What Can I Do With a Major In Anthropology?
Connect with:Major Information
At the U of M, anthropology majors are expected to take courses in cultural, biological, archaeological, and linguistic anthropology. Through your coursework, you will gain invaluable insights and perspectives about people across many cultures and time periods and develop intensive research and writing skills. Topics like globalization, politics, race, and cultural diversity will cultivate critical and comparative analysis expertise.
All liberal arts degrees help CLA students develop their Core Career Competencies, and anthropology majors develop specific skills that are applicable to lots of different careers. These skills include:
- Strong cross-cultural knowledge and understanding
- Analytical and critical thinking skills
- Ability to conduct and explain anthropological and scientific research
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Listening, clarifying, questioning and responding skills
- Ability to work well with diverse groups
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Interest code: IRE
Internship & Job Search Websites
- GoldPASS
- HECUA internship program
- EPIC Job Board
- American Anthropology Association
- American Association of Physical Anthropologist
- Society for Applied Anthropology
- National Association for the Practice of Anthropology
- American Anthropology Association
- Minnesota Association of Museums
- Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
- Idealist (Nonprofit positions in the US and internationally)
- USA Jobs
- Public Service Careers (Check out “Why Public Service?”)
Student Groups
Professional Organizations
- American Association of Physical Anthropologists
- Archaeological Institute of America
- EPIC-Advancing the Value of Ethnography in Industry
- Society for Applied Anthropology
- National Association for the Practice of Anthropology:
- National Association of Student Anthropologist
- Society for Historical Archeology
- Minnesota Association of Museums
- American Association of Museums
- National Emerging Museum Professionals Network
Graduate Programs in Anthropology
- Master of Arts, Applied Linguists. Post grad job: English Language Teacher, International Institute of Minnesota
- Master of Science, Forensic Anthropology and Archeology. Post grad job: Operations Associate & Salesforce Administrator, Privia Health
Career Options
Below is a small sampling of what alumni with this major have pursued, organized by the most common career fields they go into (although keep in mind that there are anthropology alumni in all eight of the career fields). For more career information for Anthropology majors, utilize these resources:
- What Can I Do With This Major - Find information about common career paths, employers, and strategies for how to build experience in different career fields
- LinkedIn's Alumni Tool - Explore thousands of alumni career pathways
- GoldPASS - Explore different job, internship, and volunteer opportunities as well as career events on campus
Note: *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required