What can I do with a minor in biocultural anthropology?

Search for opportunities

  • Program Coordinator
  • Archeological Collections Associate
  • Research Assistant
  • Public Health Associate
  • Cultural Coordinator

Search for employers hiring graduates in your minor

Employers in NY: 378
Employers in U.S.: 6,504

 

Explore the numerous career fields related to your major

Education
Areas
  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Administration
  • Library/Information science
  • Community education
  • Higher education
Employers
  • Universities/colleges/community colleges
  • University research institutes or laboratories
  • Campus museums
  • Zoos
  • Nature centers
Sample occupations
  • Earn a Ph.D. in Anthropology for university and college faculty positions or an M.A./M.S. for community college positions.
  • Earn a graduate degree in College Student Affairs, Library/Information Science or related field for work in student affairs, administration, or libraries.
  • Gain research experience by assisting professors or participating in independent studies.
  • Maintain a high GPA and develop strong personal recommendations.
  • Develop excellent communication and presentation skills.
  • Get involved in campus leadership positions such as Resident Assistant, Peer Advisor, or Admissions Tour Guide.
Museums and Archives
Areas
  • Curation/Management/Administration
  • Acquisition
  • Preservation/Conservation/Restoration
  • Arrangement
  • Cataloguing/Categorizing
  • Exhibition/Installation
  • Describing
  • Analyzing
  • Authenticating
  • Maintaining records
  • Research
  • Education
  • Development
Employers
  • Natural history or history museums
  • Historical homes
  • Art galleries
  • Libraries
  • Special collections
  • Historical societies
  • Universities and colleges
  • State and local government
  • Federal government:  National Archives and Records Administration Corporations
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Research institutions
Sample occupations
  • Earn a graduate degree in museum studies, conservation, information science, or related area.
  • Research prerequisites and take the necessary courses. The most competitive candidates may have more than one graduate degree.
  • Acquire strong computer knowledge and experience.
  • Obtain an internship in a related organization.
  • Volunteer at campus or community museums.
  • Get involved with relevant student organizations.
  • Develop excellent written and oral communication skills, organizational skills, and an attention to detail.
  • Learn about grant writing, budgeting, and legal issues surrounding historical artifacts.
  • Join professional associations to have access to industry news and job information.
  • Attend relevant conferences, seminars, and trainings.
  • Earn the “Certified Archivist” designation.
  • Most curators specialize in a material or objects.
  • Be prepared to relocate to access the most employment opportunities.
Archaeology
Areas
  • Cultural resource management
  • Research
  • Excavation
  • Field work
Employers
  • Consulting firms
  • Environmental/Engineering companies
  • Firms specializing in archaeological investigation
  • Historic preservation societies
  • Urban and city planning offices
  • United States Department of Agriculture
  • Department of the Army
Sample occupations
  • Field positions require a bachelor’s degree and previous field experience.
  • Get involved with faculty research or other research programs.
  • Obtain a graduate degree for more opportunities and to direct field crews.
  • Be willing to travel and possibly endure adverse living/working conditions during field studies or excavations.
  • Conditions and hours vary with the type of work or research performed.
Government
Areas
  • Administration
  • Cultural resource management
  • Surveying
  • Site management
  • Excavation
  • Research
  • Museum conservation
  • Legislative compliance review
  • Program management and evaluation
  • Policy analysis
  • Urban planning
  • Translation/Interpretation
  • Immigration
  • Epidemiology
Employers
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Central Intelligence Agency
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Park Service
  • Public Health Service
  • Smithsonian Institute
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
  • U.S. Department of State
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • Department of Conservation
  • Department of Health and Human Services
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Department of Natural Resources
  • Historic Preservation Offices
  • Parks Departments
  • Highway Departments
  • Medical Examiners/Coroners
Sample occupations
  • Learn federal or state application procedures.
  • A graduate degree is generally required for higher level positions.
  • Gain related experience through internships in areas of interest.
  • Develop statistical, analytical and computer skills and learn various research methodologies.
  • Get involved in campus organizations to develop leadership abilities and interpersonal skills.
  • Consider earning a minor or double major to qualify for particular areas of interest.
  • Learn a foreign language for translating/interpreting positions
Non-Profit
Areas
  • Administration
  • Program management and development
  • Fundraising/Development
  • Grant writing
  • Research
  • Policy analysis
  • Service delivery
  • Volunteer coordination
  • Community education
  • Public relations and marketing
Employers
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Social service agencies
  • Hospitals and medical centers
  • Private foundations
  • International organizations
Sample occupations
  • Seek multiple volunteer and internship positions to gain experience and build contacts in the field.
  • Obtain leadership roles in relevant campus and community organizations.
  • Develop strong communication and research skills.
  • Learn how to write grants and gain an understanding of budgeting and fiscal management.
  • Investigate term of service or service corps positions as a way to gain entry into the field.
  • Research organizations’ values to find a good fit with yours.
  • Consider earning a graduate degree for more job opportunities and advancement.
Communications
Areas
  • Documentary film production
  • Photography/Photojournalism
  • Journalism
Employers
  • Colleges and universities
  • Government agencies
  • Government or private museums
  • Local historical societies or sites
  • Television and motion picture industry
  • Internet media companies
  • Independent production companies
  • Publishing houses
  • Newspapers and magazines
  • Freelance/self-employed
Sample occupations
  • Minor or double major in a communications field.
  • Develop excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Submit articles or books for publication.
  • Work for campus or student run publications.
  • Demonstrate talent, persistence, assertiveness, competitive spirit, and enthusiasm.
  • Compile a portfolio of writing, graphics and ideas.
  • Develop strong computer skills.
  • Obtain internship, summer or part-time experience with book, magazine, or newspaper publishers.
  • Develop an attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.

General information and strategies

  • Ample preparation is advised as graduate school admissions are increasingly competitive for this field.
  • Those interested in a Archeological specialization may look for field work within specific subgroups.
    • These subgroups are divided by time periods and historicity; they include:
      • environmental
      • ethnoarcheology
      • landscape
      • household
      • marine
      • aviation
      • aerial
      • battlefield
      • commercial
      • industrial
      • salvage
      • experimental
      • forensic
      • historic.
  • As the demand for university/college faculty positions decreases, most openings will exist in consulting firms and government agencies.
  • To increase your employment opportunities with a bachelor’s degree, consider minoring or double majoring in another field such as sociology, business, urban planning, or public administration.
  • Anthropology provides a solid background for a variety of graduate programs including law, medicine, forensics, or genetic counseling.
  • Research admissions requirements and take prerequisite courses.
  • Anthropology is good preparation for jobs that involve people skills and require an understanding of cultural differences.
  • Spend a summer in field school or travel and study other cultures.
  • Pursue research experience by working on faculty projects through independent study classes, as a student employee, or through other departmental programs.
  • Career opportunities exist within the national network of state and county medical examiners and coroners.
  • Training at the graduate level should include supplemental work in legal evidence, pathology, criminology, or forensic lab methods along with supervised casework.
  • Learn about grant writing, budgeting, and legal issues surrounding historical artifacts.