Career in Anthropology: Introduction
A career in anthropology equips a person with a variety of skills such as collecting, organizing, and interpreting data on human behavior and different human communities, and formulating questions regarding human life which are of theoretical and practical importance. It finds its application in the various endeavors that deal with humans, as well as their cultures and society, such as law, medicine, education, business, community development, social service, and human resources, etc.
But what is anthropology? It is the study of humankind. Anthropology examines how humans and their communities develop as a result of the interplay of factors which are cultural, social, economic, political, natural, and environmental. It does so holistically, by integrating multiple disciplines including life sciences, social sciences, and the humanities, to the fine arts. Fields withing anthropology include archaeology, linguistic anthropology, cultural anthropology, and biological/physical anthropology. Its central contributions include those offered to multiculturalism, globalization, and environmental studies. Given the nature of the discipline, a deep understanding of anthropology can help one offer solutions to the problems of humankind.
At the School Level
To embark upon a career in anthropology right from school, one should choose the science stream, preferably with biology. This is because, most of the top-ranking colleges in India offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology, which, although it constitutes the cultural and social anthropological traditions, focuses mainly on biological/physical anthropology. However, there are a few liberal arts institutes which have under-graduate and post-graduate courses in anthropology tailored to suit students with a non-science background. Humanities are second to science in the list of preferred streams.
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At the Bachelor’s Level
Choosing the right course at the bachelor’s level is the most important step in making a career in anthropology. A discipline like anthropology becomes a more serious pursuit at this level. The most preferable paths are as follows:
- B.Sc. (Hons.) in Anthropology.
- B.Sc. (Hons.) in Biological Sciences or related disciplines
- B.A. (Hons.) in Sociology/Social Anthropology or any social science discipline (to pursue Social Anthropology at a higher level)
Eligibility
General eligibility to pursue a B.Sc. degree in Anthropology is a Higher Secondary qualification/ 10+2 or equivalent qualification in the science stream from a recognized educational Board of the country with a minimum of 50% in aggregate. One must note that this is the basic eligibility and is not the same as the actual cut-off/ qualification of entrances needed for admission.
Colleges/Universities offering courses in Anthropology
- Amity University
- Ashoka University
- Panjab University
- Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts
- University of Calcutta
Curriculum
Following are the core contents of a standard under-graduate syllabus of anthropology:
- Introduction to Biological Anthropology
- Introduction to Socio-cultural Anthropology
- Archaeological Anthropology
- Fundamentals of Human Origin & Evolution
- Tribes and Peasants in India
- Human Ecology: Biological & Cultural dimensions
- Biological Diversity in Human Populations
- Theories of Culture and Society
- Human Growth and Development
- Research Methods
- Human Population Genetics
- Anthropology in Practice
- Forensic Anthropology
- Anthropology of India
Other career-specific elective contents of a standard under-graduate syllabus of anthropology include—Physiological Anthropology, Sports and Nutritional Anthropology, Human Genetics, Neuro Anthropology, Forensic Dermatoglyphics, Paleoanthropology, Anthropology of Religion, Politics, and Economy, Tribal Cultures of India, Indian Archaeology, Visual Anthropology, Fashion Anthropology, Demographic Anthropology, Urban Anthropology, Anthropology of Health and so on.
Higher Studies and Job Prospects in Anthropology
When it comes to the role of higher studies, it consolidates one’s specialized role in the desired field and that is also true in the case of a person desiring a career in anthropology.
Studying anthropology as an end in itself or to establish a career in research and academia requires one to choose the following paths: M.A./M.Sc. in Anthropology, followed by M.Phil. + Ph.D. in Anthropology
Or
- M.A./M.Sc./M.Phil. + Ph.D. in specialized and allied fields such as molecular and human genetics, forensic science, museology/museum science, ancient Indian history, culture and archaeology, cultural studies, social anthropology, heritage management and conservation, public policy and so on.
Besides teaching and research, these specializations allow one to take up various roles in sectors such as:
- Social Service/NGOs,
- Public Policy (health, urban planning, education, governance, etc.),
- Journalism,
- Law,
- Archaeology,
- Museology,
- Heritage Conservation and Management,
- Forensics, and so on.
Other lucrative alternative careers for anthropology degree holders include:
- Civil Services: The Civil Services Examination is a nationwide competitive examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment to various civil services of the Government of India, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Forest Service (IFS), an Indian Police Service (IPS).
The State Civil Services examinations and recruitment are conducted by the individual states public service commissions in India. These services are feeders of All India Services.
Anthropology is one of the optional subjects for the mains examinations and competence in the subject could help the candidate ace the mains paper.
- MBA/MBA-HRM: Students seeking admissions in Indian universities have to appear for certain entrance examinations like CAT and CMAT.
The salary varies tremendously due to the diversified careers in anthropology. Although in the initial stages, a career in anthropology (pure) does not offer a lucrative salary, the jobs could be satisfying for those who are interested in the field. Research in anthropology is funded by both national and international organizations and the competition is stiff. Those aiming to dedicate their lives to research and academics should be well prepared.
We hope this is going to be helpful if you are planning to pursue a career in anthropology. For more guidance, feel free to connect with us and provide your feedback as well, so that we can also improve in the future.
