What can be done with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology? Anthropology graduates, like their peers from other Liberal Arts fields, tend to be generalists with excellent critical-thinking skills. Sectors in which liberal arts graduates tend to find jobs include: private businesses and industry, government and non-governmental organizations, nonprofit organizations, and international agencies.
Anthropology Career FAQs
Anthropology graduates have used their bachelor's degree as a foundation to go into other related fields such as information research, documentary film making, environmental or social impact assessment, international development, medical and/or health-related jobs, law enforcement and forensics, international business, management, marketing, personnel, public relations, fundraising, teaching, bilingual education, translating and interpreting, park management and historic preservation.
In a 2013 survey of Oregon State University's anthropology undergraduate alumni, 88% of respondents said they had obtained work within one year of graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. Among recent graduates, 52% said they went on to continue their education. Current positions held by a few of those surveyed are as follows:
- U.S. Forest Service, Interpretive Education
- Cultural Resource Management, Historic and Prehistoric Survey, Excavation
- Homeless Youth Center, Case Manager
- International Education in the Middle East, Academic Advisor
- Cultural Resources, Environmental Management and Compliance
- State of Oregon, Archaeologist
- Archaeology Technician
- Archaeology Field Technician
- State of Nevada, Senior Archaeologist
- Archaeology Technician, Research Assistant
- U.S. Forest Service, Archaeologist
- Government of Japan, International Relations
- University Professor, Ethnobotany and Conservation Biology
- U.S. Department of Defense, Conflict Resolution, Afghanistan
- Linguistics Expert
- Laboratory Technician, Field School
- Community College Instructor
- Funeral Director
- U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Archaeology Technician
- High School Counselor
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College of Liberal Arts Career Advising & Appointments;
Michelle Strowbridge, Ph.D. | Assistant Director of Career Development
Bexell Hall 204 | 541-740-3573 | Email Dr. Strowbridge
In-person or Zoom appointments can be scheduled through BeaverHub.
For 24/7 resources, visit the OSU Career Development Center
For additional resources, visit OSU Alumni Association Career Engagement