Anthropology Major | Everything You Need to Know About Becoming One.

A major in anthropology should be considered if you are curious and eager to know and understand the human condition both culturally and biologically. Hence, we have put this piece together to academically guide you through and we started by defining what anthropology major is.

What is an Anthropology Major?

An Anthropology major is the study of humans and also humanity. “An Anthropology major studies detailed human experience from the past and also in the present. Scholars and students of anthropology learn about human diversity and also how linguistics, culture, biology, and history impact behaviors and ideas.

Four Major Categories of Anthropology.

There are four major categories of anthropology which are: Biological anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Linguistic anthropology, Archeological Anthropology.

Biological Anthropology

The biological aspect deals with the study of primates and paleoanthropology

Cultural Anthropology

The cultural aspect of the field deals with the study of human culture, research behaviors, beliefs, and traditions of various communities around the globe. They also deal with research on social groups, political organizations, and different religious beliefs, the concept of marriage and relationship, economy, and living patterns.

Linguistic Anthropology

The linguistic aspect deals with the study of human communication e.g change in language.

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Archeological Anthropology

This is the study of the human culture of the past. It includes the history of people and the act of excavating ancient civilization sites in the bid to find relics and artifacts belonging to the past.

Since we now know what an anthropology major is, we will forge ahead to look at other important details.

Why Major in Anthropology?

There are a lot of reasons to study anthropology; one such reason is the exciting nature of the discipline.

Anthropology develops and answers the curious questions of its student, question that revolves around human behavior and culture of different people that have lived and those that are still living.

Classes in the major include the co evolutions of crops and people, human origins, and cultures that could be found on different continents. The discipline also opens the eyes of students to see different perspectives, cultures, world views, and ideologies.

Students of this discipline are majorly linguistic and through the course, they develop observation skills, research, critical thinking attributes, literal writing, and other aspects such as archeology which deals with the analysis of materials and physical remains. Also, anthropology helps in the preparation of students for job opportunities and different career paths.

Responsibilities of an Anthropologist.

• An anthropologist gathers information through interviews, observes, and then compiles historical narratives and documents.
• Organizing cultural research is another responsibility of an anthropologist.
• It is the job description of an anthropologist to develop a unique data collection method and technique which is appropriate in studying a particular culture.
• It is also the responsibility of an anthropologist to manage and record notes of observations taken in the field.
• Perform proper analysis of data, material samples, and other sources of information to discover patterns of culture, human life, organization, and origins.
• An anthropologist is expected to prepare field reports and share research data.
• An anthropologist can also give useful advice to the government and nonprofits organizations on the Impact of programs, innovations, required policies, and essential products in society.

Jobs for Anthropology Major.

You might be tempted to ask what can I do with an anthropology major? There are varieties of jobs one can get when he or she studies this course. Some of these jobs include being a museum curator or a political activist, others include:

• Linguists study how language works in the past and the present they also study numerous aspects such as phonetics, syntax, pragmatics, or semantic. They can earn an average salary of $49,871 per year.
• Archeologists use extraction and different methods of preservation to find and dig out artifacts on ancient sites. The average national salary of an archeologist is $66,543 per year.
• Curators have an average national salary of $35,734 per year. Their job description is the gathering of artifacts (buying or borrowing) for display and preservation in museums and as social workers and ecologists all of which have a respectable salary structure.

Top Schools to Study Anthropology

Here are few top schools prospective anthropology students can choose in their pursuit of a major in anthropology.

Cambridge University, UK:

Department of Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge has been being rated one of the top Anthropology departments in the world by both students and renowned scholars. Social Anthropology at Cambridge is a leading center globally in anthropological teaching and research.

Both in the UK and beyond, quite several anthropologists teaching in major university departments were tutored in this fine institution, also some of the current faculty members that received their doctorates at the institution are leading the innovative frontline research in human and social sciences today.

The tuition fee for international students at Cambridge University is £22,227.

Harvard University, US:

Established in 1631, Harvard is the oldest higher education institution in the United States and it is popular for its influence, reputation, and academic prowess as a top university in the world.

Harvard University is among the best institutions in the world to study Anthropology; it ranks as the third best place to study Anthropology in the world by QS World university ranking. The Anthropology course at Harvard seeks to understand the full context of people’s actions and all that they impact.

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The faculty of anthropology at the institution prioritizes long-term research in local languages and the excavation of artifacts in their complex context in a bid to understand social life in all its richness and depth. The Department of Anthropology at Harvard offers students three programs of study: Archaeology, Social Anthropology, and a combined track that brings together both fields.

The cost of tuition for international students is $51,925.

University of California:

The University of California otherwise known as UCLA is one of the top universities in the world where you can bag a major in Anthropology, UCLA is ranked number 3 in California, the department of anthropology at this distinguished institute of learning is highly committed to training the next generation of scholars in the anthropological field.

The department trains its students in both the theoretical and practical aspects of anthropology; it also finances and provides opportunities for its students to conduct original research.

Oxford University, UK:

By choosing to study anthropology at Oxford, students will be able to explore the evolution of humans, get a grass root understanding of the major transformational processes in human history such as the development of farming; the emergence of towns, trading systems and the spread of world religions.

The cost of tuition for international students is £28,370.

Requirement for a Career in Anthropology

First of all, one should get a degree or major in the course, such degrees can be gotten from universities such as the university of California, Los Angeles which has a department of anthropology and offers a major in the course.

Regardless of the aspect of anthropology that you want to specialize in, most undergraduate anthropology courses often take a wide approach, and this allows you to discover and understand what fascinates you really in anthropology.

This teaching method also clarifies for you the distinction within the various aspects of anthropology – like the difference between linguistic anthropology and social anthropology.

Secondly, the career requires the ability to effectively analyze vast amounts of data, make hypotheses and valid conclusions based on the analysis. Thirdly good verbal communication skill is key, this is because the information gathered will need to be simplified for presentation to an audience that is not familiar with scientific terms.

Written communication is another aspect and skill set that needs to be perfected for the flow of ideas and concise writing in reports and academic papers. Also, physical fitness is need because the job is tedious.

Frequently Asked Question and Answers About Anthropology Major

Below are some frequently asked questions about anthropology majors?

Conclusion

Pursuing a major in this discipline needs admission to a university (few have been listed above), good communication skills, and effective analysis. Getting a major in anthropology requires hard work and commitment but with hard work comes great reward which will be reaped after graduation.

There are four major categories of anthropology which are: Biological anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Linguistic anthropology, Archeological Anthropology, studying or specializing in any of them can get you befitting jobs after graduation, these jobs include; being a linguist, a curator, an archeologist, and many more.

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