Majors at the University of Connecticut

Anthropology

What do chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall, writer Michael Crichton, Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, and England's Prince Charles have in common? You guessed it! They all studied anthropology. Obviously from this list of names you have determined that anthropology does not pave the way to a definite career path. But, what anthropology does provide is a strong liberal arts curriculum and a knowledge of human behavior that leads to a number of optional routes.

Anthropology is a unique field because it covers the physical, social, and cultural development and behavior of humans. There is a combination of disciplines including biology, history, earth science, and the social sciences. There are no time or place constraints to the study of anthropology; it is global and comparative in nature. Various specializations of anthropology include promoting the understanding of social, ethnic, biological, and ecological factors of various countries or geographical regions of the world. Plus, the subject matter of study may be as broad as present day corporate culture or as focused as the use of handmade tools.

Within anthropology there are four subfields including Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, Physical Anthropology, and Linguistic Anthropology. Archaeology is the study of the past ways of life with a focus on material objects and the behavior of the people who used them. Archaeologists spend their lives dedicated to the scientific research of excavation. Cultural Anthropology is centered around the internal workings of other societies, both primitive and complex. Physical Anthropology combines research in anatomy, biology, and organic chemistry. It is dedicated to investigating the evolution of the human body and primate relatives. Finally, Linguistic Anthropology studies the role of language in various cultures.

Dependent on which area of study and employment opportunities you are interested in, there are different academic and experiential requirements. Entry-level positions can be gained with a bachelor's degree but graduate work in a specialized field will be required for teaching or professional positions.

Academic Department

• Department of Anthropology

Nature of Work

The nature of the work is dependent on the area of the subject matter that one specializes in and the employment path that one pursues. The work could range from fieldwork to employee relations in a corporate setting. Regardless of the position, the work is exploratory and requires an interest in cultural perspectives.

Sample Job Titles

Potential Employers

Some of the locations where anthropology majors might find themselves employed are:

Archives, Bureau of Land Management, contract archaeology firms, the Ford Foundation, health-care agencies, immigrant organizations, international businesses, physical anthropology laboratories, zoos, the National Park Service, and state transportation departments.

Useful Skills

Some of the skills that are necessary in obtaining jobs of such great variety include: writing skills, computer skills, knowledge of statistical analysis, public speaking skills, and interpersonal skills.

Getting Experience

As in most majors, the best way to gain experience in the anthropological field is through shadowing, volunteer, or internship opportunities. Considering that there are so many field options in anthropology, developing a sense of what area you would like to pursue is important. This is why you might consider shadowing someone for a day who is involved in a anthropological discipline that you find interesting. Plus, once you find individuals or organizations that you have interest in, you can consider volunteer or internship opportunities in order to gain that hands-on experience. For help in seeking these opportunities it is best to explore Career Services and speak to the Anthropology Department.

Employment Opportunities

The employment opportunities for anthropology majors are varied.

You may pursue an academic career in secondary education, or college and university teaching. The specialized archaeology field can offer employment at universities, museums, and in the public and private sectors. Plus, museums and archives offer positions dealing with conservation, design, and genealogy. There are also plenty of ways to combine adventure and environmental interests with employment opportunities.

Sometimes when searching for a position, you must often look for possibilities where you see anthropological skills as necessary. These might include:

• Business/Corporate/Industrial Anthropology---study and analysis of organizations
• Consulting---freelancing or contracted with expertise
• "Cyber" Anthropology---computer technology design
• Forensic Anthropology---work to identify remains
• Government---evaluators, planners, analysts
• Medical Anthropology---environmental and sociological factors in disease and disability
• Social Services and Nonprofit Organizations---social workers, researchers, educators

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