Description | Skills | Experience | Sample Careers/Work Settings | Salary
Double Majors/Minors | Advanced Degrees | NCSU Orgs | Prof. Orgs | Links | Next Steps

Description of Major

Anthropology is the study of human behavior, an exploration of what it means to be human that ranges from the study of culture and social relations, to human biology and evolution, to languages, to music, art and architecture, and to vestiges of human habitation.

It embraces four broad fields: cultural anthropology, linguistics, physical anthropology and archaeology. Anthropology at NC State provides three primary alternative tracks for the undergraduate major, Applied, Bioarchaeology, and General.

The major provides training particularly well-suited to twenty-first century job markets, with economies that are increasingly international, workforces that are increasingly multicultural, and with participatory management and decision-making styles becoming ever more the norm. Anthropologists engage in academic, corporate, nonprofit, or government work both in the US and abroad.

Courses include:

Physical Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Language and Culture, Introduction to Forensic Anthropology, Human Variation, The Human Fossil Record, Biological Bases for Human Social Behavior, Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Women, and Anthropology of Religion.

The Undergraduate Catalog shows a listing of Anthropology courses, and the degree audit shows the curricula requirements for this major. If you are interested in expanding your career options, consider double-majoring and/or adding a minor.

Return to top

Skills You Develop In This Major

• Research & Investigation
• Critical Thinking
• Communication
• Human Relations
• Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Detail orientation

Gaining Career-Related Experience

You are strongly encouraged to gain career-related experience prior to graduation in the form of an internship, summer job, or co-op. Though course credit is not available for this experience through the department or major, you may receive compensation from the employer.

Co-op is a program of alternating semesters of work and school. Paid work terms of increasing responsibility enable students to graduate with the minimum equivalent of one year of relevant work experience. Full-time enrollment during the semester prior to the first work term is required. You can begin co-op after completion of at least two semesters (30 credit hours) at NC State (one semester for transfers and graduate students). An NC State transcript must show grades and admission to a degree program. A minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.50 (3.00 for graduate students) is required. The Co-op Office web site lists the Orientation Schedule, which is the first step to program participation.

Internships are typically full-time during the summer or (for some) part-time during the semester. You can start interning or seeking summer jobs related to your field, whenever you are ready. The University Career Center provides services to help you get started.

Participate in ePack, the Career Center's on-line system that connects employees with students through internship postings, on-campus interviews, information sessions, and resume searches. You may activate your ePack account at any time.

Internship Example

• NC Conservation Network: Environmental and Education Outreach
• Summer Intern with State of NC

Return to top

Sample Career Titles and Possible Work Settings

The following lists provide a brief sampling of the kind of jobs and work environments you might find with a degree in this major. These titles and work settings are by no means an exhaustive listing. Because the world of work is always changing, over time job titles and work settings can change. The below listing is provided in hopes of giving you initial insight into a particular career field that would employ the skills and knowledge gained through this major.

Sample Career Titles	Sample Work Settings
Conservation & Restoration Assistant	Museums
Congressional Aide	State & Federal Government
Researcher	Private & Government Agencies
Health & Human Services Organizer	International and Domestic Agencies
Foreign Service Officer	U.S. Department of State
Policy Analyst	Local, State & Federal Governments or Corporate Settings

Careers Needing Advanced Degrees

• Professor
• Curator
• Research Director
• Anthropologist
• Archeologist
• Consultant

Return to top

Salary

Baccalaureate - $ 35,163 for general social science major; not specific to this one
From NACE national salary survey - July 2010: http://www.naceweb.org/research/salary_survey/

The salary listed above is an average starting salary based on skills and experiences gained at the Bachelors level. Keep in mind that salary level typically increases with additional experience and/or educational degrees.

Furthermore, you may have the opportunity to mold an entry-level position into your dream job and subsequently increase your salary as you learn more, add responsibilities and gain experience.

NC State Related Organizations & Clubs

Anthropology Club
Faculty Adviser: James Wallace, 515-9025, tmwallace@mindspring.com

Professional Resources (Outside NC State)

These resources include organizations, clubs, and conferences not affiliated with NC State and can be an important part of your career pursuit.

• American Anthropological Association
• American Academy of Forensic Sciences
• National Association for the Practice of Anthropology (NAPA)
• Society for Applied Anthropology

Links to Related Resources

• University Career Center
• For more specific information on occupation/job skills, expectations, and salary, go to the Occupational Information Network site and search for a specific job. (hint: for salary info, select a report on one of the jobs and find the wages link at the bottom of the page.)
• The list of available Minors at NC State.
• Experimental Courses Listing (a.k.a. Special Topics)
• Department of Sociology & Anthropology
• College of Humanities & Social Sciences
• Cooperative Education Program
  

Next Steps

Need more information about this major? Contact the expert on this major,
Coordinator of Advising.

Don't want this major? Continue exploring the available majors.
Still unsure of your major and/or not sure what to do next?
You know you want this major. What do you need to do now?

Return to top

Last updated: 21st of September, 2010 at 12:25:38 PM

[ What Can I Do With A Major In...? | How Do I Decide On A Major? |
Degree Requirements | How Do I Change My Major? | Minors | Pre-Professional & Grad School ]

[ University Career Center | Advising Central | CALS Career Services | Textiles Career Services ]

[NC State Home]

Site last modified March 9, 2010
Copyright ©2004-2009, University Career Center and OASIS, North Carolina State University