Anthropology: A Growing Field with Unique Career Opportunities

Anthropology is one of the fastest growing social science disciplines, with most of the growth arising from the management, scientific, and technical consulting services industry.

An Anthropology Degree Offers Several Career Paths

Anthropologists study and teach human culture and history, both ancient and modern, but they do much more than this. An anthropology team may be embedded with U.S. troops in order to smooth over cultural disparities with the local population. Others may work in forensics or give advice on economic development or intercultural differences to governments or major corporations.

Anthropology Careers

While all anthropologists follow a similar degree program, whether through an online education institution or traditional university, most end up specializing in one of four areas. The following career paths may be followed with an anthropology degree.

• Biophysical anthropology consists of studying the earliest proof of human life, the evolution of the human body, and the influence culture and biology have on each other.
• Linguistic anthropology entails researching the evolution of language and its role in different cultures.
• Physical anthropology involves examining actual human remains found at archeological sites. They examine population demographics and factors that affect those demographics, like nutrition and disease.
• Sociocultural anthropology focuses on the customs, cultures, and social interactions of various groups living in modern cities or developing regions.

Obtaining Your Anthropology Degree

An online or traditional degree will involve similar coursework. To succeed as an anthropologist, you'll most likely need a master's degree or PhD. In general, the more advanced your degree, the higher your salary. The federal government offers the highest average salaries to anthropologists, with a mean annual wage of $67,980 in 2008.
When choosing an anthropology degree program, look for one that will help you find internship opportunities. Most employers appreciate seeing internship work on a resume.
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Social Scientists, Other
Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2007, Anthropologists and Archeologists

Laura Horwitz has worked as a freelance writer and researcher for seven years in both London and the US, focusing frequently on education and career advice. She has also taught English and journalism. She currently lives in Los Angeles.