Help with an academic issue

Hey all.

I'm currently a sophomore in college, and am currently a journalism and anthropology double major. However, i've currently been thinking about dropping journalism and going to grad school to be a professor in anthropology. I really wouldnt be losing anything at al credit-wise should I drop journalism.

Some people ive talked to said this seems like a decent idea. But one of my friends sad that I should stay with the double major, in case anything happens where i dont go to grad school for anthropology, ill at least have a bachelors in journalism to fall back on (as a bachelors in anthropology is kind of useless)

Anyway, i'm just trying to find as my opinions as possible. Thanks for listening.
 
Not going to lie to you. I follow a lot of news and those types of things and journalism is increasingly becoming a dying vestige of the informed (whether it's accurate information or not; often times now a days it isn't).

Although a degree in journalism may be more valuable than one in anthropology (more availability of jobs in varying fields). But I doubt it would result in getting a gig with the NY Times for example; you might end having to work for TMZ or People. My condolences.
 
Well, newspapers and magazines are dying left and right, and in many cases deservedly so. My local big-city paper is losing $1.5M per week, and every change they make seems to give the readers less value, not more. They won't be around for long.

In large part the print media haven't been able to deal with the internet. We all know that they haven't been able to figure out how to make a profit with their online editions. But the thing many people don't know is that they used to make a pile from their classifieds. Look in any paper today and the classifieds are nearly gone--to ebay and craigslist.
 
The degree in journalism is really not gong to harm you and really couldn't hurt unless you are going to end up an extra year in school to complete all the requirements needed for the double major. I would think that the objectivity, analysis and writing rendered in the journalism degree would help an anthropologist. When you are applying to grad school, they look at what makes you stand out from the next applicant. The journalism degree may help there, as well.

I would suggest that you are only an undergraduate once and you should milk your tuition for all you can get out of it. I would think backwards from where you want to be in five or ten years, and then be assured that you are on the right path to get there.
 
I have a PhD in anthropology. I teach part-time at several universities in SoCal, but the market for full-time professors in anthropology is saturated. The good ones do get teaching jobs, so if you are considering teaching, plan on doing well as an undergraduate and then attending one of the top anthro departments for a PhD. those would include UCLA , Michigan, Harvard, Yale, Texas, Chicago, Berkeley, Penn or Pittsburgh. I work as an archaeologist for the Forest Service and it is a really good job with excellent benefits. If you major in anthro, consider alternatives other than teaching.

For example, you might consider applied anthroplogy...an emphasis in that might lead to doing human relations for a major corporation...

If archaeology is your thing, then an MA will qualify you to work in well paying jobs doing what is called Cultural Resource Management.

All this being said, I'd stay with a double major..there are so many college grads that write poorly. A degree in journalism may help you be a bettter anthropologist; one that can write and speak well.

PS: A bachelor's degree in anthro with an emphsis in archaeology (including a field school) will qualify you to work as an Archeological Field Technician for between $18-25 an hour. A minimum of a masters degree is needed to make a good living these days.
 
Thank you all so much for your insight. From what i've gathered from here and on another forum, I guess sticking with the double major might be the way to go, even though the market is failing.

The thing I have against this is, for one, I need to stay an undergrad for an extra year, but maybe thats not a bad thing. The second thing is if I were to drop journalism, writing would become my minor, as I do enjoy writing.

Further thoughts?
 
A good journalist can also be a good writer, but a good writer is not necessarily a good journalist, is my thinking.

If it'd take you an extra year to do both, I'd go with the one you want to do more and finish that up in normal time. Maybe even do a Bachelors/Masters 5 year program if possible; most don't accept undergrads into those programs until they're in their 2.5 years at least.

As for newspapers dying off, well, one day we'll have those nifty electronic newspapers in Minority Report, and then they might adapt. Or online media will control that as well ;)
 
All this being said, I'd stay with a double major..there are so many college grads that write poorly. A degree in journalism may help you be a bettter anthropologist; one that can write and speak well.

Good advice; being able to write well can really open up doors (e.g. ability to attract grant funding). I just got back from Athens last night where I presented some research at a conference. (My research was funded from a grant that I won based on a well written and coherent research proposal.) I also picked up a nice little drum in Athens and jammed with some bouzouki musicians. With my PhD, I am able to travel the world, meet interesting people, eat fantastic food, visit great museums, and pick up ethnic percussion instruments. While it takes time and an incredible amount of effort to get a PhD, for me, the journey has been worth it.

My advice to you would be to do a double major and work towards a PhD in what ever area you finally decide. You might even want to focus on some aspect of drumming!

Best wishes,

Greg
 
Hey all.

I'm currently a sophomore in college, and am currently a journalism and anthropology double major. However, i've currently been thinking about dropping journalism and going to grad school to be a professor in anthropology. I really wouldnt be losing anything at al credit-wise should I drop journalism.

Some people ive talked to said this seems like a decent idea. But one of my friends sad that I should stay with the double major, in case anything happens where i dont go to grad school for anthropology, ill at least have a bachelors in journalism to fall back on (as a bachelors in anthropology is kind of useless)

Anyway, i'm just trying to find as my opinions as possible. Thanks for listening.

City of Champions? Could that be Pittsburgh?

Don't ever do something which makes you say 20 years later, "I wish i would have...."

I would stick with the double major myself....it makes you more versatile in employment opportunities.


Mike

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