University of North Florida

What you'll study

The programme combines core anthropological subjects with applied courses that explore organisations, workplaces and institutional culture. You will study cultural anthropology, anthropological theory, qualitative research methods and ethnography, alongside courses that adapt these perspectives to organisational contexts such as organisational culture, change and management, workplace interaction, and applied anthropology.

• Core topics: cultural theory, comparative perspectives on social life, history of the discipline.
• Research and methods: ethnographic field methods, qualitative analysis, interview techniques, participant observation, and research design.
• Organisational focus: organisational culture and change, workplace practice, applied anthropology in business and non-profit settings, and consumer and market ethnography.
• Skills development: data collection and analysis, report writing, presentation skills, cross-cultural communication, and ethical practice in fieldwork.
• Capstone and experiential learning: a senior seminar or capstone project that typically involves an applied research project or internship with a local employer, NGO or government agency.

Entry requirements

Admission is to the University of North Florida as an undergraduate student; applicants should meet the university's general undergraduate entry standards. For the anthropology major, applicants are expected to have a secondary-school diploma or equivalent and academic preparation in humanities and social sciences. Typical preparation includes strong performance in social studies, English composition and critical thinking courses.

International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency through recognised tests or institutional pathways. Transfer students should provide transcripts of previous college coursework; some credit may be granted for relevant completed courses. Candidates with questions about specific prerequisites or entry pathways should consult UNF admissions and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology for guidance.

Career prospects

Graduates apply anthropological methods and perspectives in a range of careers. The organisational orientation prepares students for roles that require qualitative research, cultural analysis and stakeholder engagement.

• Human resources and organisational development—work on culture change, onboarding and employee engagement.
• User experience (UX) and market research—conduct ethnographic studies, user interviews and contextual inquiry for product and service design.
• Consulting and change management—advise organisations on culture, communication and organisational strategy.
• Corporate social responsibility and community engagement—design and evaluate programmes that bridge organisations and communities.
• Government, non-profit and international development—research, programme evaluation and community liaison roles.
• Further study—graduates often pursue master's or doctoral programmes in anthropology, sociology, business, public policy or related fields.

Why study at University of North Florida

UNF provides a teaching environment with small to mid-sized classes and opportunities for close faculty mentorship within the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. The university emphasises experiential learning—students can undertake internships, community-engaged projects and applied research with local businesses, public agencies and non-profit organisations in the Jacksonville region.

Faculty combine theoretical expertise with applied research experience and supervise senior projects that give practical exposure to ethnographic practice in organisational settings. Students also benefit from campus career services, interdisciplinary collaboration across business and public affairs programmes, and resources to prepare professional portfolios and research outputs for employers or graduate study.