BSc Anthropology

BSc Anthropology is a three-year Bachelor\’s degree programme that studies the similarities and differences in human behaviour. It covers various aspects of human beings, such as culture, organisational, and biological aspects. Anthropology studies Socio-cultural Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, and Archaeological Anthropology. Biological Anthropology, Socio-cultural Anthropology, and Archaeological Anthropology are the three major subjects in the BSc Anthropology degree. Students who want to learn about the biological, sociological, and cultural history of the human species should enroll in a BSc anthropology course.  As per BSc Anthropology eligibility criteria, candidates must have completed Intermediate (10+2) from a recognised board with major subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and/or Mathematics. Many universities,BSc Anthropology colleges, and institutes offer admission based on merit, while others use an entrance exam. The average BSc anthropology fee ranges between INR 50,000 and 3 Lakhs.

BSc anthropology course graduates can work in Multinational Corporations in India and abroad, including general insurance companies, health insurance companies, consulting firms, archaeological sites, teaching, research, and global organisations such as WHO, UNESCO, and UNICEF. In India, various government departments, such as the archaeological department, recruit candidates who have completed a BSc in Anthropology. Many leading universities, including the University of Delhi, Aligarh Muslim University, and the University of Calcutta, offer this BSc Anthropology degree full-time or part-time. IGNOU, among many others, offers BSc Anthropology distance education.

The BSc Anthropology admission process is very simple and is done through a merit system and an Entrance Exam. Banaras Hindu University, GITAM University, Punjab University, Integral University Lucknow, and a few other universities also hold BSc Anthropology entrance exams.

BSc Anthropology Course Highlights

The following are the highlights of the BSc Anthropology course:

Course LevelUndergraduate
Full formBachelor of Science Anthropology
Duration3 years
EligibilityPassed Intermediate with Science
Admission ProcessMerit-Based/Entrance Based
Average Course FeeINR 30,000
Average Salary5 -7 LPA
Job positionForensic Anthropologist, Economic Anthropologist, Anthropologist, Historic Buildings Inspector, Archaeological Field Technician, Conservation Officer, etc

Why Study BSc Anthropology?

BSc Anthropology course is one of the most exclusive courses available to highly selective students. There is a global shortage of skilled and professional anthropologists. The following are some of the reasons why students should major in anthropology:

  • Students with a strong interest in archaeology should take this course. It allows them to study ancient history from all over the world
  • Bsc anthropology students learn about human differences in all of their biological, historical, cultural, and linguistic complexities around the world
  • Anthropology necessitates both mental and physical effort. It entails the anthropologist working in less-than-comfortable environments
  • Anthropology studies give us a better understanding of humanity\’s many different ways of life
  • Students who have completed a BSc in anthropology can pursue further studies abroad, as well as intern with world-renowned organisations such as WHO, UNESCO, OXFAM, and others
  • The average salary package is between 3 and 4 lakhs, but if a person pursues their passion of anthropology, they will be able to travel around the world and learn about the history of humanitarianism

BSc Anthropology Eligibility Criteria

The following are the BSc Anthropology eligibility criteria/requirements:

  • The student must pass the class 12 board exams in Science
  • To find a good college to study the subject, the student must have an overall grade average of at least 50%

BSc Anthropology Admission Process

BSc Anthropology Admission is based on merit and entrance exams such as IAT IISER, OUAT, NEST, and many others administered by various BSc Anthropology colleges and universities. There are a few colleges and universities in India that allow for lateral entry into the BSc Anthropology course. The BSc Anthropology admission procedure for the course is outlined below.

  • To avail application forms for admission to the BSc anthropology course, go to the college\’s official website or the Admission office of the Institute
  • Candidates must complete the BSc Anthropology online application form and upload the required documents in the dimensions specified
  • After completing the BSc Anthropology application form and paying the application fee, the candidate must wait for the merit list or result

BSc Anthropology Top Colleges

Many top BSc Anthropology colleges, including Banaras Hindu University, Delhi University, Lucknow University, and Amity University, have average BSc Anthropology course fees of around INR 20,000 – INR 2,00,000. The BSc Anthropology course fees in government colleges are lower than those in private colleges. A list of BSc Anthropology colleges is provided below.

Name of the College/University CityAdmission Procedure
Hansraj College, DUDelhiMerit-Based
Amity UniversityNoidaEntrance Based
National College, LULucknowEntrance Based
Pragjyotish CollegeGuwahatiMerit-Based
BJB CollegeBhubaneswarMerit-Based
NIMS UniversityJaipurEntrance Based
Punjab UniversityChandigarhEntrance Based
HNBG UniversityGarhwalMerit-Based
Manipal UniversityManipalMerit-Based

BSc Anthropology Distance Education

Bachelor of Science in Anthropology, BSc Anthropology distance learning is a three-year undergraduate degree programme popular among science students after the 12th grade. It is available in a variety of study modes, including full-time, distance/correspondence, part-time, and online.

To pursue BSc Anthropology distance learning, candidates must have a qualifying Intermediate level degree. Admission to this course from a distance is typically based on merit. Annual BSc Anthropology fees for  distance learning range from INR 15,000 to 50,000.

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Andhra University Visakhapatnam, University of Madras (UNOM), Dr B R Ambedkar Open University Hyderabad (BRAOU), and others offer BSc anthropology colleges via distance education in India.

BSc Anthropology Course Fee

The BSc Anthropology course fees range between INR 20,000 and INR 200,000. The BSc Anthropology course fees in government colleges are lower than those in private colleges.

Minimum FeesMaximum Fees
LevelPrivateGovernmentPrivateGovernment
UGINR 1 KINR 360INR 2.85 LakhsINR 73.55 K
PGINR 16 KINR 1.40 KINR 2.13 LakhsINR 1.20 Lakhs
DOCTORALINR 2.28 LakhsINR 11.24 KINR 3.02 LakhsINR 11.24 K
DIPLOMAINR 20 KINR 20.00 K

BSc Anthropology Course Curriculum

The BSc Anthropology course teaches students about how humans behave, their differences, and so on. They are taught how humans behave, how psychology works, and so on, and the topics they cover are based on that. The BSc Anthropology course provides in-depth knowledge of everything human-related. The topics covered in this course are about the history of human development. The main point is that they study not only human society but also how humans evolve.

The BSc Anthropology course curriculum topics include:

  • Biological Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Socio-Cultural Anthropology
  • Linguistic Anthropology

BSc Anthropology Core Subjects

The topics covered in this BSc Anthropology course will help you gain a better understanding of everything related to Anthropology. The course lasts four years for Bachelors and two years for Masters.

Among the other subjects covered in the BSc,  BSc Anthropology subject lists are:

  • Introduction to Social Anthropology
  • Archaeological Anthropology
  • Technical Writing and Communication in English
  • Theories of Culture and Society
  • Biodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge

BSc Anthropology Syllabus

First Year:

Introduction to Social AnthropologyArchaeological Anthropology-IIArchaeological Anthropology-I
Anthropology of KinshipIntroduction to Biological AnthropologyBiostatistics and Data Analysis
Technical Writing & Communication in English / Computational Skills

Second Year:

Theories of Culture and SocietyTribes and Peasants in IndiaBiology / Cell Biology-I
Biodiversity & Indigenous Knowledge / Cell Biology IIHuman GeneticsAnthropology of religion, politics & economy
Molecular Biology-IAnthropology of India / Molecular Biology-II

Third Year:

Human Ecology: Biological DimensionsFundamental of Human Origins and EvolutionHuman Ecology: Social and Cultural Dimensions
Genomic Diversity in Human PopulationsBiological Diversity in Human PopulationsFieldwork Dissertation
Genetics & Genomics-IAnthropology in Practice / Genetics & Genomics-II

Required Skills for Anthropology

The Anthropologist is required to have certain skill sets. Among the skill sets are:

  • Communication Skills – The candidate must have excellent communication skills in order to effectively and accurately communicate messages to team members and others
  • Careful record keeping – One of the most important tasks is to keep the records carefully and not mix them up with other records
  • Clear thinking – When working on a task, it is critical that they have clear thoughts in mind and do not become confused, as this will result in them not getting the desired outcome
  • Analytical Skills – The candidate must be able to deconstruct information in order to reach conclusions. It includes logical thinking, critical thinking, and so on
  • Attention to detail – This is the ability that aids in achieving accuracy while completing a task. Most candidates have these skills listed on their resume

BSc Anthropology Career Options and Job Prospects

Anthropology graduates should apply to the Anthropological Survey of India, which is the country\’s largest recruiter of anthropologists at both the national and state levels. For international experience, they can apply to WHO, UNESCO, and UNICEF. Art galleries, publishing houses, NGOs, archives, museums, libraries, Archeology Department, Government Agencies, Private Business Agencies, Human and Health Services Organizations, and Computers/Software Development/Information Technology industries, among others, are also potential areas of employment for successful course graduates.

Graduates can pursue research opportunities in this field, particularly after completing a post-graduate degree in anthropology.

Job ProfileJob DescriptionSalary (INR)
AnthropologistAn anthropologist is a person who practises and studies human aspects in past and present societies. They are scientists who study human development and behaviour all over the world. Depending on their area of expertise, anthropologists investigate biological, archaeological, linguistic, or sociocultural traditions.2.5LPA
ArchaeologistArchaeology is a subfield of socio-cultural anthropology in which archaeologists use biological, geological, and environmental systems to study the past. It is the investigation of human activity through the recovery and examination of material culture.3LPA
Historic Buildings InspectorThe inspector of historic buildings offers recommendations and encourages the preservation of old buildings, structures, and locations with distinctive historic, architectural, or artistic value.2.8LPA
Archaeological Field TechnicianThe majority of the fieldwork involved in archaeological studies is under their purview, including conducting surveys, excavation, artefact identification and/or collection, photography, soil sample collecting, etc.5LPA
Field InvestigatorA field investigator conducts interviews and observations in a given situation in order to determine the nature of what is going on for a client and the company. Field investigators, also known as private investigators, conduct surveillance and research on behalf of a company, law enforcement agency, or individual client.3.5LPA
Forensic AnthropologistForensic Anthropology is the study of old bones to determine the age, gender, and medical history of deceased people, as well as other identification factors. The position requires students with both Bachelor\’s and Master\’s degrees in anthropology.3.5LPA
Economic AnthropologistEconomic anthropology is a profession that seeks to explain human economic behaviour in its broadest historical, geographic, and cultural context.3 LPA
Conservation OfficerConservative officers are responsible for enforcing state and federal laws that protect natural resources, primarily fish and wildlife. They are police officers who are frequently certified to enforce other laws within their jurisdiction, such as motor vehicle laws and controlled substance statutes.6LPA

Anthropology is the primary source of anthropologists both in India and abroad. Aside from WHO, UNICEF, and UNESCO, other recruiting firms offer career opportunities to those pursuing this course. They work not only in Anthropology but also in other fields such as NGOs, education, museums, and archives. The candidate must ensure that he or she meets all of the requirements for the specific job profile.

To ensure the smooth operation of the work, the candidate must submit the task before the deadline. He/she will be hired for a suitable role after successfully completing this course.

Some of the best BSc anthropology career opportunities are:

  • Anthropologist
  • Archaeologist
  • Historic Buildings Inspector
  • Archaeological Field Technician
  • Cultural Anthropologists
  • Conservation Officer
  • Forensic Anthropologist
  • Field Investigator
  • Economic Anthropologist

BSc Anthropology Recruiters

Some BSc Anthropology recruiters in this field include:

  • WHO
  • UNESCO
  • UNICEF
  • Health Insurance Companies
  • Teaching Research Work
  • General Insurance Companies

BSc Anthropology Salary

In India, BSc Anthropology salary for graduates typically ranges  between INR 2 and INR 9 LPA. However,  BSc Anthropology salary varies depending on experience, job profile, company, and so on.

The BSc Anthropology salary packages of some of the job profiles are:

Job ProfileAverage Salary
AnthropologistINR 2 – 4 LPA
Forensic AnthropologistINR 3 – 4 LPA
Field InvestigatorINR 3 – 4 LPA
Cultural AnthropologistINR 2 – 4 LPA

Fresh graduates in anthropology can expect a starting salary of INR 1.2 lakh to INR 2 lakh per annum. Getting a good salary depends on the institute from which the student has graduated and his or her knowledge in this field. Government departments recruit BSc Anthropology graduates on the basis of government entrance exams. Candidates who gain experience can earn up to INR 4 lakh per year under the job profiles mentioned above.

Scope of BSc Anthropology

Anthropologists provide major contributions to the field, which has a vast and expanding scope both in India and abroad. Depending on your area of interest, this sector offers a variety of job options. An anthropology course is a terrific option for you if you\’re curious to learn about human diversity and similarity. The study of anthropology will never come to an end and will continue to expand. In this course, students learn about the characteristics of the human species, how people differ from one another, and how humans behave. The primary goal of anthropology is to thoroughly prepare students to study humans in both the past and the present. Anthropologists will be required at some point in the future since there will be a need to learn more specifically about people. The field is developing since it has a broad scope both today and in the future. This course has a broad reach because it provides you with a variety of work prospects when you complete the course. Archaeologists or anthropologists are the available professions.

Graduates of anthropology are especially well-suited for careers involving people, including education, law, medicine, social work, and journalism. It is a science that investigates the beginnings of humanity as well as its physical, social, and cultural growth and behaviour. Some anthropologists labour in academic research facilities around the world, contributing to interdisciplinary subjects including ethnic and gender studies as well as international studies. They carry out research on human culture and evolution from both a scientific and humanistic perspective.

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