Anthropology major? (Job prospects)?

Well not to say 'good luck with that' again...but you'd probably be better off with an BA degree in Anthro rather than a science if you're looking to go into business. The Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology is a great option for students who have a strong interest in Anthro, but also want to explore other disciplines in greater depth. Students who choose this degree option can also opt to later go on to further study in law, education, journalism, political science, and business. The Bachelor of Science in Anthropology offers excellent preparation for careers in science, as well as further graduate study in Anthro or related disciplines. Students with a strong interest in science can also benefit from this degree options extensive study in biological science and research methodology. _______________________ I for one went for a BA in Cultural Anthropology with a minor in Asian Studies- I've been living in China, Japan, and Korea for the past 9 years. I had an interest in education and Asia, so instead of just going for an education degree I went with Anthro. To me it was a better option and more flexible then education since I didn't know if I actually wanted to teach if I ever returned to the States. I mainly work with immersion schools here in China as a Director of studies. I set up programs to help Chinese students make the switch to University in the US and working on their English. But I've also worked with a few NGOs on the side. The biggest hurdle most Anthro students face is how to translate their schooling to the outside world- I'm not to sure about the BS degree but with the BA it's really very flexible depending on what classes you've chosen to study. Try to break down what it is you've learned as if you're telling a child- that's the easiest way to get a firm grasp on what you've learned. From there you can start looking around to see how that can be used in the field you want to pursue. In business a lot of people skills are taught in Anthro, be it management- human resources- reading people- statistics- cultural practices. **Let's take cultural practices for instance- how can that help you work in business? Well you are able to identify current trends and to some extent predict a market response by understanding the general culture of a target group. In a marketing position this would be a great asset to any company, in an HR position this is also a great asset in order to maintain a high degree of motivation and cohesion in a department.

I remember one book about choosing a career where the author says that when she came to New York, she had no marketable skills, only a bachelor's degree in anthropology, and that's just about as unqualified as a person can get. I was fortunate in getting a job ("the most coveted job in town") managing the labs in a univ. anthropology department, with only a B.A. in anthropology, in preference to other applicants with a PhD. Much of that had to do with a 20-year connection with the academic and no-academic staff there, where I showed that I was willing to do any kind of work, carefully and with respect. The great majority of museum jobs seem to assume that a person is independently wealthy: the assumption seems to be that just working there is benefit enough. My sister was able to move from a low-paying museum job to one as technical manager for Canada's National Gallery by adding an MBA to her qualifications. A PhD in anthropology seems to be a basic qualification now. If I were you, I'd change my major to General Business.

I remember one book about choosing a career where the author says that when she came to New York, she had no marketable skills, only a bachelor's degree in anthropology, and that's just about as unqualified as a person can get. I was fortunate in getting a job ("the most coveted job in town") managing the labs in a univ. anthropology department, with only a B.A. in anthropology, in preference to other applicants with a PhD. Much of that had to do with a 20-year connection with the academic and no-academic staff there, where I showed that I was willing to do any kind of work, carefully and with respect. The great majority of museum jobs seem to assume that a person is independently wealthy: the assumption seems to be that just working there is benefit enough. My sister was able to move from a low-paying museum job to one as technical manager for Canada's National Gallery by adding an MBA to her qualifications. A PhD in anthropology seems to be a basic qualification now. If I were you, I'd change my major to General Business.