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Anthropology, B.A.

College of Arts and Sciences

Prepare for a wide range of careers when you learn to examine problems and questions related to the human experience, from our social interactions and communications to our physical development.

The anthropology major provides training in how to look at problems and questions holistically and relativistically. Students appreciate human diversity and apply their learning to questions about social and environmental justice, identity, health and social inequities.

Program Highlights

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    Valuable Experiences

    Learn along with your classmates through research, and gain real experience beyond the classroom.

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    Interdisciplinary Studies

    Explore a diverse range of course topics in human behavior, development and cultural differences.

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    Personal Attention

    Enjoy a close student-faculty relationship and all the opportunities that come with smaller class sizes.

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    People-Focused

    Improve the health and well-being of individuals and their communities through social justice work in a variety of settings.

What You’ll Study

Receive comprehensive training through an interdisciplinary approach to anthropology and its four main fields: archaeological, cultural, linguistic and biological anthropology. Learn to research, manage, analyze, evaluate and interpret data on human diversity and across all human behaviors. Enjoy opportunities to participate in fieldwork locally and abroad. 

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

  • Critical Thinking

    Analyzing and evaluating information to make informed decisions or judgments

    Research

    Gathering and analyzing information to increase knowledge or solve problems

    Multicultural Awareness

    Understanding cultural variation and adapting behaviors and communication styles accordingly

  • Writing

    Creating professional written content for inclusion in scholarly journal articles, books and reports

    Listening Skills

    Understanding what others are saying to facilitate effective communication

    Advocacy

    Promoting or defending a cause or issue often using awareness, education and policy change

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Learn how alumni use degrees with outcome data from Gamecock GradStats, a service of the University of South Carolina Career Center.

Potential Careers

  • Anthropologist
  • Archaeologist
  • Advocate
  • Communicator
  • Consultant

Job Titles of Alumni

  • Archaeologist
  • Archeology Education Specialist
  • Archivist for Collection Management
  • Research Assistant
  • Museum Technician
  • Communications Specialist

Average Alumni Salary

Five to 10 years after graduation without additional education $65,362

Workplace Settings

  • Academia
  • Museums
  • Business
  • Government
  • Nonprofits
  • Health Care

Employers of Alumni

  • Archaeological Consultants of the Carolinas, Inc.
  • Historic Columbia
  • National Park Service
  • Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center
  • South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
  • South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology

Is USC Right For You?

There are many reasons we could be your ideal university. There's the award-winning academics, the globally modeled student life, and abundance of study abroad and experiential learning options. Take a closer look at what USC could mean for you.

Degree content is provided for informational purposes only. The Academic Bulletin is the source of record for all degree information.
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