---

geography and anthropology

Instructional content is defined in code 45.1501.

What geography and anthropology Majors Need to Know

Studies in geography and anthropology build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that geography and anthropology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in geography and anthropology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Law and Government — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a geography and anthropology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to geography and anthropology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, geography and anthropology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.6 / 7
Working with Computers	4.5 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.4 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.2 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.2 / 7
Processing Information	4.2 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.2 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by geography and anthropology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
ESRI ArcGIS software	Geographic information system	✓
Microsoft SharePoint	Document management software	—
ESRI ArcView	Geographic information system	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for geography and anthropology graduates include:

• University Faculty Member
• College Professor
• Lecturer
• Assistant Professor
• Associate Professor
• Professor
• Instructor
• Compliance Director
• Clerk of Court
• System Operation Superintendent
• Branch Chief
• Project Administrator
• Laboratory Manager
• Digital Project Manager
• Highway Patrol Commander

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to geography and anthropology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	37.9%
Doctoral degree	30.3%
Master’s degree	10.3%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	6.0%
High school diploma or equivalent	4.4%
Post-master’s certificate	3.3%
Postsecondary certificate	2.8%
Some college courses	2.3%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.8%
First professional degree	0.7%
Post-doctoral training	0.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Social Sciences	185,019
Economics	45,628
Political Science and Government	44,942
Sociology	31,380
Social Sciences, General	17,510
International Relations and National Security Studies	13,035
Anthropology	10,768
Criminology	10,365
Geography and Cartography	7,105
Social Sciences, Other	1,942
Urban Studies/Affairs	1,343
Sociology and Anthropology	496

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.