Career Options

The study of people can take you into almost any career path, anywhere in the world, including education, health care, museum curation, social work, international development, government, human relations, non-profit management, marketing, publishing and forensics. Here are some ideas to help you imagine what kinds of futures an anthropology degree from Miami University might open for you.

Business Careers

Anthropology has been a hot undergraduate degree for MBAs in Europe for decades and now it is gaining popularity in the U.S.

Pre-Professional Studies

With its emphasis on critical thinking and global relations between people, anthropology is an excellent co-major for pre-Med and major for pre-Law.

Graduate Studies

Many of our graduates choose to go on to graduate school in anthropology. Students with high GPAs, research experience, good writing skills, and individual mentoring by one or more faculty members are especially likely to be well-prepared for this path.

Career Opportunities

Historical/Intercultural

Museum curator/researcher
Geneologist
U.N. research worker
International relief representative
Salvage archeologist
Collections assistant
Heritage conservationist
Natural landmarks officer
Historic preservationist
Librarian
Natural resource ethnography

Research

Environmental researcher
Interviewer
Highway safety researcher
Population planning assistant
Ethnologist
Geneticist
Zoologist
Paleontologist
Occupational safety researcher
Foreign market researcher
Conservation

Business/Industry

Public relations representative
Public opinion pollster
Sales campaign planner
Insurance underwriter
Travel agent or tour guide
Sales/marketing representative
International hotel manager
Bank manager
Consultant cross cultural relations
Personnel worker

Communications

Linguist
Technical writer
Newspaper columnist
Educational television researcher
Biographical writer
Scientific/technical writer
Reporter
International affairs correspondent
Ethnographic photographer

Government

Urban planner
Archivist
Resource specialist
Classical anthropologist
Historical archeologist
Artifact conservator
Cultural affairs officer
Diplomatic service representative
Consumer researcher
Immigration official/adviser
Urban renewalist
Child care worker
Foreign service officer

Human Services

Urban social planner
Anthropological linguist
Rural development worker
Ethnic groups special concerns advocate
International development administrator
Inter-cultural educator, Peace Corps, VISTA, UNESCO, FAO
Academic adviser
Fund raiser
Medical anthropologist
Grant writer
Affirmative action officer
Mental health worker
Foundation worker
Psychological anthropologist
Health care worker
Public health worker

Note: Some of the listed career options may require additional education and/or training beyond the bachelor's degree.

More information on careers for anthropology majors:

Advertising

Malefyt, Timothy DeWaal and Brian Moeran. 2003. Advertising Cultures. Berg.

Consulting

Littlefield, Carol and Emilia Gonzalez-Clements. 2008. “Creating Your Own Consulting Business.” NAPA BULLETIN 29, pp. 152–165.
Maynard-Tucker, Giselle. 2008. “Becoming an International Consultant” NAPA BULLETIN 29, pp. 181–194.

Government

Fiske, Shirley J. 2008. “Working for the Federal Government: Anthropology Careers” NAPA BULLETIN 29, pp. 110–130.

International Development

Ford, Liz. 2008 "So You Want to Work in International Development" The Guardian, Jan. 18.
Nolan, Riall W. 2008. “Using Anthropology Overseas” NAPA BULLETIN 29, pp. 166–180.

Marketing

Sunderland Patricia and Rita Denny. 2007. Doing Anthropology in Consumer Research. Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast Press.

Non-Profit Organizations

Archaeology Student and Media Technologist Jessica Goldfin On Finding The Ampersands In Your Career by Adam Bluestein. 05-30-2012 | What experiences as an archaeologist taught 27-year-old Jessica Goldfin about community-building games, newsroom convergence, and innovation in any occupation.