Anthropology


The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences offers a B.A., B.G.S., and a Minor in Anthropology, as well as a M.A. and a Ph.D. Anthropology is the study of past and present human societies. It is one of the most wide-ranging of the academic disciplines. Anthropologists are concerned with the origin, history, and future of our own species, so the field is as diverse as people are.

Anthropology Department

Sample of Related Skills 

  • Research the evolution of humankind from its beginnings several million years ago to the present day  
  • Understand the human condition, from cooking recipes to dance steps, from sacred rituals to child's play  
  • Analyze how different peoples of the world organize their lives and societies  
  • Research how people adapt to diverse cultural and biological situations  
  • Research language, its history, and its evolution as a way to understand humans and their culture  
  • Analyze behaviors and describe contemporary and historical cultures  
  • Understand the biological aspects of human existence 

Popular Career Paths  

Archeology: Focuses on material objects that people in the past have made, and learning the meaning behind these objects, particularly beliefs or behaviors. 

Biological Anthropology: Involves the study of the evolution of the human body, as well as our primate relatives.  

Cultural Anthropology: Involves understanding and internal workings of societies which can include religion, politics, ecology, and symbolism of a culture. 

Linguistic Anthropology: Includes the study of language in different cultures. 

Jobs to Consider 

Places to Seek Employment 

  • Archives
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Community Development Agencies
  • Consulting Firms
  • Cultural Agencies
  • Department of the Interior
  • Ethnic Agencies
  • Foreign Aid Agencies
  • Historic Preservation Offices
  • Historical Societies
  • International Health Organizations
  • Museums
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Park Service
  • Non-Profit Organizations
  • Public Health Centers
  • Social Service Agencies
  • United Nations
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • World Health Organization
  • Zoos

Explore More Career Resources

American Alliance of Museums - Resources related to managing a career in museums 

Internships USA - Lists of internships by industry

Kansas State Historical Society - apply for internship opportunities in Kansas 

National Association for the Practice of Anthropology - job postings, anthropology related articles, and blogs 

The Society for Applied Anthropology - job postings in anthropology 

American Anthropological Association -  - explore various careers in anthropology, gain valuable information about the field, and find useful internship/job resources 

American Association of Physical Anthropologists - information on graduate programs in physical anthropology. Resources for careers in biological, physical anthropology and careers in museums and government agencies as well as available job opportunities   

Paleontological Research Institution - description of what paleontology is and other career related information 

Shovelbums - archeology job postings 

Society for Historical Archeology - employment opportunities, field school information, types of careers in historical anthropology 

The Society for Applied Anthropology - information on institutions offering degrees in applied anthropology