What can I do with this degree?
ANTHROPOLOGY/ARCHAEOLOGY

AREAS

EDUCATION

• Teaching
• Research
• Administration
• Student Affairs
• Library/Information Science
• Non-classroom Education

EMPLOYERS

• Universities/colleges/community colleges
• University research institutes or laboratories
• Campus museums
• Zoos
• Nature centers

STRATEGIES

• Earn a Ph.D. in Anthropology for university and college faculty positions or an  M.A./M.S. for community college positions.
• Earn a graduate degree in College Student Affairs, Library/Information Science or related field for work in student affairs, administration, or libraries. 
• Gain research experience by assisting professors or participating in independent studies.
• Maintain a high g.p.a and develop strong personal recommendations. 
• Develop excellent communication and presentation skills. 
• Get involved in campus leadership positions such as Resident Assistant, Peer Advisor, or Admissions Tour Guide.

MUSEUMS AND ARCHIVES

• Management/Administration
• Curatorship
• Conservation
• Restoration
• Research
• Education
• Libraries
• Development

EMPLOYERS

• Natural history or history museums: Universities, State, federal or local, Private
• Archives
• Historical Societies

STRATEGIES

• Plan to earn a graduate degree in anthropology, museum studies, library science (with an emphasis on archives) or other related discipline depending upon specific interests. 
• Gain relevant experience through internships or volunteering positions in museums. 
• Develop a strong attention to detail. 
• Be prepared to relocate to access the most employment opportunities.

ARCHAELOGY

• Cultural/Resource Management
• Research
• Excavation
• Field Work

EMPLOYERS

• Consulting firms
• Environmental/engineering companies
• Firms specializing in archaeological investigation
• Federal, state and local government
• Urban and city planning offices
• Historic preservation societies

STRATEGIES

• Field positions require a B.S./B.A. and previous field experience. 
• Get involved with faculty research or other research programs. 
• Obtain a graduate degree to direct field crews. 
• May need a willingness to travel and endure adverse living/working conditions during field studies or excavations. 
• Working conditions and hours vary with the type of  work/research performed.

GOVERNMENT

• Administration
• Cultural Resource Management
• Surveying
• Site Management
• Excavation
• Research
• Museum Conservation
• Legislative Compliance Review
• Program Management and Evaluation
• Impact Assessment:  Social, Environmental
• Policy Analysis
• Urban Planning
• Translation/Interpretation

EMPLOYERS

Federal agencies including:
 - Bureau of Indian Affairs
 - Bureau of Land Management
 - Central Intelligence Agency
 - Department of Conservation
 - Department of Health and Human Services
 - Department of Housing and Urban Development
 - Natural Resources
 - Federal Bureau of Investigation
 - National Institutes of Health
 - National Park Service
 - Public Health Service
 - Smithsonian Institute
 - Tennessee Valley Authority
 - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
 - U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
 - U.S. Department of State
 - U.S. Forest Service

State Agencies:
 - Historic Preservation Offices
 - Parks Departments
 - Highway Departments

STRATEGIES

• Learn federal or state application procedures.
• Graduate degree generally required for higher-level positions.
• Gain related experience through internships in areas of interest.
• Develop statistical, analytical and computer skills and learn various research methodologies. 
• Get involved in campus organizations to develop leadership abilities and interpersonal skills. 
• Consider earning a minor or double major to qualify for particular areas of interest, e.g. learn a foreign language for translating/interpreting positions.

NONPROFIT

• Administration
• Program management and development
• Policy analysis
• Fund Raising/Development
• Research
• Grant Writing
• Counseling

EMPLOYERS

• Nonprofit organizations
• Social service agencies
• Hospitals and medical centers
• Private foundations, e.g. The Ford Foundation
• International organizations, e.g. The World Health Organization, The International Red Cross, and the United Nations

STRATEGIES

• Seek volunteer and internship positions to gain experience.
• Hone skills in public speaking, writing, and programming.
• Obtain a degree in counseling for therapy positions. 
• Learn to work well with people from varying backgrounds.

BUSINESS

• Management
• Sales/Marketing
• Human Resources
• Public Relations
• Consulting

EMPLOYERS

• Business corporations in various industries such as:  banking, retailing, insurance, financial services, travel and tourism.
  Cultural resource firms
  International companies
• Consulting firms:  management, scientific, technical

STRATEGIES

• Many businesses hire students of "any major" if they have relevant experience and have developed the skills employers seek. 
• Minor in business or another relevant field. 
• Obtain related experience through internships, summer and part-time jobs. 
• Develop strong analytical and computer skills. 
• Learn to work well on a team. 
• Get involved in campus organizations and seek leadership roles.

COMMUNICATIONS

• Documentary Film Production
• Photography/Photojournalism
• Journalism
• Writing/Editing
• Publishing

EMPLOYERS

• Colleges and universities
• Government agencies
• Government and private museums
• Local historical societies or sites
• Television and motion picture industry
• Internet media companies
• Independent production companies
• Publishing houses
• Newspapers and magazines
• Freelance/self-employed

STRATEGIES

• Minor or double major in a communications field. 
• Develop excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. 
• Submit articles or books for publication. 
• Work for campus or student run publications. 
• Demonstrate talent, persistence, assertiveness, competitive spirit, and enthusiasm. 
• Compile a portfolio of writing, graphics and ideas. 
• Develop strong computer skills. 
• Obtain internship, summer or part-time experience with book, magazine, or newspaper publishers. 
• Develop an attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Most professional anthropological jobs require a graduate degree.
• Those interested in anthropology may specialize in one of its four branches: archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistics, or physical anthropology.  Many subfields exist within the larger specialties such as forensic anthropology, a subfield of physical anthropology.  Typically students take a general curriculum as an undergraduate and specialize through graduate studies.
• As the demand for university/college faculty positions decreases, most openings will exist in consulting firms and government agencies.
• To increase your employment opportunities with a bachelor's degree, consider minoring or double majoring in another field such as sociology, business, urban planning, or public administration.
• Anthropology provides a solid background for a variety of graduate programs including law, medicine, forensics, or genetic counseling.  Research admissions requirements and take prerequisite courses.
• Anthropology is good preparation for jobs that involve people skills and require an understanding of cultural differences.
• Spend a summer in field school or travel and study other cultures.
• Volunteer to help with a professor's research.
• Gaining relevant work experience through internships, practicums, part-time jobs, or volunteer positions is critical.

Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services, at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  (1996, Revised 2002, 2007) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA Employer