Anthropology: How to Use

It
By Elizabeth Rivera
Anthropology’s
Confusing
But why is this the case?
 HISTORY

BIOLOGY

Anth GENETICS

LANGUAGE
Covers A- PSYCHOLOGY
LOT ARCHEOLOGY

FORENSICS

BUSINESS
Definitions are
Confusing

• “..study of people and cultures in

the past and today”
• “…addresses both biological and
cultural aspects of humans”
• “..study of human biological and
physiological characteristics and their
evolution”
• “the study of people throughout the
world, their evolutionary history, how
they behave, adapt to different
environments, communicate and
socialise with one another”
The Big
Problem
If it’s confusing for us, how do we
explain it to employers?
Solution 1: Split Into Categories

• AAA’s 4 Categories:
• Sociocultural Anthropology
• Study “how people live and how they organize, govern, and give meaning”
• Archeology
• Studying the “stuff we left behind” to learn more about past culture
• Physical/Biological Anthropology
• Study human evolution, genetics, disease, human remains
• Linguistics
• How language works, evolves, how we use language
Solution 2: Simplify It

• Stanford University
• "Anthropology is devoted to the study of human beings and human societies as
they exist across time and space”
• Museum of Natural History
• “Anthropology is the study of people everywhere — today, yesterday, and long
ago”
But what can
we learn from
anthropology?
Everything-Our Major’s Super Flexible
Learn project • Grants, plan, coordinate, • Problem-solving
management assess projects • Critical thinking
• Tailor messages to audiences
• Surveys, stats, fieldwork,
Analytical skills
study artifacts • Presentation skills
• Open-mindedness
Cross-Cultural • Understand, interview,
skills adapt to cultures • Self-reflection
• Explain complex concepts
Communication • Writing, summarize, talk
Skills in other languages
What about
jobs?
 Education
• Teaching, research, administration, library, college administration

Museums and Archives

• Curation, preservation, management, acquisition exhibitions, maintain records

Flexible Archeology
• Cultural resource management, project archeology, excavation, fieldwork

Major, Government
• Administration, site management, impact assessment, policy analysis

Flexible Nonprofit
• Fundraising, grant writing, program management, volunteer coordination,

Field Range service delivery

Business
• Sales, customer service, PR, HR, marketing, insurance, real estate

Communications
• Journalism, photojournalism, writing, publishing, photography, documentary
film production
What if
employers still
aren’t
convinced?
 Tell them about our famous faces
Tracy Chapman Zora Neale Mary Leakley Jane Goodall
(singer) Hurston (author) (archeologist) (primatologist)

Kelly Reichs Dr. Ann Dunham Steve Riggio

(Bones Noam Chomsky Soetoro (Barnes & Noble
Producer) (economist) (Obama’s mom) founder)

Glenn Close Yo-Yo-Ma Matt Elam (NFL Prince Charles of

(actress) (violinist) Player) England
Overall,
anthropology…
 Studies humanity-its past, present and future
• Sociocultural, archeology, biological, linguistic subsets

Covers many subjects

• Forensics, biology, genetics, psychology, language,
business, etc.
Teaches you job skills needed for any job
Anthropology… • Project management, analytical, cross-cultural,
communication skills, etc.
Holds a wide array of job opportunities for you
• Work in education, archeology, government, business, and
more
Has many famous faces that you may recognize
• Prince Charles, Zora Neale Hurston, Yo-Yo-Ma, and more
Have any
questions or
comments?
Let’s talk about it!
Thanks for your participation-here’s my cites:
1. “University Career Center.” Anthropology | University Career Center. University of Michigan, 2014. https://careercenter.umich.edu/article/anthropology.
2. “What Is Anthropology?” What is Anthropology? - Advance Your Career. American Anthropology Association. Accessed January 30, 2022.
https://www.americananthro.org/AdvanceYourCareer/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=2150&gclid=Cj0KCQiAi9mPBhCJARIsAHchl1zhfqECMMwPUNbrEhPwAd7WJONKWsFEHH
NvGUNvm7fxgooj5FQbfAQaAs7yEALw_wcB.
3. “What Is Anthropology?: AMNH.” Ology. American Museum of Natural History. Accessed January 30, 2022. https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/anthropology/what-is-
anthropology.
4. Jarus, Owen. “What Is Anthropology?” LiveScience. Purch, April 15, 2014. https://www.livescience.com/44833-what-is-anthropology.html.
5. “What Is Anthropology?” discoveranthropology.org.uk. Royal Anthropological Institute. Accessed January 30, 2022. https://www.discoveranthropology.org.uk/about-
anthropology/what-is-anthropology.html.
6. Hirst, K. Kris. “Anthropology Defined: How Scholars Define the Study of Humans.” ThoughtCo. ThoughtCo, October 24, 2019. https://www.thoughtco.com/anthropology-
defined-169493.
7. Editors, AGCAS. “What Can I Do with an Anthropology Degree? | Prospects.ac.uk.” Prospects. Prospects. Accessed January 30, 2022. https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-
advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/anthropology.
8. Fera, Nafisa. “Knowledge and Skills.” discoveranthropology.org.uk. Royal Anthropological Institute. Accessed January 30, 2022.
https://www.discoveranthropology.org.uk/career-paths/knowledge-and-skills.html.
9. Neely, Sharlotte. “Careers of Famous Anthropologists.” Inside NKU: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region. Northern Kentucky University. Accessed
January 30, 2022. https://inside.nku.edu/artsci/departments/sapdept/anthropology/careers-in-anthropology/career-listings/careers-of-famous-anthropologists.html.
10. “What You Can Do with This Degree: Famous Sociology & Anthropology Majors - Department of Sociology Anthropology.” UIS. University of Illinois Springfield. Accessed
January 30, 2022. https://www.uis.edu/sociologyanthropology/about/famoussociologyandanthropologymajors/.
11. “What Can I Do with This Major?: Anthropology/Archeology.” What Can I Do With This Major. University of Tennessee Center for Career Development. Accessed January 31,
2022. https://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/anthropologyarchaeology/.
12. Encyclopædia Britannica, Editors. “Mary Leakey.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., December 5, 2021. https://www.britannica.com/place/Laetoli.
13. “About Kathy.” Kathy Reichs. Kathy Reichs, 2019. https://kathyreichs.com/about-kathy/.