When doing an anthropology degree? What kind of stuff do you have to be good at?

Question

I know it involves a lot of reading, what else?

Answer 1

You should know how to write sentences that do not end in a preposition, and it helps if you are interested in human cultures.

Answer 2

You have to be willing to think.

It's important to always ask questions, and always ask why.

It's ok to be interested in alot of different stuff (biological cultural, etc.)

Reading, putting together coherant sentences.

Public speaking

Speaking in class, leading discussions, etc

Answer 3

It depends on what branch of anthropology catches your interest.

In general I think you have to be fascinated by human activity, you need to be open-minded and ready to think outside the box, and yes there's lots of reading.

In American anthropology there are 3 to 4 branches depending on the university:

1. Archeology: studying the human past by looking at material evidence. You might be required to take some science classes. You should be comfortable with spending time outside digging and in the lab analyzing your finds. If you like history you might like this.

2. Physical or biological anthropology: keyword evolution. You mainly study the evolution of the human body and its physical survival. Again you might be required to take science classes. You will spend a lot of time in a lab analyzing bones or in the field observing primates if that's what you end up liking.

3. Cultural anthropology: the study of present human culture. You will spend time in strange and unfamiliar environments asking very personal questions. You have to be comfortable with being put in uncomfortable situations. There is a lot of writing and reading involved.

4. Linguistic anthropology: sometimes it is included within cultural anthropology. Basically you study the social side of language. How it is transmitted, how it is used in different social situations,etc. You have to be interested in learning new languages and be a good listener.

I would also recommend that you go to the closest university to you and ask for a tour of their anthropology department.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Which area of the field interests you?  There's cultural anthropology, physical/biological anthropology which can include forensics, linguistic anthropology, and archaeology.

While reading and research are important, there are usually lab and field requirements for each degree.  The various divisions of anthropology tie in with many related fields, such as sociology, political science, history, art, literature, geology, geography, biology, chemistry, psychology, and you will be required to take courses in a selection of these to complete your degree.

You really should contact someone from the anthropology department at a local university to learn more about the degree requirements, necessary skills to succeed in the field, and eventual job potential.  

(Also, just a bachelors in anthropology is virtually useless.  Ask them about pursuing further degrees)