Best UC For Anthropology?

kmazza
Sat, 11 Sep 2010 03:37:54 +0000

NRC Rankings refer first and foremost to graduate level programs. The OP never stated whether they were pursuing a undergrad or grad degree in Anthropology though. Anthropology is in the business and social sciences and yes you will not get rich but still can live quite comfortably. Most people who take Anthropology generally love the subject material and/or work over being rich or famous. As with any social science or liberal arts degree you have to go all the way through the entire educational system for it to pay off. You would not need an accounting, econ, or finance degree and rarely those classes if are a Anthropology major. A Physical or Biological Anthropologist would take math, chem, physics, and lots of bio. A Cultural Anthropologist would take classes in relation to that curriculum and overall field habitus including art/history and religion. You also have Linguistic Anthropologists to food Anthropologists. I prefer Archeology myself which includes Earth Sciences, Soil Sciences, Survey Engineering, GIS, GPS, and Chemistry. Most cities need certified Anthropologists to approve and archive any sort of historical site or acquistion. An Advanced Anthropologist can easily becomes a professor, scientist or Cultural Resource Manager. If they like art more Anthropologists fit in fantastically working in museums. If they went that direction could obtain a Museum Management business degree. Museology classes are under the umbrella of the Anthropology major now moreso than under Art/History since both Museum Studies and Anthropology Departments were defunded numerous times over the last 25 years.
Anyways, there are certain schools that have a traditionally larger and generally better program than another. UCSB and CSUChico have the larger and more diverse Anthropology departments with more to choose from to tailor your own degree in the California system IF receiving a bachelors degree in Anthropology. Many Students make the common mistake of buying into a Colleges name (which is still a product of marketing and tradition) on the bachelors level rather than the individual department which is more important. If you decide to become a researcher or writing your thesis then you go to schools like Cal, Stanford or one of the NRC Graduate schools