Careers in anthropology

What can I do with a degree in anthropology?
With us, you'll gain cross-cultural perspectives that you can apply to any field. Our grads work in education, media, public health and cultural resource management.
You'll learn how to derive and interpret knowledge from artifacts, field research and statistics.
Study of Indigenous and non-Indigenous relations has led graduates to work with Indigenous communities and groups.
Some career options for anthropology majors
- Archaeologist
- Community or youth worker
- Cultural impact assessor
- Filmmaker, photographer and other media-related occupations
- Forensic anthropologist
- Healthcare/health services
- International agency representative
- Library and archive technician
- Marketing researcher
- Multiculturalism educator
- Museum educator/curator
- Public health educator
- Social policy research
- Social service worker
- Support worker for immigrants and refugees
Additional education and training may be required
Develop your career
- Attend career development workshops
- Explore résumé, cover letter and interview resources
- Meet with a career educator
- Work with community through volunteer opportunities
Search for work
Meet our alumni
Anthropologist, Archaeologist, Indigenous Knowledge Researcher
Aurora is currently working in the field of Indigenous language revitalization at the First Peoples' Cultural Council. Her work involves supporting communities to revitalize languages by administrating grant funding and language programs. She is a beginner at learning the SENĆOŦEN language. She continues to be involved with archaeology, mostly through teaching at Continuing Education and occasional side projects.
Anthropology and Interdisciplinary Studies - BA with distinction (2013), MA (2015)
Chancellor, University of Victoria
Marion was appointed the first woman First Nations judge in BC in 1994 and was appointed as chief commissioner for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in 2016. Among her many accomplishments, she was instrumental in starting the First Nations Court of British Columbia in 2006.
Anthropology - BA (1975), LLB (1987)
Film Director, Musician, Anthropologist
Sam Dunn is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and the co-founder of Banger Films. From UVic, he went on to earn his master's degree in Anthropology at York University, then embarked on his first documentary film, Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2005), which won a Gemini Award for best writing in a documentary. He co-directed the biggest-ever TV series on the history of heavy metal, Metal Evolution, which reached #1 on VH1 Classic and MuchMoreMusic, and co-directed the Peabody Award-winning series Hip-Hop Evolution. Read more
Anthropology - BA (1998)
Associate Producer, On the Island / All Points West
Nicole has always been interested in people and their stories. As an Associate Producer for CBC Radio One in Victoria, she seeks out stories that will resonate with the Canadian public. Along with researching and pitching these stories to producers, her role includes preparing interviews, doing news breaks and audio editing.
Anthropology and Professional Writing - BA (2013)
Archaeological Site Inventory Information and Data Administrator
Diana has worked in the field of archaeology in a variety of locations in BC, California, Australia and the Northern Marianas Islands. "My degree gave me a variety of skills including analytical thinking, map reading and writing. My studies provided a thorough background in the prehistory of the province of British Columbia, and of other peoples and cultures of the world, which has been useful in my career."
Anthropology - BA (1991)
Education and Employment Counsellor
"My degree provided me with a strong theoretical background in the concepts of culture and inequality which I apply in my job every day. My focus on the anthropology of children and youth also provided me tools to think about the diverse ways in which childhood is practiced and negotiated transnationally. My degree also gave me a strong set of methodological tools and ethics for working with diverse groups of youth and has enabled me to become a full-time youth worker with an amazing job at a local non-profit."
Anthropology - BA (2007), MA (2010)
Co-Founder/COO
Nareena grew up in Vancouver, B.C. Her passion for learning about different cultures led her to a career in International Development. She has served as a program advisor and leadership facilitator focused on holistic approaches to development. She has worked with innovative organizations in Zanzibar, Kenya, Ghana, and India. Her passions have led her to co-found Naledo, a social enterprise that aims to tackle some of our most pressing global issues. She loves to inspire youth to learn about the world and become global citizens.
Anthropology - BA (2009)
Multimedia Journalist
Devon joined Saanich News as a Multimedia Journalist in June 2019. She covers news relating to Saanich and Greater Victoria. Bidal studied Biological Anthropology and Journalism at the University of Victoria and graduated with a Bachelor of Science. She started her career in journalism as a volunteer and then a senior staff writer at The Martlet, UVic's independent newspaper. Her work has also been published in The Martlet, Monday Magazine, Black Press Media papers across B.C. and in the first volume of the Anthology of Social Justice and Intersectional Feminisms.
Anthropology - BSc with distinction (2019)