Should my daughter go straight to masters in Anthropology?

Question

My daughter just finished getting a degree in anthropology. Should she work in the field then get a masters? If she should work awhile first, any ideas where she should start?

one person suggested she become a store clerk. My question is not because she has to work . She chose the degree she does not ever HAVE to work. I am asking about voulenteer work at various sites

Answer 1

I think she'd get more out of her master's level studies if she went out and did some work first. (Because the converse also involves someone not ever being out of school until their lates 20s! I know a brilliant guy who never had to choose a health care plan until he finally started teaching at Princeton at the age of 30...) I had a professor once tell me that her department preferred grad students who had gone on to do something else after undergrad. They were older, more experienced, more sure of themselves and brought something more than just their grades to the program.

She could work at a museum, on an archaeological dig, teach abroad, act as a research assistant - she should ask a professor for suggestions.

Answer 2

To be honest, Anthropology is kind of a "specialty" discipline that has been, and remains, largely centered around University-based teaching and research. that being said, there are a few things you can do with an MA in anthropology. Most obviously, you can teach at a 2 year college. If you have studied archaeology as a sub discipline, you can also rise to the very top of the ladder in a private sector Cultural Resources Management firm. Beyond those two obvious things, many master's programs are now being offered in anthropology departments with additional certificates in Museum studies, or offer cross listed MA's with international studies or medicne. These types of programs will offer additional avenues for careers in museums, NGO's, etc. Many of the people I know from my many years of studying anthropology actually have not actually gone on to be anthropologists per se, but they all have been really grateful for the type of education they gained by studying anthropology. After all, anthropology is "the sudy of Us", and what profession can you think of that doesn't fit under that?

Answer 3

I would strongly suggest it. I work as an archaeologist right now, so my reasoning is based on the dynamic in that field, but I imagine it applies. Generally, in archaeology, the more education you have, the higher you are on the totem pole. The people who worked for a while before going on to grad school tend to be better crew chiefs. I think this is because they know what it's like to be a grunt, and they know what it's like to be in the field. I mean, yeah, everyone by that time has field experience, but it's different when you know what it's like to work under some idiot who is more concerned about getting done on time than the fact that morale is at zero and it's so rainy and muddy that the site's getting ruined. Plus, while I love college and can't wait to go to grad school, I think that school's a bubble. Throwing some real-world experience in there is good, because then you keep in mind that your bubble isn't everything.

Obviously, it's different for different people, but I think, as long as the person is determined to go back to school and won't get lazy, a year or two of work does more good than harm. Plus, grad schools like to see that on an application.

Answer 4

i think she should do both. if she takes time out to do field work she might get behind in some of the new info coming out that she would be exposed to in school. you got to keep up with info in your field. but field work is excellent experience so she can work on her masters while having an internship or helping on a dig. proffessors are very flexable for the most part. keep the momentum going especially if she wants to go on to a doctorate degree which could take many years. the sooner the better i say. and of course she will have to work! you cannot forever be on work sites supported by grants or write books which takes a long time. she will have to get a regular job, as a teacher(not in college, not without a P.h.d.), with the goverment, or wherever she can get a job that will aford her to have money. Anthropologists do not make much money that is why so many earn their P.h.d. and become college proffessors so they can support their outside work. the anth dept. office can tell you where to go to help out on a dig site or whatever you want to do.

Answer 5

Your daughter could but she would be missing out on the basics taught to anthropology students who are achieving their bachelor degrees. Some schools wont accept you into the anthroplogy study for masters unless you have your bachelors degree. In the long run it's safer and easier to get the bachelors first and then go for the masters.

Answer 6

It's really up to her, and what her goals are. Does she plan on doing research and working in academia for the rest of her life? If so, there are pros and cons to both. Doing volunteer work or an intership between a bachelor's and a master's degree can provide material for future master's research, and can increase the number of people who can offer reccomendations for her graduate school apps. As an anthro major myself, I am planning on going this route, possibly through the Peace Corps or internships. If she does work, she should make sure it is relevant to her degree and her academic interests in that degree.

Answer 7

Tell her to do a masters study on the capitalist system, while working in it. The future of anthropology is in sudying our own, western society. We cannot continue to do ethnography only on very peripheral peoples, then wonder why capitalism fails for those people. we need to develop an athropology of western free market culture. Your daughter is an admirable girl for studying such a dynamic discipline, I hope you are proud. I am doing a masters in development studies, which uses anthropology as well as economics and geography. I hope you tell her she can a lot of exciting development work around the world with anthroology!

Answer 8

i would suggest getting as much experience as possible. field work, museum volunteer. etc. the more experience you have in this field the better your resume will be and the more contacts you will have. having a BA degree in anthropology will not get you many places in the field of anthropology. you will need at least a masters degree and preferably a phd to conduct scholarly research.

Answer 9

I would recommend she goes straight to doing her masters. A lot of people go to work with the intention of returning to studies at a later date but never do. Once she starts working and earning money she probably won't want to go back to being a poor student.

Answer 10

I would suggest she gets a bit of work experience before she pursues her Masters programme. Her work experience could benefit her when she's compiling research material for her thesis eventually.

She could try applying for jobs in musuems. Or she could try writing in to universities to be a research assistant.