Which Major will be useful: BA Anthropology, BA Psychology, BS Biology Degree?

Question

I'm a high school student and will graduate next year. I'm in a really stressful time right now. My parents and friends asked me what would i want to take in Uni...and i just felt blank. I love social sciences and biology, like travelling (especially in third world countries), i have a great interest in learning different cultures and studying animals, so i got these 2 different interests. However, my dad disagrees with me,,,he thinks if i take anthropology, i wouldn't be able to find work easily and it would be useless.
I prefer more to study majors in Humanities, Social sciences, and since 4 years ago, i have had an interest in psychology. But i don't really know how to put it all together...I was concerned with what kind of job in which field would i be in.
And i'm having a dillemma between BA and BS degrees, I'm afraid i will take the wrong one and will struggle to find any jobs/professions... My school counsellor doesn't do any help!
Any advice for me? Thanks.

Answer 1

It seems that what you WANT to do is anthropology because it unites all these different interests you have -- what you need is an argument for your dad so he won't pressure you. And in all probability, he just wants to make sure you know what you are doing.

I faced the same issue years ago. Today I have a Ph.D. in anthropology. And, hey, I'm working! I don't make much money, but I love my job.

Most people hear 'anthropology' and thinks bones or Indiana Jones or exotic primitive "Others." Modern anthropology does far more than that. Let me give you examples of some of the work I've done over the past years:
Worked on an island in the South Pacific. Exotic, sure, but I helped to establish a community school and facilitated a traditional arts revival that still helps to financially support people.
Worked in northern Thailand with a mountain minority people who once grew opium. Exotic? Sure. But I was studying the effects of global anti-drug production policy, giving policy-makers important information about the real world effects of their policies.
Research in a major U.S. metropolis on networks of people who provide services for the homeless to pinpoint the specific problems the providers face; and the summary of my research was made into the mission statement for a new organization to aid and support the service providers so they could do their job better (and more happily).
Studied community environmental organizations in a city, showing the importance of self-employed and retired volunteers in disseminating environmental information -- so addressing environmental education.
I have anthro friends working in marketing (user design); architecture; in public hospitals with cross-cultural competence (how doctors and nurses deal with people from different cultures); geriatrics and policy ... just tons of stuff that isn't bones and spears stuff.

Anthro is a really useful undergraduate degree even if you don't go on to become a professional anthropologist. In fact, most majors don't. But you learn analytical, systematic thinking; how to take a broader view of the world, which is pretty important nowadays given globalization; and how to write clearly and accurately, as anthro's data is presented not in tables and numbers but as text. College students really like learning the methods of anthropology. Participant-observation and ethnography are usable in marketing, business settings, non-profits (social service agencies). It teaches people how to go into a new situation and really look at it in a systematic way. It teaches you to listen to people about their own experience of the world, rather than going in with your own preconceptions. It's tremendously useful.

Most important for YOU is that you have a wide range of interests and a BA in anthropology will allow you to pursue all of those. Anthropology is the holistic study of humans -- everything about us from cultural meaning to social organization to population genetics to evolution to ape behavior. It's very flexible, which makes it an excellent major for you at this point (and, as a previous person pointed out, you can always change).

Your interest in psychology is great -- how about focusing on cross-cultural psychology? Too much of our psychotherapy, for instance, is based on Western culture. But would it help if you were counselling, say, immigrants from India or Pakistan or the Sudan? So, even if you settle on psychology, anthropology will have helped you.

Be sure to take a good selection of quantitative classes (statistics, surveys) even if you choose an anthro major -- those stats classes will make you more marketable, and anyhow any educated person should understand those methods.

Really, it sounds like anthropology would be a great first choice for you.

Answer 2

There really is little difference in the career sector between a BA and a BS. The main difference is whether you have an interest in more scientific coursework, which often fulfills a BS requirement, so don't worry about that so much.

I agree that you should definitely follow a career path that best suits your interests. Keep in mind that this day and age, most people change jobs numerous times, and it is also common to change careers at some point. Also, career crystalization does not naturally occur until around 25 so don't fret. What you are going through is normal. It's just a stage of development. The best thing to do is to explore your options. Interview and job shadow people in all of these areas and find out what other options they may know of in these fields.

My personal opinion is that a BA in Psychology and Anthropology will lead to few work options. These are generally fields that yield little pay with a bachelors level degree. A BS in Biology with a teaching credential is an option. Depending on the region that you live in, teaching can be a fairly decent salary, but only the Bio would be certifiable in most places.

I used my psychology and sociology dual major to land a case worker role in a social work setting for awhile, but the basic bachelors levels skills and knowledge were not sufficient for me to do the quality of work that I wanted to do. I completed a counseling degree (bug your counselor, that's what they are paid for), a post-master's school specialization, and am looking into a Ph. D program for Public Policy and might use these all for running a community center or working abroad through the Peace Corps. The idea here is that your options are endless. Don't limit yourself now.

I also loved Women's Studies, and American Culture at the university level. Use your electives in college to help you make these decisions that you are anxious about now. A liberal arts degree will get you into many entry level positions (i.e. marketing, sales, government positions, law enforcement, social service agencies.) Sometimes that experience is far more telling than book work and theory.

Good luck with your search.

Answer 3

The University should have some counselors who may be able to give you better advice on your degree. They would be the same people who can later help you look for a job or consider grad school, so they will probably be more helpful than a high school counselor. The good news is that your first year of college will mostly be taking general requirements classes, so you will have at least a year to decide before you need to take more specific classes. You'll be able to change your mind without losing any time. Maybe after taking some of the basic classes in anthropology, psychology, and biology (the basic classes count to general education requirements anyway - I took classes in all these for my requirements) you'll have a better idea of what you want to do. So I recommend signing up for 101 classes in all three. You will get a taste of them, you will meet professors who can advise you, and they will all still count towards whichever degree you end up choosing. Good luck! Most of all, enjoy yourself!

Answer 4

Honestly, BA in Anthropology gives you a LOT more job choices compared to a BA in Psyc. You'd probably have more choice than Psyc with a BA in biology too, but not as much as in Anthropology. There are sites online somewhere that show you your options with certain degrees. You could go as far as being a forensic analyst for the FBI with a BA in anthopology... and lots of experience. Most psychology degrees just leave the option to be psychologist or therapist.

Answer 5

First, take a deep breath. My goodness you are being pressured to death. That's the most important point to make right now. Just slow everybody down! You do not have to decide your fate, you know. This is a choice about an undergraduate degree, and you can change your major a couple of times before you graduate anyway. And....to be honest, a B.A. or B.S. degree is not going to move you ahead in any field, so you need at least a Masters, and that can always be in a new area too. So there are lots of choices and lots of time. If I were you, I would get everybody together and get them to just chill out. You decide. Take your time. Go for what sounds like the most fun for you....that is the secret! Otherwise you will wind up hating it. And tell your folks to take a chill pill. You too. You will think better when you are calmly in charge than when you are being stampeded.

Answer 6

I have a BA in Anthropology and had hoped to go to graduate school. I had good grades (3.63 GPA) but was unable to gain access to any of the programs I was applying. I majored in biological anthropology. There really isn't anything you can do with a BA in Anthro. so if you choose this path choose wisely and get good grades because you will need the PhD to do anything meaningful in the field. I really liked Kate G.'s post and envy her position as it sounds very rewarding, but you could very easily end up like me.

Answer 7

i am currently an anthro major and have been warned by countless members of the field that anthropology esp. archaeolgoy does not pay well - unless you want to work up to a Ph D. If you get a anthro. degree with a focus in social aspect you might be able to get a job through a corp. however i am not sure how plentiful these jobs are. ba = bachlor of the arts, bs = bachaelor of science - there are many psych majors out there (that i have spoken with) who never end up using their degrees, your best bet might be with bio. :-)

Answer 8

Do what you want to do, young lady. This is your life we are talking about, so serve yourself first. That said; I, perhaps, would like you very much as a person, regardless of degree. I would respect you as a scholar only with a degree in science, though. Anthropology and psychology are social sciences; biology, my own discipline, is a science.

Answer 9

Show your Dad Kate G's great answer on here. Realize that this is YOUR life.
Once you actually get into College and take the variety of undergraduate courses required it will help you to decide what it is you would really like to pursue.
Not many high school students know for sure what it is they want to pursue. It is mostly always unclear. Afterall how can anyone make a decision about a future they know little about until they actually begin to learn about the fields. This is one reason they have undergrad courses.
So do not worry. Everything will fall into place...later.

Answer 10

You have options. Major in one and minor in another. Get a degree in one and a masters in another. You can do something you like to pay the bills and study what you love because you love it. Follow your heart, you are more likely to finish school it the subject keeps your attention. You can always teach on the post secondary level.