Anthropology

Several students transfer with their Mercer Liberal Arts A.A. to a B.A. in Anthropology, the study of what makes us human: our culture, our behaviors, our history, and our interactions over generations. Anthropology is broken into specialities leading to different careers.   

Archaeologists study humans of the past based on what they leave behind. They go on digs to other countries, but also work domestically when human remains and historical sites are unearthed or otherwise affected by building and transportation projects.

 Forensic Anthropologists work closely with law enforcement to investigate human remains in criminal investigations; they also work for museums and historical sites.

 Biological Anthropologists look specifically at the way the biology of humans and non-human primates has evolved in connection with the environment. Medical Anthropologists do the same and may work in the public health sector.

 Environmental Anthropologists often work for federal, state, or local governments in Natural Resource Management (NRM) and social impact consulting.

 Cultural Anthropologists practice ethnography to preserve the folklore and intangible historical evidence of endangered human groups as accurately as possible; they also investigate human cultures in general. They may work in areas such as Cultural Resource Management (CRM), market research such as conducting focus groups for corporations, contract archaeology for government agencies, historical preservation, community development, and as advisors for NGOs and international aid organizations.

 Business Anthropologists apply the ethnographic research methodology of anthropologists to solve business problems and conduct market research for companies such as Proctor and Gamble, Target, and major health organizations.  

 Linguistic Anthropologists focus on the ways that language and language changes affect human society and self-definition.

 College/University Teaching: Many anthropologists combine a career in anthropological fields such as those above with teaching and research at a college or university, which requires a Ph.D.