Breadcrumb
Careers & Alumni
Very few disciplines can prepare you for success like anthropology.
Anthropology and its subfields will help you learn to critically examine human biological and cultural diversity and evolution. In the process, you'll gain valuable experience conducting research, applying scientific methods to your observations, and communicating your conclusions through compelling written and oral presentations.
In addition to gaining a broad understanding of human biology, nature and society, you will gain expertise in specific topics and world regions that most interest you.
Our programs provide an ideal basis for successful employment in a wide range of careers in today's academic, nonacademic, and increasingly global job market, as well as continuation in advanced degree programs.
Comprehensive Skill Base & Unlimited Career Potential
Our program will help you learn to critically examine human biological and cultural diversity and evolution. In the process, you'll gain valuable experience conducting research, applying scientific methods to your observations, and communicating your conclusions through compelling written and oral presentations. In addition to gaining a broad understanding of human biology, nature and society, you will gain expertise in specific topics and world regions that most interest you.
A broad understanding humanity and experience working with people from different backgrounds are important assets in our increasingly diverse world. In that respect, very few disciplines can prepare you for success like Anthropology. A degree in Anthropology also provides you with strong research and presentation skills—both of which have consistently helped our graduates excel in a wide range of careers.
Humboldt anthropology students gain specialized knowledge and research skills in one or more subfields and world regions through advanced coursework and hands-on laboratory and field experiences. This provides an ideal basis for successful employment in a wide range of careers in todays academic, nonacademic, and increasingly global job market, as well as continuation in advanced degree programs.
Anthropologists strive to learn what people think is important in different circumstances, which is critical to learning how to communicate effectively in a wide variety of cultural situations and work environments.
The following are some of the many paths Anthropology majors have taken:
Career Areas Traditional/Intrinsic to Anthropology
All subfields: College Professor, Educator, Researcher, Writer, Museum Docent/Curator
Archaeology: Registered Professional Archaeologist, Cultural Resources Manager, Heritage Preservation Officer, Archaeologist with U.S. Forest Service or Caltrans, Historian, Area Specialist (e.g., Mayanist, Egyptologist), Zooarchaeologist, Maritime Archaeologist
Biological Anthropology: Primatologist (behavior/ecology/conservation), Paleoanthropologist, Forensic Anthropologist, Bioarchaeologist, Evolutionary Theorist
Cultural Anthropology Ethnographer, Community/International Development Worker, Advocate, Social/Environmental Justice Worker, Medical Anthropologist, Diplomat, NGO/Aid Worker, Civil Rights Worker, Cultural Consultant
Linguistic Anthropology: Linguistic, Semantic & Rhetoric Analyst (media, politics...), Narrative Analyst, Translator, Speech Communities Worker, Linguistic Pragmatics Fields, fields of cultural anthropology
Some Additional/Applied Career Trajectories for Anthropology Majors
Advocacy/Aid: Advocate, Program Developer, Analyst, Social/Environmental Justice Worker, Conservationist, NGO/Aid Worker, Civil Rights Worker, Disaster Relief Worker.
Business: Administrator, Business Owner/Manager, Analyst, Science/Technical Writer, Program Developer, Novelist, Media/Advertising Executive, Film-maker, Journalist/Reporter, Software/Website Designer.
Government/Law: Diplomat, Politician, Educator/Education Policy Worker, Lobbyist, Lawyer, Police Officer, Deputy Coroner, FBI/CIA Agent, Forensic Investigator. Anthropology is a popular pre-law degree; the Pre-Law Advising website offers guidance and resources.
Biology/Health: Evolutionary Health & Nutrition Consultant, Community/Public Health Officer, Biomedical Lab Technician, Autopsy Technician, Veterinary/Shelter Staff, Animal Trainer, Skeletal Biologist, Animal Rescue Worker, Zoo Staff, Healthcare Researcher/Analyst, Osteopathic Doctor. The Pre-Professional Health Program has advice on relevant prep coursework for those interested in pursuing professional health-related fields with their anthropology degree.
Check out these Biographies of Famous Anthropologists.
Career Resources
Anthropology students explore and prepare for careers throughout the program, and are encouraged to engage in volunteer and internship activities to explore career trajectories. In addition, the Career Center web site includes resources that help students to explore careers, including job search tools, search engines, and help preparing resumes and planning for interviews. The idealist.org site on the Center website enables students to find jobs based on geography, culture, area of focus, job function and so on. Students have access 24/7 to the online job board. The Center has also established a Facebook page that has regular updates on career events and jobs. Center staff can work with students at a distance in reviewing drafts of resumes and cover letters using telephone and E-Mail Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Alumni Office also offers interview coaching (mock interviews).
Check out this anthropology career guide.
Alumni Updates
Jacqueline Heinzen
Anthropology, 2017
Jacqueline Heinzen, Anthropology, 2017, received her MA in Applied Anthropology from HSU 2017. She has started work as a User Experience Researcher with Binary Defense, a cybersecurity firm based out of Hudson, Ohio. It's her first full-time job where she was hired specifically to apply her research skills as an anthropologist!
Mia Kennel
Anthropology, 2016
Mia Kennel, 2016 Anthropology, started graduate school at the University of Wisconsin Madison's Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies. Kennel is in the the graduate Environmental Conservation program, widely considered the best program of it's type in the United States.
Rosie Slentz
AnthropologyApplied Anthropology MA, 2016
2020 Ed.D from University of New England in Transformational Leadership
Emilie Uemura
Anthropology, 2015
Since graduating from HSU, Emilie Uemura, Anthropology, 2015, worked as an archaeological technician for the Six Rivers National Forest, the Pike National Forest, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Lassen National Park, and DZC Archaeology. Working closely with natural resource and land managers, her interests grew to include sustainable communities, climate resiliency, environmental protection, and GIS. She is now pursuing a Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) degree at Eastern Washington University.
Daniel Gardner
Anthropology, 2013
Daniel completed his Ph.D. in Informatics at UCI in 2021. He served as a Grand Challenges Postdoctoral Fellow at Chapman until June 2024 and now has an appointment as a Lecturer in Computing and Game Design at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, UK. Currently, Daniel's research examines inequitable interactions with digital media and games, and community-driven co-/counter-designs.
Daniel Gardner
Anthropology, 2013
Dan completed his masters in Medicine, Science, and Technology Studies in 2015 and his PhD in Informatics at UCI in 2021. He is currently a Post-doctoral fellow in the Grand Challenges Initiative at Chapman University. His research focuses on how different cultural values and systems of authority get baked into the designs of our digital interfaces, media, and games.
Spencer Ruelos
AnthropologySecond Degree: BA in CRGS, 2013
After graduating from HSU Spencer Ruelos, Anthropology, Critical Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies, 2013, went on to receive his Masters in Sexuality Studies from San Francisco State University. There he wrote a master's thesis titled: "EveryoneGames: Exploring Queer Gamer Identity and Community," where he examined the worldmaking practices of LGBTQ gamers in digital and physical spaces. While at SFSU, Spencer received the prestigious CSU Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Fellowship. He is currently continuing his studies of queerness, video games, and technology as a PhD student in the Department of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine.
Alexandra McGee
AnthropologyInternational Studies, Ethnic Studies, Spanish, 2011
I've transformed from a Humboldt Lumberjack to a Berkeley Bear. I have just started my first semester of graduate school as a Latin American Studies masters student. My last semester at HSU, I took an engineering course with Lonny Grafman which got me really excited about small-scale energy projects, particularly how they relate to community participation, rural development, energy independence and environmental sustainability.
At the same time, I've put my anthropology skills to use, moving into a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery to live with a high lama.
I'd love to hear from you. If you want to know more about my adventures, check out my blog:
throughaliseyes-chapterthree.blogspot.com
E Safiya Bal
AnthropologyGeography minor., 2011
I've been working as a substitute teacher for the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District since December 2011. As of April 2012 I was hired on as field technician for Far Western Anthropological Research Group, Inc. -based in Davis, CA. The project is in Vacaville, CA.
Jennifer Humphreys
Anthropology, 2011
I am currently earning my M.S. in Primate Behavior at Central Washington University, specializing in molecular primatology. Soon I will be heading to the forests Suriname to study gene flow through conservation corridors.