Best Schools For Anthropology In The World

What is an anthropology major?

What exactly does it mean to major in anthropology? Students who major in anthropology study humankind and investigate how linguistics, culture, biology, and history contribute to human diversity. Students who study anthropology develop the ability to pick up new concepts with ease and effectively communicate those concepts. Consequently, graduates of the best schools for anthropology are prepared for a wide variety of jobs in both the public and private sectors.

Students who intend to major in anthropology will be required to take an introductory anthropology course and fulfill various general education requirements. This course is designed to give students an overall perspective of the major. Most programs require students to take an archaeology class, during which they are educated on the strategies and instruments used by archaeologists to uncover the past.

Students who major in anthropology typically take at least one course in biological anthropology, which examines topics such as human evolution and the behavioral biology of modern humans. They may also study social and cultural anthropology, which focuses on how humans are affected by culture, and linguistic anthropology, which investigates human languages and the processes that led to their development.

Courses in research methodology and statistical analysis are included in certain degree programs. Students may be required to present what they have learned throughout earning their degree in anthropology as part of a culminating project that may be required of programs.

Jobs with an anthropology degree

Diversity Manager

Diversity managers, also known as diversity and inclusion (D&I) managers or diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) managers, typically work for departments in charge of people or human resources. Other names for diversity managers include D&I managers and DEI managers.

Diversity managers may be responsible for various tasks depending on the organization in which they work. These tasks may include:

• developing training programs; researching and implementing more inclusive recruiting and promotion practices
• identifying barriers that employees may face due to racial, gender, and other biases
• coming up with strategies to remove those barriers or resolve discrimination and other D&I-related complaints within the company.

Students who study at the best schools for anthropology will be able to put their in-depth knowledge of diversity and respect to good use in this position. This ensures that all employees and candidates feel safe and respected, have equal access to opportunities and resources, and can thrive in their jobs.

Public Relations (PR) Manager

One of the jobs a person can get with an anthropology degree is being a PR manager. Public relations managers are responsible for developing a target audience’s awareness of a product, person, or organization and fostering positive associations with that target.

They might be writing press releases, cultivating strong relationships with the media, conceiving and putting into action public-facing campaigns (for instance, a coordinated media campaign to support the launch of a new product), or coming up with strategies to minimize the impact of negative press on any given day.

PR managers must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, research skills (to help them understand the competitive landscape and the people they’re trying to reach), and the ability to tailor their pitches and approaches to different audiences and situations in real time. This is the kind of skill set that candidates will develop during their anthropology studies.

Nonprofit Program Manager

Program managers for nonprofit organizations are responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of an organization’s projects, as well as for ensuring that those projects are carried out in a manner that is congruent with the organization’s overall mission and goals.

Their work may consist of developing budgets, developing ideas for new programs, designing educational programs, and planning and managing events, depending on the nonprofit organization they work for. For instance, a nonprofit program manager for an organization focusing on children might be responsible for creating a new after-school program for the community the organization serves.

Managers of programs for nonprofit organizations need to be highly organized, excellent communicators both orally and in writing, and deeply dedicated to making their communities better places to live. Students at the best schools for anthropology acquire the skills of organization and communication throughout their education.

Because they are so interested in studying humans, they are typically committed to making the world a better place for said humans. These students are ideal candidates for careers in the nonprofit sector because of their interest in studying humans.

Marketing Strategist

Marketing strategists are responsible for developing plans to promote their clients’ businesses, products, services, or initiatives to the audiences they have identified as most likely to be interested.

Depending on the company, marketing strategists may be responsible for a wide range of tasks, such as conducting market research and focus groups, analyzing marketing data, developing creative assets and marketing messaging, and implementing, supervising, and optimizing campaigns.

The research, writing, and analytical abilities of marketing strategists need to be of the highest caliber if they are to be successful in their roles. In addition, they need to have an in-depth knowledge of the people they are marketing to, including what motivates their actions, what kinds of messages will resonate with them, and how different aspects of their environment and culture play a role in their purchasing decisions.

An excellent foundation for a marketing strategist is anthropology, because marketing strategists need to understand what makes people (or humans) tick.

Human Resources (HR) Manager

Managers of human resources are accountable for everything that an organization’s employees, also known as humans, are responsible for. Their responsibilities and projects might include the following:

• Overseeing a company’s organizational culture (for instance, by implementing programs that reinforce the organization’s core values).
• Welcoming new members to the team.
• Managing benefits.
• Resolving employee complaints.
• They frequently have to balance a number of these responsibilities at the same time, which means that they need to be well organized.

Studying at the best schools for anthropology serves as an excellent foundation for a career in human resources because, by its very nature, the discipline investigates humankind. And even though most human resource professionals begin their careers in a less senior position before moving up to a management role (for example, as an HR coordinator), most human resource manager positions only require a bachelor’s degree.

Best colleges for anthropology

University of Cambridge

Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD

The University of Cambridge is a prestigious educational establishment that can be found in Cambridge, located in England. 1209 was the year that the university was established. Today, the academic institution is recognized worldwide as one of the best schools for anthropology. In addition, throughout its existence, the institution has produced 190 Olympic medalists, 47 heads of state, and 110 Nobel Prize winners.

The institution of higher learning is a college that also conducts research. As a direct result of this, the University of Cambridge is comprised of a total of 31 constituent colleges. On a related note, the student body at Cambridge University hails from over 147 different nations, making it one of the world’s most globally diverse student bodies.

Cambridge University has a long list of famous graduates, such as the mathematician and physicist Sir Isaac Newton, the structural engineer Frank Newby, the Emmy-winning actor John Cleese, the philologist Hector Munro Chadwick, and Alfred Cort Haddon, the father of modern anthropology.

The Department of Social Anthropology at Cambridge University provides educational opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students. This division is part of this university’s Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science. In addition, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is housed within the university.

University of Oxford

Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD

The University of Oxford is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious educational establishments in the world, and it can be found in the picturesque city of Oxford in England. It is common knowledge that the University of Oxford is one of the best colleges for anthropology. It has been ranked the best university in the world by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for the past six years, from 2017 through 2022.

Currently, the institute has over 25,000 successful students enrolled in its programs. More than 160 countries are represented by these approximately 11,500 students, making Oxford one of the most internationally diverse universities in the world. In addition, Oxford University is organized into four divisions: the Humanities Division, the Medical Sciences Division, the Social Sciences Division, and the Mathematical, Physical, and Life Sciences Division. There are a variety of departments, faculties, and schools that fall under these four umbrellas.

Although students at Oxford University have been exposed to the study of anthropology since 1883, the university did not establish a department of social anthropology until 1914. Currently, the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at Oxford provides prospective students with various course options to choose from.

Harvard University

Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD

Since its founding in 1636, Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is a member of the prestigious Ivy League, has been widely regarded as one of the best schools for anthropology in the world. It can be found in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts. At this point, the institution is home to 23,700 students enrolled in post-secondary degree programs. Students at Harvard who are interested in furthering their education can pursue professional certifications in addition to undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

The illustrious educational institution is home to many individuals who have achieved greatness in the field of anthropology. Among them are the anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist John Tooby, the anthropologist and ethnographer Jean Briggs, and the author Ben Finney, who specializes in anthropology.

University of California, Berkeley

Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD

In 1868, the University of California, Berkeley, became the first public land-grant research university in the United States of America. It is widely acknowledged as being among the most prestigious educational institutions in the entire world. UC Berkeley is widely regarded as one of the best universities in the world for anthropology. The university’s faculty and alumni have won 32 Nobel Prizes and 4 Pulitzer Prizes. In addition to these achievements, 223 of the school’s students and former pupils have been awarded Olympic medals.

The university is home to 184 academic departments and offers more than 350 degrees and programs. Moving on to the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, was founded in September 1901. Alfred Louis Kroeber, an American cultural anthropologist and graduate of Columbia University, was the department’s first professor. Kroeber was also the department’s namesake.

The Australian National University

Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD

The city of Canberra, which serves as the seat of government for Australia, is home to the Australian National University (ANU), a public research university. It was founded in 1946 and has grown to become one of the best schools for anthropology in the world. There are seven academic colleges at ANU, each comprising a diverse collection of schools and research centers. In addition, the Australian National University (ANU) possesses three campuses, which are the Acton Campus, the Kioloa Coastal Campus, and the North Australia Research Unit Campus.

The School of Archaeology and Anthropology at the Center of Excellence provides incoming Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. students with the opportunity to participate in a world-class anthropology program that is among the best in the world. Archaeological science, medical anthropology, biological anthropology, forensic anthropology, and studies on indigenous peoples of Australia are just some subjects covered at the aforementioned educational institution.

UCL

Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD

University College London, also known as UCL, is widely regarded as one of the best public research universities in the United Kingdom. It was initially known as London University when it opened its doors in 1826. UCL is often referred to as “London’s global university,” and for a good reason.

As one of the best schools for anthropology in the world, the university’s Department of Anthropology provides a world-class anthropology program and focuses on medical anthropology, public anthropology, material culture, and biological and social anthropology.

The London School of Economics and Political Science

Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD

The London School of Economics and Political Science is a component college of the University of London. It is also referred to simply as LSE or the LSE. LSE was established in 1895. The study of social sciences is the focus of the educational center. According to the QS Subject Rankings for 2021, it achieved the number one spot in Europe and the number two spot in the world.

It is not surprising to learn that the institute is the alma mater of many famous people, including the former President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos, author Hilary Mantel, and AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes. The institute is a prestigious university, so this information is not surprising.

With a total of 29 departments and institutes, the London School of Economics (LSE) is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading academic institutions in the field of anthropology. The Department of Anthropology is one of these, and it first opened its doors in 1910.

Despite this, anthropology classes were offered at LSE six years before the establishment of the department. In addition to undergraduate and postgraduate students, the LSE’s Anthropology Department welcomes research students visiting from other institutions to carry out their academic pursuits there.

Now that you know about the best schools for anthropology, it is wise that you also prepare for your college admission. If you wish for guidance in your journey, AdmissionSight will help you through the competitive admissions process. With their team of top experts, you can surely get accepted to the top medical schools in the world. Set up an appointment today and get the best help getting into university.