Five starsTrusted by 70,000+ Future Students

Subject guide

Anthropology

If you're captivated by human history, culture, and societies, a course of study in Anthropology might be the perfect path towards fulfilling your educational ambitions and reaching your career goals. As an academic discipline, Anthropology delves into the complex dynamics of human civilizations, spanning across time and continents. It is a multifaceted field that presents an exciting journey of discovery— digging into archaeology, navigating biological diversity, interpreting linguistic patterns, and exploring social norms and structures. In higher education, this broad spectrum of study equips you with diverse analytical skills, critical thinking, and a profound understanding of humanity's interconnectedness—a foundation that opens doors to an array of professional opportunities.

Find school options
Anthropology study and career guide

Anthropology

If you're fascinated by the complexity of human cultures and societies, then pursuing a degree in Anthropology may be an ideal path for you at your chosen university. Anthropology, as a domain of higher education, explores the varied aspects of human existence, encompassing ancient civilizations to contemporary societies across various geographical landscapes. It intertwines with disciplines such as biology, history, sociology, and psychology, offering an in-depth, multidimensional understanding of human beings and their interactions, behavior, and evolution. Not only this, a degree in Anthropology can open doors to diverse careers in fields like research, consulting, human resources, and public service, enabling you to realize your professional aspirations. We're here to aid you as you embark on this academic voyage, offering trusted, reliable educational information to guide your decisions and bring you closer to your career goals.

Explore this subject within Liberal Arts.

Anthropology Program goals

You're exploring the possibility of studying a program in Anthropology because you're drawn to understanding human behavior, cultures, societies, and our historical past. Pursuing a degree in Anthropology can open countless doors to different career paths due to its broad perspective and interdisciplinary nature. As you embark on this educational journey, it's important to set a few goals that will help frame your studies and future endeavors in the field. Some of the key goals you might want to consider are:

  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of the major concepts and theories in anthropology.
  • Acquire the ability to conduct anthropological research and apply the methods and techniques of anthropological inquiry.
  • Gain skills to critically analyze and interpret anthropological data from a wide range of cultures and societies.
  • Cultivate an understanding and respect for cultural diversity and human rights.
  • Prepare for a variety of career opportunities in fields such as education, conservation, international development, and more.
Anthropology Program goals illustration

What are the Student Learning Outcomes

As you embark on studying a program in Anthropology, you're forging a path towards a rich understanding of our world's cultures, past and present. This unique field of study will empower you not only with academic knowledge but also provide you with practical and transferable skills. As an aspiring anthropologist, you can anticipate outcomes that maximize your potential and lead to a rewarding career.

  • Gain an in-depth understanding of human society and behavior from a cross-cultural perspective.
  • Develop critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze complex information.
  • Understand and interpret social and cultural phenomena based on scientific data and qualitative research.
  • Achieve the proficiency to convey your ideas and research findings effectively, both orally and in written form.
  • Acquire practical skills like research design and execution, data analysis and interpretation, and ethnography.
What are the Student Learning Outcomes illustration
Photo by This is Engeneering on Unsplash

What experience do I need to be able to apply for Anthropology

Starting a higher education program in Anthropology requires specific experiences and skills that can help develop a strong academic foundation. You need to have a keen interest in human history and cultural variation in order to succeed in this field. Prior courses in History, Social Studies, or related subjects can be beneficial. Understanding and analysis of different cultures, ability in critical thinking, and strong research skills are all key abilities that will aid in this program. Having experience with research papers and presentation skills could also be beneficial due to the major focus on research and reporting in Anthropology.

  • Interest in human history and cultural contexts
  • Prior coursework in History, Social Science or related subjects
  • Analysis and understanding of diverse cultures
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Research experience and presentation skills
What experience do I need to be able to apply for Anthropology illustration

Anthropology careers

Consider furthering your education with a postgraduate degree in anthropology and you'll find a wide array of fulfilling and exciting career paths open to you. Anthropology is a diverse field of study focused on the study of humans, our societies, cultures, and developments. With such a degree, you can work in a range of environments such as museums, research institutes, international NGOs, or even private corporations. You would have manifold opportunities to contribute positively to understanding the world around us, inspiring change, and making a tangible impact on communities.

  • Museum Curator: Manage collections of artifacts and conduct research at cultural institutions.
  • Research Anthropologist: Carry out studies on aspects of human society and culture for research institutes.
  • International Development Worker: Help create and implement strategies to improve the lives of people in developing countries.
  • Cultural Resource Manager: Protect and preserve places, objects, and customs of cultural significance.
  • User Experience Researcher: Use your understanding of humans and cultures to improve digital products for tech companies.

Pursuing a postgraduate degree in Anthropology opens up a fascinating world of career prospects and earning potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for anthropologists and archeologists was $64,910 in May 2024.

Source

If you're a postgraduate in the field of Anthropology, you'll find that a wide variety of job opportunities are available to you. You may choose to join academia and become an Anthropology Professor, contributing to the education of future anthropologists. Or if research appeals to you, you could become an Anthropological Researcher or a Cultural Anthropologist, delving deep into human behavior, beliefs, and social organization. You could also apply your knowledge in businesses and corporations as a Market Research Analyst, studying market conditions to help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price. Nonprofit organizations also value anthropologists for positions such as Project Manager or Policy Analyst, where your deep understanding of human behavior can contribute to developing effective and empathetic policies and projects. The public sector has opportunities, too – think positions like City Planner or Public Health Specialist. Whatever you choose, you bring with you a unique, human-centric perspective that's highly valued in many fields.

Ready to compare Anthropology programs?

Share your study preferences once. We’ll use them to find relevant school options.

Find school options