What can I do with this degree?
ANTHROPOLOGY/ARCHAEOLOGY

AREAS

EDUCATION

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

EMPLOYERS

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

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.

AREAS

MUSEUMS AND ARCHIVES

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

EMPLOYERS

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

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.

AREAS

ARCHAELOGY

• Cultural/Resource Management
• Research
• Excavation
• Field Work

EMPLOYERS

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

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.

AREAS

GOVERNMENT

• 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

EMPLOYERS

• Federal agencies including:
       -Bureau of Indian Affairs
       -Bureau of Land Management
       -Central Intelligence Agency
       -Department of Conservation
       -Department of Health and Human Services
       -Department of 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:
       -Historic Preservation Offices
       -Parks Departments
       -Highway Departments

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.

AREAS

NONPROFIT

• Administration
• Program management and development
• Policy analysis
• Fund Raising/Development
• Research
• Grant Writing
• Counseling
  

EMPLOYERS

• 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

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 backgrounds.

AREAS

BUSINESS

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

EMPLOYERS

• 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

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.

AREAS

COMMUNICATIONS

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

EMPLOYERS

• Colleges and universities
• Government agencies
• Government and 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

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

• 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 bachelor's 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.

Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services, at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  (1996, Revised 2002, 2007) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA Employer