Careers & Graduate Study

The faculty posts announcements and information about careers and graduate work on the bulletin boards in the fourth floor hallway. The flyers, brochures, and guides include information about

  • fellowships and scholarships for those continuing their education
  • universities offering study abroad in sociology and in anthropology
  • information about companies and agencies offering internships
  • internships already approved by University of Mary Washington  for credit
  • local, national, and international agencies that accept volunteer
    assistance.

We strongly urge majors to begin to think about their futures by the beginning of the junior year at the latest. Internshipssummer field programs, and volunteer activities are most helpful in providing experiences that can help make career decisions. Please feel free to get in touch with Dr. Leslie Martin, Career Advisor in Sociology, or Dr. Laura Mentore, Career Advisor in Anthropology, for more information about careers or graduate work.

For general guidance, help with career plans, a job search, and your resume, you may also work with a career coach at the UMW Center for Career and Professional Development.  The Occupational Outlook Handbook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the web site Myplan.com also provide useful information about majors, careers, salaries, and more.

Keep the following in mind as you begin to think about career options:

Think of your major as an asset, not a constraint.  The dreaded question “What are you going to do with that?” is misleading.  What you learn as a sociology or anthropology major can distinguish you from other applicants, but it does not limit you to careers in sociology or anthropology.  Many if not most graduates from liberal arts colleges like UMW end up in jobs and career paths that do not require a specific college major.  Often most important are the general skills and knowledge one gains regardless of one’s field of study: oral and written communication, critical thinking, etc.  Remember too that your experience doing various kinds of research are valuable and worth highlighting.

Internships and other short-term or part-time job opportunities not only provide you with exposure and experience, but can also expand your network of contacts and references.  Build your social capital.

Although the two programs in our department maintain separate career resource pages, students are encouraged to make use of all of the resources contained in them.  There is a significant degree of overlap in the careers anthropology and sociology majors pursue.