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Perspectives

Further courses of study

Competence goals

The following competencies and skills are acquired in the bachelor's program in Social and Cultural Anthropology:

  • Understanding key anthropological theories, methods, questions/problems, topics, and perspectives;
  • Acquisition of fundamental thematic knowledge (e.g., on sociocultural phenomena in politics, economics, religion, media, material culture, kinship relations, and migration) based on region-specific studies;
  • Scientific work: designing and working on subject-relevant questions using scientific tools, i.e., organizing and conducting scientific research and processing it in a differentiated manner; in addition, presenting the arguments and results of the investigation orally and in writing; writing scientific texts;
  • Methodological and methodological competence, especially in qualitative research methods; case-related selection and application of anthropologically relevant survey methods and reflection taking into account social and ethical implications; 
  • Critical thinking: questioning individual and social assumptions as well as scientific findings and results; this includes a self-reflective and self-critical perspective on one's own research exercises;
  • Project management: planning, implementation, and evaluation/assessment of a largely independently designed research project (in Germany or abroad) with a subject-relevant research question;
  • Organizational and media skills as well as practical and intercultural skills in the course of implementing the research project
  • Social skills with regard to teamwork, the design of scientific interaction processes, and the moderation of discussion processes; 
  • Advanced knowledge of three foreign languages through reading international standard literature and (optionally) through stays abroad;
  • and much more.

Career opportunities

The career-oriented module provides insight into career fields in Social and Cultural Anthropology through lectures by practicing anthropologists. The Career Services and the Center for Continuing Education at Goethe University offer professional services and continuing education courses on key competencies to accompany your studies, providing a further bridge between your studies and your career. 
The bachelor's program in social and cultural anthropology provides fundamental theoretical, methodological, systematic, regional, and historical knowledge. 
Successful completion of the program qualifies students for a master's program and, building on that, for an academic career in social and cultural anthropology or related subjects. At the same time, the B.A. is a first professionally qualifying degree that can offer a career entry point into international labor markets or intercultural contexts.
Depending on the (subject-specific and practical) focus of the course of study and, if applicable, additional training and further education, characteristic career fields for graduates of the bachelor's program in social and cultural anthropology include, for example, in
 

  • museums and exhibitions
  • the intercultural education sector, e.g., youth and adult education
  • public authorities and institutions as well as in NGOs, e.g., integration and migration work
  • (especially intercultural) project and cultural management, public relations, and the tourism sector
  • media (such as press, radio, television), journalism, publishing, and libraries
  • development cooperation and in activities for international organizations
  • in management consulting, organizational and market research institutions

The Career Service's "What is Next?" page also offers a comprehensive overview of possible career profiles and fields of activity, as well as interviews with Goethe University alumni
 

Perspectives