SBS Anthropology
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Contact the Department of Anthropology

Email:
anthropology​@nau.edu
Call:
928-523-3180

Talk with an advisor to find out more about career development and job opportunities.

Career development

NAU helps students earning anthropology degrees with planning for the future

We want your college experience at Northern Arizona University to not only educate you, but lead you to a future career opportunities in the field of anthropology and related anthropology subfields. Use the resources below to learn more about career development.

Undergraduate

You can build connections by networking through on-campus clubs and organizations.

Graduate

Get real life experience away from the classroom by interning. Additionally, you can also choose a thesis option and contribute to future research and policy making.

  • Why study anthropology? Tab Open

  • What kind of career can I look forward to? Tab Closed

  • Career development resources Tab Closed

  • Job search links Tab Closed

Why study anthropology? Accordion Open

The department provides many benefits for you to create a lifelong career, not just a job. These can include applicable skills and instinctual skills that will make you appealing to government agencies, businesses, non-profits, universities, and more.

During your educational career, you will:

  • become a “people person” because of your diverse background and knowledge in multi-cultural environments, which allows you to work well with others
  • obtain experience outside the classroom that will look great on your resume and build connections with future employers
  • gain problem-solving skills that will help you become a leader in your career
  • be able to adapt to change, which is important in today’s globalized economy

What kind of career can I look forward to? Accordion Closed

Cultural anthropologist

Study human behavior and cross-cultural aspects and find a career with:

  • international agencies like the World Bank or United Nations
  • national organizations like the Red Cross or Oxfam
  • businesses where you analyze work relations and workplace culture to improve their operations
  • social workers by providing insight into human behavior regarding homelessness, drug abuse, and gangs
  • public housing projects, senior centers, and community organizing to create meaningful lives
Archaeologist

Study the past in the outdoors and be prepared for a career in:

  • cultural resources management, where you’ll analyze and protect the remains of our past from modern construction projects
  • museums, educating the public and the youth about early hominids and other primates, ancient technology, and more that creates an appreciation for our past
  • the National Park Service and other environmental government agencies that need records of past ecosystems that will contribute to future management and conservation plans
  • the state government, where you’ll influence city planning and community building
Linguistic anthropologist

Study language globalization, ideologies, and commoditization and find a career with:

  • English as a Second Language (ESL) education programs
  • bilingual education
  • organizations and businesses that need help with communication skills and practices
Physical anthropologist

Study the biology and evolution of human beings and get an exciting career in:

  • law enforcement, like the FBI or local police working as a forensic anthropologist solving crimes and assisting criminal investigations
  • medicine, by researching the culture, causes, and prevention behind a disease in public health, nursing, or medical administration
  • researching the remains of primates, humans, and the fossil record to predict our future to contribute to schools of thought, educational institutions, and private organizations

Career development resources Accordion Closed

The university’s Gateway Student Success Center helps you:

  • create cover letters and resumes
  • search for a career
  • find internships
  • hone interviewing skills

Our Student Career Fair happens twice a year and showcases many organizations and businesses that can employ recent graduates or current students.

The American Anthropology Association has information on careers in anthropology.

Job search links Accordion Closed

  • Flag jobs is a listing of full-time and part-time job openings in Flagstaff.
  • Indeed is a broad job search engine that pulls open job listings from various online sources.
  • ZipRecruiter is a job marketplace that uses artificial intelligence to connect employers and job seekers.
  • CareerOneStop offers links to state job banks throughout the US.
  • USAJobs helps you find government jobs working for the US stateside or internationally.
  • Idealist allows you to search for jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities with non-profit organizations.
  • Internship programs helps you search for internships by employers, career field, or location.
Department of Anthropology
Location
Room 228 Building 065
SBS - Raul H. Castro
5 E. McConnell Drive
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5200
Mailing Address
PO Box: 15200
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5200
Email
anthropology@nau.edu
Phone
928-523-3180
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