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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 CounselorGovernment Agency AdministratorPeace Corps Worker
AnthropologistGovernment Research AnalystProbation/Parole Officer
ArchaeologistHistorical Society DirectorPsychiatrist
Business ManagerHuman Resource AdministratorPsychologist
Career CounselorInt'l. Relations SpecialistPublic Administrator
Child Welfare WorkerLabor Relations SpecialistPublic Relations Specialist
Communications SpecialistLibrarianRadio/TV Newscaster
Community Affairs SpecialistLobbyistRehabilitation Counselor
Community Agency DirectorMarket ResearcherResearcher
Cooperative Extension AgentMarriage CounselorSchool Psychologist
Cultural Affairs SpecialistMental Health WorkerSocial Worker
Editor/Writer/JournalistMulti-cultural EducatorTeacher/Professor
Education CoordinatorMuseum CuratorTravel Consultant
FundraiserNonprofit Agency Administrator 


Types of Employers

Private & Nonprofit Organizations
Advertising AgenciesManagement consulting firmsRadio & TV stations
Civic OrganizationsMarket research firmsRed Cross Int'l.
Community service agenciesMental health institutionsResearch institutes
Correctional institutionsMuseums/historical societiesReligious organizations
Cultural OrganizationsNewspapers/magazinesRetail stores
Educational institutionsPersonnel agenciesSocial service agencies
Historic SitesPreschool/daycare centersTravel/tourism agencies
Health service providers/hospitalsPublic Interest GroupsUnited Nations
Int'l. banksPublic Relations Firms 
LibrariesPublishing companies 

Government Agencies
Agency for Int'l. DevelopmentFederal & State Education AgenciesNational Park Service
AID (Assistance for Int'l. Development)Federal Communications CommissionOffice of Int'l. Affairs
Bureau of Int'l. Labor AffairsForeign ServicePeace Corps/VISTA
CIA/FBIHealth & Human ServicesSmithsonian Institution
Civil Rights CommissionImmunization & Naturalization ServiceState & Federal Legislatures
Consumer Affairs DepartmentJudicial systemVeterans Administration
County Probation OfficeLabor Department 
Division of Youth & Family ServicesNational Science Foundation 


Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates

First Jobs of Recent Graduates
Aide, US Senator Bill BradleyMarketing Coordinator, Inteplast Group, Ltd.
Assistant to the Executive, Dian Fossey Gorilla FundRehabilitation Counselor, Middlesex County
Customer Service Representative, Lauber ImportsSocial Worker, Juvenile Justice Center S.C.O.H.
Editorial Assistant, American Journal of PrimatologyTeacher, Beijing University
Financial Advisor, American Express Company 

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 SciencesResearch 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 MorrisSocial 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 NeuroscienceUniversity of California, Berkeley, PhD, Anthropology
Seton Hall University, MA, Corporate & Public Communication 


Additionally, you may:
 

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Employer questions? Contact recruiting@echo.rutgers.edu

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