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What do you need to take to become an anthropologist? How much does an anthropologist earn per month - income statistics

Anthropologist- a scientist specializing in the study of humans as a biological species.

Features of the profession

Anthropologists are interested in man not only in his unity with nature, but also in the context of his cultural environment. Therefore, anthropology also includes disciplines that study man in society.

The term "anthropology" appeared in ancient philosophy. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC) was the first to use it to designate a field of knowledge that studies primarily the spiritual side of human nature. Conventionally, anthropology can be divided into cultural And physical.

Cultural anthropology

In Russia, until recently, anthropology was understood mainly as physical anthropology, but since the 1990s, departments of social, political and philosophical anthropology began to appear in Russian universities. All of these are areas of cultural anthropology, which studies culture, civilization, social systems, and ethnic characteristics.

For example, social anthropology studies the manifestations of man in culture and society: in the family, in religion, economics, etc. Social anthropologists (socioanthropologists) study the principles of obtaining and using power in different societies, the economic behavior of people, identifies factors influencing the economy, but not taken into account by economic science. Cultural anthropology makes it possible to understand the essence of contradictions between different peoples, social strata, etc.

Physical anthropology

Specialists in this field are usually called anthropologists without any prefixes (socio-, ethno-, etc.). Physical anthropology is primarily concerned with the development of man as a biological species. She examines the remains of ancient people and the bodies of living people. The results of such research are used by archaeology, medicine, pedagogy, engineering psychology, ethnology (from the Greek ethnos people), etc.

The study of ancient people involves the study of fossil skeletons. Here are some important findings and discoveries in this direction.

Once a French amateur archaeologist Jacques Boucher de Perth(1788 - 1868) discovered ancient flint tools in quarries in the vicinity of Abbeville. He was one of the first to try to prove the existence of “antediluvian” people.

German schoolteacher Johann Fuhlrott. (1803 - 1877) in 1856 collected and described the bones of primitive man. This was the first scientific description of a Neanderthal.

Dutch anthropologist Eugene Dubois(trained as a military doctor, 1858 - 1940) was the first to discover the skull of Pithecanthropus.

Raymond Arthur Dart(South African physician, 1893 - 1988) discovered Australopithecus for science.

German anthropologist Franz Weidenreich(1873 - 1948) developed the concept of polycentrism (several centers) in the formation of modern races. (In his opinion, there were four of these centers.) He is also the author of the concept of orthogenesis - the internal desire of organisms to develop.

German anthropologist Hans Weinert(1887 - 1967) studied Pithecanthropus and Neanderthals. Author of the theory that modern man arose under the pressure of harsh conditions of the Ice Age.

American anthropologist Ales Hrdlicka(1869 - 1943) in 1927 put forward the concept of the Neanderthal phase in human evolution.

Australian primatologist Colin Peter Groves(1942-...) systematized primates, combining gorillas, chimpanzees and humans into one family Hominidae (hominids).

American anthropologist Claude Owen Lovejoy- specialist on australopithecines, author of the concept of the origin of bipedalism. He suggested (in the 1980s) that upright walking was promoted not so much by natural factors (climate, etc.) as by sexual behavior, family relationships and social organization.

This is only a small part of the scientists who formed the modern theory of human development as a species. But the end to the study of the history of Homo sapiens (i.e. us) has not yet been reached.

The study of modern man has practical significance for various areas of life. For example, measurements of physical data (anthropometry) are of interest to manufacturers of clothing, furniture, home builders, etc.

Workplace

Anthropologists work in research institutes and centers and teach in vocational schools. Specialists in physical anthropology work in anthropological and archaeological institutions, in the field of forensic medicine, and human genetics.

A specialist in cultural anthropology can serve on commissions and act as an expert, advising government officials making political decisions.

Remuneration

Salary as of 11/18/2019

Russia 20000—50000 ₽

Important qualities

Logic, analytical skills, interest in biology/sociology.

Knowledge and skills

The scope of an anthropologist's knowledge depends on his scientific interests. For example, a specialist in physical anthropology needs knowledge in the field of biology (anatomy, paleopathology, genetics, etc.), archaeology, ethnography, etc.

Anthropology is a socio-cultural science that studies all aspects of human origin and development. Combining a wide range of disciplines, anthropologists engage in research into the social, economic, cultural, physical and religious development of humans and individual groups of people.

Being a kind of connecting link between the humanities and natural sciences, anthropology is unique and multidisciplinary. Speaking about the multidisciplinarity of anthropology, University College London characterizes it as “the most scientific of all humanities disciplines and the most humanitarian of all scientific disciplines.” This science expands the boundaries of knowledge and, moreover, provides qualified anthropologists with a variety of opportunities for conducting applied and research activities.

Below we will tell you more about where anthropologists study and how they work abroad...

Why study anthropology?

Interesting interdisciplinary education

Anthropology is a multifaceted and very interesting science that involves the study of many interrelated disciplines. By taking a course in anthropology, you will gain extensive new knowledge in a variety of areas, from art and culture to political science and sociology.

General cultural and intellectual development

A professional anthropologist, historically, since the 19th century, most often represents an intellectual and comprehensively developed person. This science allows a specialist to simultaneously plunge into the past, exploring the mysteries of history, and follow the socio-cultural trends of our time.

Social importance of anthropologists' work

Anthropology plays an important role in the modern world. Through their work and research, anthropologists help to root in the public consciousness such concepts as tolerance, tolerance, understanding of the diversity and multiculturalism of the world society. In other words, anthropology is important in the process of establishing dialogue between different ethnic, social, cultural and religious groups.

New ways of industry development

Today we all live in conditions of globalization, the actual “blurring of the boundaries” of individual states and the increasing dependence of some peoples on others. Under these conditions, anthropology as a science and the conclusions it reaches become important for a wide variety of industries, including education, the arts, diplomacy and international relations, politics, government, health care, and business. This significantly expands not only the scope of activity, but also the employment options of modern anthropologists, bringing science to a new level of development.

Specializations

Students studying anthropology abroad can pursue one of the following popular specializations:

Training process and cost

Overseas undergraduate programs in anthropology last 3-4 years and lead to a Bachelor of Science degree. The learning process consists of lectures and seminars. Depending on the specific course, at the undergraduate level a student may major in general anthropology or a more specialized field. For admission to the course, an overall high level of academic performance is important; special attention is paid to the applicant’s grades in subjects such as mathematics, biology and foreign languages.

Master's programs last 1-2 years and usually involve a narrow specialization, for example, in cultural, social, biological, medical, linguistic, physical or philosophical anthropology. Many graduate students also pursue a dual degree in anthropology and another related discipline. History, archaeology, foreign languages, international relations or law are often chosen as additional disciplines.

For students pursuing a scientific career, doctoral programs are also available, which can last from 3 to 6 years. They are usually of a research nature and involve the student working on one or another scientific project, as well as writing a doctoral dissertation.

Anthropological education abroad at an affordable price is offered by the American College of Lake County ($9,912 per year), ($989 per year at the master's and doctoral level), Czech (from $2,000 per year at the master's and doctoral level) and Danish ($9,240 per year). A year of study in Canadian will cost you $9,176, and a year of doctoral study in anthropology in New Zealand will cost you $4,626.

More expensive education in the field of anthropology is offered by the British ($44,551 per year), Canadian ($18,900 per year) and Australian ($19,000 per year).

Working conditions and salary

Given the broad profile of anthropology as a science, the scope of activity of professional anthropologists is also very diverse.

Oddly enough, only a small percentage of graduates are engaged in research and academic anthropological activities. The majority of graduates work in a variety of industries, applying anthropological knowledge in the field of social and public work, pedagogy, media and communications, journalism, marketing and the arts.

Many anthropologists work in government agencies, international companies, voluntary and charitable organizations, museums, universities and schools. From social researchers, educators, policy makers, and consultants to international relations specialists and museum curators, anthropologists have many careers available, depending on their undergraduate major. In general, most anthropology graduates do office work or work with people.

In the United States, the average salary for anthropologists is $49,536, with anthropologists with more than 20 years of experience earning the highest salaries, and the majority of industry professionals (86%) are men. The average starting salary for anthropologists in the UK is $25,673 - $32,433, increasing as the specialist gains experience and specializes more closely. Anthropologists receive the highest salaries in Western Europe, North America, as well as Australia and New Zealand. In Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia, the income of anthropologists is slightly lower.

Separately, we note that, due to the variety of employment options for professional anthropologists, it is difficult to name the exact average salary of all graduates who studied anthropology at the university. In this case, income largely depends on the employer and the scope of application of anthropological knowledge. Anthropologists working in the fields of media, communications, government and science have the highest salaries, while social welfare and charity workers have the lowest salaries.

Top Universities for Anthropology

College of Lake County, USA