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Office: Swart 118
Phone: (920) 424-4406
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Jobs and Careers

What can I do with a degree in anthropology?

Education

  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Administration
  • Universities/colleges/community colleges
  • University research institutes or laboratories
  • Earn a graduate degree in College Student Affairs for work in administration

Recommendations:

  • Ph.D. required for university and college faculty positions
  • M.A./M.S. required for community colleges
  • Gain experience assisting professors with reserch
  • Maintain a high G.P.A.
  • Develop positive relationships with professors for strong professional recommendations

Museums and Archives

  • Management
  • Curatorship
  • Conservation
  • Research
  • Education
  • Libraries
  • Development

Recommendations:

  • Graduate degree in anthropology, museum studies, library science (with an emphasis on archives) or other related discipline is recommended
  • Internships or volunteer positions will help gain experience and develop professional networks

Government

  • Administration
  • Cultural Resource Management
  • Surveying
  • Site Management
  • Research
  • Legislative Compliance Review
  • Program Management and Evaluation
  • Policy Analysis

Recommendations:

  • Positions primarily at state or federal government level
  • Graduate degree generally required for higher level positions
  • Gain related experience through internships in areas of interest
  • Get involved in campus organizations to develop leadership abilities and interpersonal skills

Nonprofits

  • Administration
  • Program management and development
  • Policy analysis
  • Research

Recommendations:

  • Seek volunteer and internship positions to gain experience
  • Hone skills in public speaking and professional writing

Business

  • Administration
  • Advertising
  • Human Resources
  • Public Relations
  • Sales/Marketing
  • Writing/Editing

General Recommendations

  • Many professional anthropological jobs require a graduate degree.
  • Anthropology is good preparation for jobs that involve people skills and require an understanding of cultural differences.
  • Spend a summer gaining field experience or travel and learn about other cultures 
  • Volunteer to assist with a professor’s research
  • Gain relevant work experience through internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer positions

Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services, at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (1996, Revised 2002) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA Employer