LinkedinGoogle+YouTubeFacebookTwitter

Anthropology

View the employability skills

Depending upon the proportion of social or biological anthropology within their degree programme, a graduate in anthropology typically will have the ability to:

  • understand how human beings are shaped by and interact with their social, cultural and physical environments, and appreciate their social, cultural and biological diversity
  • engage with cultures, populations and groups different from their own whilst retaining their personal judgement.
  • read and interpret texts within their historical, social and theoretical contexts
  • recognise the politics of language, indirect forms of communication, forms of power, theoretical statements and claims of authority, and analyse them
  • apply their knowledge of anthropology to practical situations, personal and professional
  • plan, undertake and present scholarly work showing an understanding of anthropological aims, methods and theoretical considerations
  • interpret information on human biological diversity
  • analyse and evaluate relevant qualitative and quantitative data
  • design and implement a project using data on aspects of human biological diversity
  • demonstrate an understanding of their subject of study, and exercise qualities of mind associated with intellectual reflection, evaluation and synthesis
  • express ideas in writing, summarise arguments and distinguish between them
  • make a structured argument, reference the works of others and assess historical evidence
  • think independently and apply analytical, critical and synoptic skills
  • apply learning and study skills and use statistical and computing techniques
  • apply information retrieval skills to primary and secondary sources of information
  • use skills in information technology and oral and written communication
  • apply time planning and management skills
  • engage in group work including constructive discussion.

Anthropology covers the biological and social study of humans as complex organisms with the capacity for language, thought, and culture. It is a subject that seeks to be holistic and comparative as well as critical and reflexive. Anthropology can be located in the humanities, social sciences and the life sciences, and has been described as the most scientific of the humanities and the most humanistic of the sciences. As in humanities subjects, anthropology may focus on the uniqueness of each group and their cultural products. As in science subjects, anthropologists have investigated the substantive processes and contexts that underlie human diversity, delineating these through principles, conditions and rules.

All anthropological investigation and theory is defined by its adherence to two broad principles; first, the great commonalities that all individuals and groups possess - in particular, genetic and other biological traits, sociality, language and a powerful symbolising capability, and second, the diversity and capacity for transformation that is the hallmark of human culture. Reflecting its multidisciplinary nature, the elements of an anthropology programme will depend on whether the degree is in social anthropology, biological anthropology, or a combination of the two. Some degree programmes have a specific focus on a sub area of the subject such as ethnomusicology, museum studies and material culture, development studies or medical anthropology.

Anthropologists enter a wide range of jobs, with the public sector being popular. Further study is necessary for many options. Some options include charity fund raiser, community development worker, human resources officer, information scientist, international organisations administrator, lecturer, librarian, museum officer, journalist, race relations worker, social researcher and social worker.

To check the growing range of resources produced by the Subject Centre to support employability and the use of this profile (including the Skills and Attributes map) go to www.c-sap.bham.ac.uk.

This profile, produced in 2006, is based on the QAA benchmark to be found at www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/honours/default.asp


> back to subject profiles