Anthropology Major - Curator

College Majors
1

<p>Hey everyone!</p>

<p>I'm a freshman (credit-wise I am a first semester sophomore, however) who recently declared an anthropology major with a focus on cultural anthropology. I'm aiming to get a position as a museum curator down the line...I'm assuming after going to grad school & potentially (likely) getting a PhD. Would it be in my best interest to minor in art history, english, or both? I wasn't going to push the english minor but I was selected to be a writing tutor and I must take two english classes (and I have two classes worth of credit from high school), so I figured it wouldn't hurt. Currently I have a summer job at an art museum and I can apply for an internship at the art museum on campus next spring/fall. </p>

<p>I am unsure if I have to focus on a particular niche in anthropology to be successful. For example, would I have to research tribes of the pacific northwest throughout my academic career in order to secure a job in the pacific northwest? Or can my studies remain more vague, and thus most applicable to a wider range of museums? At this point I would be content with working at an art museum or a more "traditional", historical museum. I don't think a natural history or science museum would be the best fit for me, however. </p>

<p>Where should I study abroad to potentially intern at a museum abroad? I want to study abroad next spring and potentially intern into the summer. I'm thinking of this stuff a bit off the cuff so I am not sure if this is a possibility.</p>

<p>Sorry for the barrage of questions...I'm in the formative stages of following something I am really passionate about!</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>If you’re planning on grad school, your options and opportunities as a potential curator will be determined much more by your graduate career and subsequent professional work than by what you do as an undergrad. </p>

<p>Are you interested in working in an anthropology museum or an art museum? If the latter, why aren’t you majoring in art history (even considering you might be interested in folkart or primitive art)?</p>

<p>If you are interested interested in Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest, that’s fine, but it’s much too early to specialize to that extent. Usually, you will specialize in grad school, but that’s doesn’t mean you necessarily will follow the same focus throughout one’s academic career. Interests evolve and a broad and flexible background provides more options. Don’t close off the range of possibilities. Use the opportunities available to you to get an education, not just prepare for the job you think you want as a freshman.</p>

<p>There are several possibilities for minors relevant to your areas of interest in cultural anthropology. Besides art history, these would include museum studies, archaeological science, American studies, history, art conservation, Native American studies, Latin American studies, folklore, arts administration, digital humanities, and various aspects of material culture (e.g., textiles). Some of these are best deferred until graduate school, though, and there is even some question about the value of some of these, e.g, museum studies. For conservation, a science background is preferred. </p>

<p>Writing courses can be beneficial.</p>

<p>If you want to study abroad, consider coursework in languages. If you decide to do something in art history, languages are essential. </p>