Kurt Vonnegut
The author of Slaughterhouse Five and Cat's Cradle recieved an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Chicago. Cat's Cradle was actually his master's thesis.
Parent Resources
What Can My Student Do With an Anthropology Degree?
Anthropology majors leave Miami for a variety of meaningful and productive futures.
- Some enter graduate school directly after graduation for their M.A. and/or Ph.D. in anthropology, museum studies, public health, and numerous other disciplines in the social sciences and humanities.
- Some head for service-oriented work for 1-2 years with influential organizations: Teach for America, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, Food Corps, the Urban Teachers Program, or City Year (to name just a few).
- Some work for governmental agencies and other public-funded organizations, such as the U.S. Dept. of State, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and The Smithsonian.
- Some enter directly into the work force by joining corporations who employ anthropologists or consulting firms that offer anthropological expertise to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Read a few examples of how businesses realize the value of anthropological training: culture change in corporations; entrepreneurship; branding; women in business; market research; innovation.
Look at where our recent graduates are now!
Do I Know Any Anthropologists?
In fact you most likely do. Many well-known people - from world leaders to pop culture celebrities - chose Anthropology when they were university students. Here are a few you might know:
Giada de Laurentiis
The celebrity chef recieved a Bachelor's degree in Social Anthropology from UCLA
Rob Portman
The Former Republican Senator from Ohio has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Dartmouth College
Joan Lunden
The co-host of Good Morning America in the 1980s and 1990s studied Anthropology at Universidad de Las Americas.
Steve Riggio
The former CEO of Barnes and Noble recieved a B.A. in Anthropology from Brooklyn College.
- You can help by knowing and emphasizing to students that doing well in the first semester is key.
- It might seem counterintuitive, but getting a job on campus not only provides a framework and extra money for your busy student, it also offers a built-in Miami family of support and advice.
- Help your student get off to a good start by discussing smart time management practices. Let them know that everyone can learn to manage time better and that they can receive support or help on campus.
- Provide advice and encouragement but resist the urge to step in and plan for your son or daughter. Encourage him/her to undertake the necessary planning work (this can be hard for parents, but it pays dividends later).
- You can help by encouraging your student to get the most out of college by attending every scheduled class regularly.
- Remind your student to resist the ‘skip just this once’ syndrome and that missing a class should only occur in an emergency.
- Encourage them to talk to their classmates and the faculty member of any missed classes to ensure they get all of the covered material.
- Ask your student how their classes are going on a regular basis.
- If your student has never had to ask for help in the past, it may not seem to be an option. Discuss the importance of “keeping up” with class assignments and taking immediate action after an unexpected low grade on a paper or test.
- It’s never too early to investigate the many resources available on campus. Asking for help is much more difficult than some families imagine. In college, successful students ask, ask, and continue to ask questions throughout their careers!
- If your student has a learning disability, have a discussion about disclosing it to the disability services office at the Rinella Learning Center.
- While accommodations are provided whenever a student meets the requirements, seeking accommodations after a bad test result only adds to the pressure. There are students with learning disabilities at every university. Instructors are discreet and will not disclose confidential information to your student’s classmates.
- Show your Love and Honor for your student's university even if you aren't a Miami graduate. It's important that your child feel supported in their choice for an education.
- Do a little homework about the Miami traditions and encourage your student to attend Mega Fair and learn about (and hopefully join) one of Miami’s 435 student organizations.
- Campus-wide lectures are the hallmark of our liberal education and co-curricular tradition!
- Make a campus visit, if that’s realistic for your family. These affiliations will provide yet another support base for your student.
- It can be difficult for some students to introduce themselves to new people on campus, especially faculty and staff. Help your student understand that it’s well worth the risk.
- Speaking to instructors and advisors before the first test or appointment makes the conversations easier when important questions must be answered.
- In the process, students may meet a life mentor. If you’ve had an important mentor in your life, share that story with your student again.
- There are undreamed encounters awaiting the student who is willing to be open to the variety of opportunities on campus. It can be as simple as visiting a peer down the hall who is from another country or portion of the US, joining a student group, engaging in residence hall activities, attending an arts event, taking a course, traveling to a friend’s home or inviting a friend home for the weekend, or traveling to another country to study.
- This is another opportunity for parents and family members to share treasured memories of their own lives. Immersion into another culture can be a life-changing experience.
- It is likely that your son or daughter engaged in community service during the K-12 years. Our office of Community Engagement and Service can help your student connect to new people and new experiences in the Oxford community or around the world.
- Fraternities and sororities, as well as many campus organizations engage in service opportunities through their individual and collective organizations.
- Some students seem to “just know” what they want to do, but it is more likely that students will change their minds several times about a professional life. Help to lead them in the right direction by introducing them to friends or neighbors who might provide some insight.
- Encourage them to visit the Career Center office and talk with one of the counselors and take some placement tests. Try your best to be open to these changes while allowing your students to set their own bar. Showing your love and support makes all the difference.
- Your child has been making choices for a long time.
- During the next four years, their development should be such that you see a significant improvement in the way in which they come to conclusions and decide on an appropriate action or reaction.
- Sometimes, it is necessary to stand back, disengage, and allow them to succeed or fail on their own.
Department of Anthropology
120 Upham Hall
100 Bishop Circle
Oxford, OH 45056
