Why Study Anthropology?

Are you contemplating on whether to study Anthropology or not? Anthropology is a brilliant study option for scholars like you, who are interested in the growth, behaviour, and structures of our society.

But is it still worth it to study Anthropology in 2021? What factors should you consider before you make a decision?

Let’s find out!

1. You can choose from different Anthropology sub-disciplines – Study Anthropology

Anthropology is a broad field, but it offers various sub-disciplines to interested students:

• Archaeology
• Biological Anthropology
• Cultural Anthropology
• Linguistic Anthropology

These sub-disciplines are usually available both at undergraduate (Bachelor’s) and postgraduate (Master’s) level.

2. You can study Anthropology at the best Anthropology universities

According to the latest QS ranking created by TopUniversities, the following are the best schools to study Anthropology in the world:

• University of Cambridge, the UK
• University of Oxford, the UK
• Harvard University, the US
• University of California, Berkeley (UCB), the US
• The Australian National University, Australia
• University College London (UCL), the UK
• University of Chicago, the US
• The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), UK
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the US
• University of Toronto, Canada

Check out other similar rankings:

• Anthropology ranking in the US by Niche
• Anthropology ranking in the United Kingdom by The Complete University Guide

3. Satisfy your curiosity about the human race – Study Anthropology

Anthropologists possess a unique opportunity to explore all the elements that make us who we are. Their understandings help us to better comprehend the history of our advancement and to make forecasts about our future.

During your studies or work, you can make extraordinary discoveries like these:

• The first known human burial is dated to about 78,000 years ago
• The oldest remains of homo sapiens date back to 300,000 years ago
• Some Neanderthals were redheads

4. Anthropologists enjoy hands-on experiences and fieldwork

As a professional in Anthropology, you will often find yourself in open contact with the object of your research. For example:

• As an archaeologist, you will spend time on sites excavating artefacts or human fossils.
• As an evolutionary anthropologist, you’ll travel around the world, examining orangutans, collecting samples and understanding their social structures.
• As a cultural anthropologist you may live with isolated tribes or farmers in order to better grasp their values and way of life.

5. Anthropology opens the doors to a broad range of jobs – Study Anthropology

Anthropology students develop a wide range of skills that are essential in today’s world. Perhaps the most important are critical thinking, advanced research skills, and cultural awareness. Of course, there are other skills and knowledge that qualify Anthropology alumni as great employees.

If we take the United States as an example, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals the job outlook for anthropologists and archaeologists looks great, with a 5% predicted increase by 2029.

Now, let’s take a quick look at some of the most renowned Anthropology jobs and average salaries in the United States based on PayScale and Glassdoor data:

• Social Researcher – 64,200 USD/year
• Government Affairs Manager – 75,100 USD/year
• Higher Education Professor – 87,900 USD/year
• Human Resources (HR) Specialist – 51,800 USD/year
• Diversity Manager – 81,500 USD/year

6. Anthropologists can travel around the world

Based on your Anthropology specialisation and what you wish to do further on, we envisage a lot of travelling in your future. In fact, it’s almost inevitable.

Exploring the traditions or lifestyle of an Indian tribe, studying primates in their natural habitat or getting your hands dirty as an archaeologist — all entail moving from one nation to another, or at least from one region to another. That’s because experimental learning is often the foundation of Anthropology.

Of course, travelling will not help you avoid drafting the important reports describing your findings and data, but it’s a great perk you should bear in mind.