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:
Alumnus/a |
Organization and Position |
1 |
U.S. Forest Service, Interpretive Education |
2 |
Cultural Resource Management, Historic and Prehistoric Survey, Excavation |
3 |
Homeless Youth Center, Case Manager |
4 |
International Education in the Middle East, Academic Advisor |
5 |
Cultural Resources, Environmental Management and Compliance |
6 |
State of Oregon, Archaeologist |
7 |
Archaeology Technician |
8 |
Archaeology Field Technician |
9 |
State of Nevada, Senior Archaeologist |
10 |
Archaeology Technician, Research Assistant |
11 |
U.S. Forest Service, Archaeologist |
12 |
Government of Japan, International Relations |
13 |
University Professor, Ethnobotany and Conservation Biology |
14 |
U.S. Department of Defense, Conflict Resolution, Afghanistan |
15 |
Linguistics Expert |
16 |
Laboratory Technician, Field School |
17 |
Community College Instructor |
18 |
Funeral Director |
19 |
U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Archaeology Technician |
20 |
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 protected]
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