What Is an Anthropology Professor and How to Become One
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What Is an Anthropology Professor?
An anthropology professor works in a college or university to teach at least one of the four major facets of the anthropology major: archaeology, linguistics, and biological and sociocultural anthropology. In a given day, your responsibilities in this career may include teaching a class, meeting with a student as an advisor, conducting a research study into social relationships, human origins, or various cultures, and grading or preparing lesson plans. Your duties as an anthropology professor vary based on your university and your department. Some anthropology professors, for instance, don't work in anthropology departments, but instead work in life science or forensics departments, depending on the type of majors offered by the school for which they work.
How to Become an Anthropology Professor
To meet the qualifications to become a professor of anthropology, you need to earn at least your master's degree in anthropology or one of the major anthropological facets. If you only have a master's degree, you may only be qualified to work in a community college or as an adjunct professor at a larger university. To earn a tenure-track professorship at a four-year institution, you need to earn your Ph.D. It is also important that anthropology professors have strong research skills, as these can help to further your career. Anthropology departments use published research to remain funded and promote the college to future students. You also need excellent public and interpersonal communication skills.
