Career in Anthropology?

Question

I'm thinking of pursuing a career in anthropology. That means at least four years of graduate school (probably more). Is it worth my time and money?

Answer 1

A "career in Anthropology" is actually a very vague statement. Just saying "I want to do Anthropology" really doesn't narrow the possibilities down.

You have to ask yourself what you want to do with your degree in Anthropology. If you're thinking graduate school, then perhaps you're thinking of becoming a professional academic (i.e. a professor of anthropology). To be a professor is incredibly time consuming, just ask any of your professors. However they enjoy a degree of freedom in pursuing their desired field of study that few other professional options allow. If you become a good professor, then a fairly decent amount of money will follow (since you're looking at this as an investment). Just remember you'd have to apply for and get tenure in order to be "living the good life".

If a lifetime in academia is not your ultimate goal, there are many other things that can be done with anthropology. Anthropologists make interesting journalists, as they have training in observing aspects of society that other people tend to gloss over. Large corporations are now hiring social anthropologists to fulfill a similar role as the industrial psychologist used to fill. The corporation hires anthropologists to analyze the social structure and inner workings of the company and find places to make the business more efficient.

Anthropologists also work great in marketing and advertising fields, the ability to find an untapped niche is crucial to that field.

Anthropology also lends itself well to business. The ability to run a business depends heavily on being able to combine all of those previous professional fields, as well as being able to work with AND lead others. I've not been to business school myself, but I would not be surprised to find a lot of former anthropology majors in there.

So, all that being said, you've gotta figure out what it is you want to do with your anthropological studies, and then you can figure out how to pursue it.

That being said, one of my favorite professors told me that parents of his students would come up to him at graduation and start chatting. After a few minutes of polite conversation, they would finally ask "what is my kid going to do with a degree in anthropology?!" He would always respond the same way, "they will go out and get a white collar job, just like the rest of the students graduating today."

Answer 2

I agree with the Exochos Andras guy. My degree in anthropology was the best and worst degree for me. The job opportunities weren't as many in 1979, so I had to get a second degree in biology, and eventually went to Medical school I now practice medicine, but I use the Anthropology degree everyday. The information is the most relevant and useful that you will ever encounter and the way of observation that is encouraged will serve you the rest of your life. By the way, my BS in Anthropology was as hard as medical school, just different approaches to similar material

Answer 3

i replaced into an anthropology important and that i finally end up doing archaeology for 5 years. Now i'm engaged on a Masters in Zoology with a concentration on primates examine. (I took a primate examine path as an undergraduate) Archaeology is large given which you could locate out approximately different cultures via their cloth custom - fantastically in case you pick for to learn in a foreign country.

Answer 4

A degree in anthropology doesn't open too many career doors for you. Pretty much all you can do with the degree is became a college professor of anthropology! So, if that's what you want to do with your life, go for it. Otherwise, go for a more practical degree, like an MBA or something...

Answer 5

You have to do what YOU LIKE not what it pays or how long it takes to study. I find the subject very interesting but the people who teach it are total "stiffs." (at least the ones I have had as professors) :->

Answer 6

yup

because anthropology is a wide sience and also the field work is more open and wider