The word anthropology is translated from anthropos (human) and logia (study). Do you enjoy learning about different cultures and indigenous people? Curious about humans and how different cultures evolved? People watchers—and those interested in foreign places, and cultures—may find themselves enjoying an anthropology major. As an anthropologist, you’ll spend time in the field, exploring human and primate cultures, and conducting, organizing, and analyzing research. Typical classes include human origins and evolution, language and culture, primate and biology.
You may be surprised to learn that most anthropologists work in offices (think research departments in organizations, universities, museums, government and large corporations. Some anthropology majors find work as museum curators, archivists, and historians, or even use their knowledge of people in the fields of advertising and marketing. Forensic anthropologists work in crime labs, analyzing skeletons to determine identity of victims. Some continue their education with a Ph.D. Margaret Mead is one of the most well known anthropologists.
Authors Kurt Vonnegut, Michael Crightons and Ursula K. Le Guin all earned anthropology degrees.