Anthropology integrates insights from the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences to explore human behavior, culture, and evolution. This broad, interdisciplinary approach provides students with a deep understanding of human diversity and commonality across time and space.
While some anthropology graduates pursue careers directly related to the field, such as academia and museology, the skills gained through the major or minor are also applicable to many other sectors. Our alum are employed in education, public policy, international development, healthcare, law, business management, museum curation, marketing, consulting, advertising, and cultural resources management, among other careers.
Anthropology majors frequently pursue careers in healthcare and law. In healthcare, training in anthropology fosters enables professionals to design and deliver patient-centered care that respects diverse backgrounds and addresses health disparities. In law, it equips professionals with a deep understanding of the ways that social dynamics and unique cultural contexts shape human behavior, aiding in fair legal practices, conflict resolution, and advocacy. The degree’s emphasis on ethical considerations and critical thinking is crucial for navigating complex moral issues in both fields, ensuring informed, empathetic, and effective professional practice.
Cultural competence, a core aspect of anthropology, is increasingly important in today’s globalized world. Understanding cultural differences and being able to navigate them is crucial in fields such as international development and diplomacy. Anthropologists’ ability to work across cultures also makes them valuable in non-profit organizations that operate in diverse cultural settings, where they might be involved in community outreach, program development, or advocacy work.
Our curriculum also empowers students to conduct both qualitative and quantitative research, analyze complex data, and draw meaningful conclusions. These skills are particularly valuable in careers such as market research, corporate consulting, and UX, where understanding consumer behavior and cultural trends is crucial. Anthropologists are trained to observe and interpret human interactions, making them well-suited for roles that require deep insights into human behavior. Google, Microsoft, and Intel all hire anthropologists to study market trends and the ways people engage with technology as well as the inner workings of these companies.
Importantly, the unique methods and global perspective provided by an anthropology degree make graduates adaptable to a rapidly changing job market. Global cultural awareness and an ability to think critically about the complexities of human behavior and social structures are valuable assets for most professional paths in both the public and private sectors.