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linguistics and anthropology

Types of Degrees linguistics and anthropology Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing linguistics and anthropology may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	7

What linguistics and anthropology Majors Need to Know

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

Knowledge Areas

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

• English Language — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.5 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Communications and Media — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.

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

Skills

The skill set emphasized by a linguistics and anthropology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Instructing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

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

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.

Common Job Activities

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

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Training and Teaching Others	4.3 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Working with Computers	4.3 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.2 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.2 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.1 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.1 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.0 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

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

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Adobe Photoshop	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Adobe Illustrator	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Blackboard Learn	Computer based training software	—
Calendar and scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—
iParadigms Turnitin	Information retrieval or search software	—

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

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for linguistics and anthropology graduates include:

• Lecturer
• Professor
• College Professor
• Instructor
• University Faculty Member
• Assistant Professor
• Associate Professor
• Adjunct Instructor
• Language Arts Teacher
• Teacher
• College Faculty Member
• Composition Teacher
• Faculty Member
• English Adjunct Instructor
• English Teacher

Education Typically Required

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

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	41.4%
Bachelor’s degree	24.0%
Master’s degree	19.5%
Less than a high school diploma	3.5%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	3.5%
High school diploma or equivalent	2.6%
Postsecondary certificate	1.7%
Some college courses	1.3%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.1%
Post-master’s certificate	1.0%
First professional degree	0.4%
Post-doctoral training	0.1%

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

Who Is Earning a Degree in linguistics and anthropology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 71.4% of linguistics and anthropology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	5	71.4%
Men	2	28.6%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of linguistics and anthropology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	2	28.6%
Asian	1	14.3%
Hispanic or Latino	1	14.3%
Black or African American	1	14.3%
Two or More Races	1	14.3%
Race Unknown	1	14.3%

^{See minority definition below.}

Related Programs

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

Program	CIP Code
Multi Interdisciplinary Studies	30
Accounting and Computer Science	30.16
Anthrozoology	30.34
Behavioral Sciences	30.17
Biological and Physical Sciences	30.01
Biopsychology	30.10
Classical and Ancient Studies	30.22
Climate Science	30.35
Cognitive Science	30.25
Computational Science	30.30
Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature	30.36
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis	30.26

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.