Career Opportunities for Majors in Anthropology

Introduction

Anthropology is the study of human origins and of cultures of all regions of the world, past and present. An undergraduate major in anthropology is an excellent general education and may lead to a variety of career paths when combined with other interests such as biology, communications, ecology, education, gender studies, history, language, linguistics, literature, politics, psychology, public health, sociology or others.

Anthropology ranges from the study of our evolutionary origins in the past to gender studies in the present. Among the specialties within anthropology are primatology, sex roles and family structure, child rearing practices, culture and aging, native american people, human ecology, kinship and marriage, old world prehistory, and archaeological method and theory.

While many anthropology graduates work in related occupations and obtain advanced degrees, others choose different directions. Many careers do not require a specific major, but rather a wide range of demonstrated skills and accomplishments. Regardless of your career choice, increase your marketability to employers through internships, responsible work experience, good grades and involvement in college activities.


A Sample of Related Occupations

Admissions Counselor Fundraiser Non-profit Agency Administrator
Anthropologist Government Agency Administrator Peace Corps Worker
Archaeologist Government Research Analyst Probation/Parole Officer
Business Manager Historical Society Director Psychiatrist
Career Counselor Human Resource Administrator Psychologist
Child Welfare Worker International Relations Specialist Public Administrator
Communications Specialist Labor Relations Specialist Public Relations Specialist
Community Affairs Specialist Librarian Radio/TV Newscaster
Community Agency Director Lobbyist Rehabilitation Counselor
Cooperative Extension Agent Market Researcher Researcher
Cultural Affairs Specialist Marriage Counselor School Psychologist
Editor/Writer/Journalist Mental Health Worker Social Worker
Education Coordinator Multi-cultural Educator Teacher/Professor
Museum Curator Travel Consultant

Types of Employers  

Private and Non-profit Organizations
Advertising Agencies Newspapers/magazines
Civic Organizations Personnel agencies
Community service agencies Preschool/daycare centers
Correctional institutions Public Interest Groups
Cultural Organizations Public Relations Firms
Educational institutions Publishing companies
Historic Sites Radio & TV stations
Health service providers/hospitals Red Cross International
International banks Research institutes
Libraries Religious organizations
Management consulting firms Retail stores
Market research firms Social service agencies
Mental health institutions Travel/tourism agencies
Museums/historical societies United Nations
 
 
 
Government Agencies
Agency for International Development Health & Human Services
AID (Assistance for International Development) Immunization & Naturalization Service
Bureau of International Labor Affairs Judicial system
CIA/FBI Labor Department
Civil Rights Commission National Science Foundation
Consumer Affairs Department National Park Service
County Probation Office Office of International Affairs
Division of Youth & Family Services Peace Corps/VISTA
Federal & State Education Agencies Smithsonian Institution
Federal Communications Commission State & Federal Legislatures
Foreign Service Veterans Administration
 

Rutgers Graduates

 
First Jobs of Recent Graduates
Aide, US Senator Bill Bradley Financial Advisor, American Express Company
Assistant to the Executive, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Marketing Coordinator, Inteplast Group, Ltd.
Customer Service Representative, Lauber Imports Rehabilitation Counselor, Middlesex County
Editorial Assistant, American Journal of Primatology Social Worker, Juvenile Justice Center S.C.O.H.
Teacher, Beijing University
 
 
 
Jobs of Experienced Alumni
Archaeologist, HCI (MA Anthropology) Lab Director, Pluckemin Archaeological Project (MA Anthro)
Archaeologist, Lewis Berger & Associates (adv. degree) Librarian, Seagate Associates, Inc. (Master's, Library Science)
Assistant Director, Career Educator, Seton Hall University (M.Ed.) Media & Reference Librarian, Mount Sinai Medical Center (MLS)
Assistant Professor of Psych., Monmouth Univ. (PhD Anthro) Product Manager, Palisades Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Consulting Anthropologist, self-employed (PhD Anthropology) Production Manager, Desktop Publishing, Productivity, Inc.
Curator, NJ State Museum (PhD Anthropology) Professor, Sussex County Community College, (PhD Anthropology)
Director, Community Health Service, Manchester Memorial Hospital (M.A. Behavioral Sciences Research Scientist, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatry (PhD Anthropology)
Director, Hotel Programs, Travel One (MA Hospitality Services) Senior Quality Systems Auditor, Becton Dickinson
Editorial Assistant, American Journal of Primatology (MA Anthropology) Senior Research Associate, Montclair State University (PhD Anthropology)
Financial Controls Analyst, Philip Morris Social Science Librarian, South Oregon State College (MLS)
Human Resources Supervisor, Hoechst Celanese Corporation (Phd Anthropology) Store Manager, J. Baker, Inc.

Graduate Schools Attended
Florida State University, PhD, Behavioral Neuroscience University of California, Berkeley, PhD, Anthropology
Seton Hall University, MA, Corporate & Public Communication


 

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Updated 10/03/05

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