arizona State University.
The younger generation of college students is increasingly becoming aware of their surroundings, societal elements, and cultural histories. This is one of the biggest reasons why an anthropology degree within the liberal arts and humanities field of study is a go-to choice for many.
Liberal arts are particularly broad and interdisciplinary fields of study that help students develop critical thinking, analytical capabilities, and excellent problem-solving skills. In addition to this, humanities subjects such as anthropology have a lot to do with human life, society, culture, and understanding the existence of the past and present human world.
Furthermore, there are numerous subjects and college majors to choose from when it comes to liberal arts and humanities. For example, a sociology bachelor’s degree is an excellent choice for people who want to work in non-profit organizations, as social workers, paralegals, and so on. Meanwhile, subjects like criminology degrees are also closely related, and dedicated to the improvement of human life and the world.
However, this article is all about a unique and rather exciting field of study in liberal arts and humanities – anthropology. In this guide, we will look into the anthropology definition, the details about a degree in anthropology, colleges, courses, and industry trends such as anthropology degree jobs and career prospects.
What is anthropology?
The simplest anthropology definition is that it is the study of human lives across all the various human histories that ever existed. It explores humans and their evolution in various contexts, including cultural, physical, biological, and social as well.
Moreover, anthropology is an interdisciplinary subject that examines human lives and their various social and biological elements. Time and history are integral parts of anthropology, so it particularly examines the background and past of every human element.
Lastly, it mixes insights from the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities, making it an interdisciplinary field. Its applications range from academic research to solving real-world problems in public health, development, forensics, and more.
What is an undergraduate anthropology degree?
An anthropology degree focuses on teaching students the important aspects of human history and evolution. It equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills needed to pursue a career in this field. It blends in various types of coursework, including research-driven projects. Moreover, it typically provides a broad understanding of human societies, cultures, and their development.
Furthermore, there are various types of anthropology degrees and college programs that you can choose from. However, some of the most common features of an anthropology degree are core and introductory courses, areas of specialization, capstone projects, research papers, and even internship and other work opportunities.
So, if you are interested in exploring a career in anthropology, you must look into the details of this college major. Some of the most important skills and learning outcomes of a degree in anthropology may include:
- Communication
- Analytical skills
- Critical thinking
- Socio-economic awareness
- Research and analysis
- Political awareness
- Ethical awareness
- Global perspective
What is the coursework like in anthropology?
On your journey to planning for college and finding the right program, the most important consideration to make is the program coursework. Therefore, you must look into the teaching method, learning objectives, and student facilities that a college provides.
Most importantly, the program coursework and details can vary significantly from one college to another. However, the best colleges for anthropology have similar courses that you might be interested in exploring. Here are some things you should know about anthropology coursework:
- Undergrad degrees typically include a final-year project, also sometimes referred to as a thesis or capstone project.
- All degrees require the completion of an internship opportunity to ensure that students get hands-on working experience before they graduate.
- All programs include foundational courses that may cover many basic to detailed things. However, after foundational courses, you may be required to select an area of specialization, which we discuss later in this article.
- Anthropology degrees require completion of examinations, written assignments, class lectures, guest lectures, seminars, and quizzes. The frequency and pattern for these may vary from institute to institute.
Now that you know what a typical bachelor’s degree in anthropology looks like, here is a quick list of the most common courses offered by colleges:
- Cultural Anthropology
- Biological Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Linguistic Anthropology
- Human Evolution
- Anthropology of Religion
- Medical Anthropology
- Political Anthropology
- Economic Anthropology
- Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality
- Ethnographic Methods
- Anthropological Theory
- Globalization and Development
- Archaeological Field Methods
- Cultural Heritage Management
- Anthropology of the Environment,
- Applied Anthropology
- Historical Archaeology
- Indigenous Peoples and Rights
- Social Inequality
- Urban Anthropology
What are the specializations in an anthropology degree?
As we mentioned before, there are areas of specialization or concentration that you must select during your degree. These specializations allow you to narrow down your focus and specialize in a particular field which you want to pursue a career in.
So, here is an overview of the most commonly offered specializations in anthropology programs.
Forensic anthropology
Forensic anthropology is a specialized field of study that uses skeletal analysis to solve crimes. As a forensic anthropologist, you may find work in law enforcement and government agencies.
Cultural anthropology
The cultural anthropology field of study is heavily concerned with studying human behavior and evolution in the context of social cultures. It studies shared cultural systems and analyses human behaviors in that setting.
Biological anthropology
Biological anthropology is also sometimes referred to as physical anthropology. So, its core focus is on areas like human evolution, variation, fossil records, and even anatomy.
Medical anthropology
Lastly, we have medical anthropology on the list, which can be a very specialized field and not everyone’s cup of tea. Moreover, it is not the same as biological anthropology, as it mainly focuses on health and illnesses in a social and cultural context. Additionally, it looks at medical and health practices in different cultures, ecological and environmental factors, and biocultural adaptations.
Where to get an anthropology degree from?
Undoubtedly, a college anthropology major offers something very interesting. It is an exciting field with so many different areas of focus and career options. So, if you have found yourself leaning towards pursuing an anthropology degree, you must not forget to explore the list of colleges.
Luckily, there are numerous accredited and top colleges with anthropology majors that you can find. To help you find the ideal ones, we have shortlisted some below:
Arizona State University
You will find the BA in Anthropology program by Arizona State University really useful for various career options. Firstly, the program offers numerous specializations including socio-cultural, bio-anthro, and much more. Secondly, ASU is one of the most prestigious colleges in the state, with a generous acceptance rate.
Baylor University
From medical anthropology to cultural anthropology, you can explore several options at Baylor University. Here, you will find the program to be extremely thorough and comprehensive, offering in-depth industry insights. Moreover, the program is taught by highly qualified and experienced faculty members.
Boise State University
Boise State University is known for its research-driven programs and excellent campus facilities for students. Therefore, opting for its BS in Anthropology program would be a wise choice. Moreover, the program offers multiple concentration areas such as evolution, culture, and medicine. So, you can get the desired learning outcomes and career pathways with this degree.
Western Washington University
The best part about studying anthropology from Western Washington University is that it offers several combinations of majors and minors to help you explore a more diverse career path. So, you can combine your anthro degree with subjects like evolution, social sciences, and many more. Moreover, it offers both BA and BS programs.
University of North Texas
For students who are passionate about studying humanities and liberal arts like anthropology, the BA program offered by the University of North Texas is the best choice. Firstly, the program focuses on training students for the improvement of the society. Moreover, the program provides hands-on learning opportunities. Lastly, you can expect yourself to develop core skills like problem-solving and analytical thinking with this degree.
Can I get an online anthropology degree?
Fortunately, some of the top anthropology colleges offer flexible and convenient online programs. Just like any other college major, you can find numerous online anthropology degrees that cater to your specific needs.
Furthermore, there are many benefits attached to pursuing an online degree over an on-campus or conventional one. Firstly, online degrees in anthropology are the ideal choice for adult students who are in the middle of a career. So, with an online degree, they can balance their work and studies together. Furthermore, online degrees tend to be cost-friendlier, because there is no housing or commuting costs involved.
Recently, there has been a positive change in the attitudes of employers towards people with online degrees. In fact, online degrees allow you to be exposed to many online and digital tools that are frequently used in the workplace. This gives you a competitive advantage in the professional world.
In addition to this, you also get to study at your own pace. Online or virtual egress are more self-paced and requires you to have full control over your learning journey.
So, if you think online anthropology degree is something you would like to explore, here is a list of colleges with anthropology majors online;
- Oregon State University
- Arizona State University — Online
- University of Central Florida
- Troy University
- Southern New Hampshire University
- Texas Tech University
However, even though there is a good variety of online anthropology degrees, make sure you make an informed decision. Firstly, check and explore the college and program accreditations. Secondly, look into the college’s reputation through its faculty members and alumni. Lastly, make sure that the program coursework is just as good as its on-campus counterparts.
Is an anthropology degree worth it?
Whether or not a degree is worth your time and money truly depends on how you perceive it. Before you select any college majors, make sure you are under credible and resourceful academic guidance. Secondly, a good college major would be the one that takes you to your ultimate career goals and personal preferences.
In addition to this, the ideal way of assessing whether a degree would be worth it for you is through exploring the learning outcomes. So, with an anthropology degree, you develop some important transferable and soft skills such as research, communication, criticism, social awareness, and much more. However, there is also technical knowledge and skills involved, such as conducting social surveys.
These skills are indispensable in various aspects of life. More importantly, these skills are usable in numerous careers, so you will be open to many types of career opportunities. In addition to this, anthropologists tend to find great work opportunities that allow them to make a good living as well.
According to BLS, the average annual wage for anthropologists is around $ 70,000. Moreover, the employment growth rate is expected to be about 8% from 2023 to 2033. However, one thing you must keep in mind is that the pay scale and job growth in this industry or line of work is expandable with higher education. A bachelor’s degree alone might not be enough to get you manager-level or senior level jobs. Therefore, a master’s degree in anthropology may become a necessity.
In conclusion, the worth of the degree depends on your preferences and goals. For people who are social warriors and find themselves passionate about human history, culture, and humanities, this degree will definitely pay off.
Anthropology vs. sociology
There is a frequent comparison of the two fields of humanities and liberal arts; anthropology vs sociology. You can explore the complete guide by All bachelor degrees regarding an undergrad sociology degree. This will allow you to compare the technical similarities and differences between the two and make an informed choice.
What can you do with an anthropology degree?
Anthropology graduates have skills that are applicable to a wide range of careers. They can explore work in numerous industries, but the most common employers for anthropology graduates may be:
- Law enforcement and government agencies
- Non Profit organizations
- Social welfare
- Legal and law firms
- Consultancy
- Research firms
- Academia and educational institutes
- History and cultural resource management
Furthermore, the anthropology degree jobs and roles can vary depending on numerous factors. First, your area of specialization can influence the jobs available to you. Moreover, your college accreditations and reputation can influence job prospects.
However, the most typical job roles offered to fresh graduates of anthropology degrees are:
|
|
Can you work in a museum with an anthropology degree?
Museums are often regarded as cultural resource management organizations. Most of them are also not-for-profit. Therefore, these are the best and most suitable places of work for anthropology students. In addition to this, working in a museum is an ideal choice for people who wish to get interdisciplinary exposure to art, culture, and history.
However, the job roles can be unique and different than those found in typical workplaces like corporate and law enforcement. For example, you may find project-based work in a museum for a special event or exhibition. You may also be hired as a research executive or university representative at the museum.
So, here are some common job roles for anthropologists in museums:
- Museum Curator
- Collections Manager
- Exhibit Designer
- Education Coordinator
- Archivist
- Cultural Heritage Specialist
- Museum Technician
- Researcher
An anthropology degree prepares you for jobs at a museum by offering ample knowledge and skills like:
- Research
- Fieldwork experience through capstone project and internship
- Cultural and social awareness
Lastly, a bachelor’s degree in anthropology alone is not a guarantee that you will find relevant work. Therefore, it is best to opt for hands-on work experience early on, through things like internships and volunteer work at such institutions.
Become an anthropology student today!
In summary, an important part of getting an anthropology degree is finding the right college. Therefore, browsing and researching through the top colleges for forensic anthropology or any other specialization is an important process. Finding the right guidance during this phase of your college planning is crucial.
In addition to this, it is also important that you align important factors like career goals and your financial resources when planning to pursue college. However, there are excellent alternatives like online anthropology degrees for convenient and more affordable programs.