What is Cultural Anthropology: Full Form, Course Duration, Admission 2025, Colleges, Salary & Scope

Updated on Apr 14, 2025 08:41 IST
Sarjana Sinha

Sarjana SinhaContent Writer

Cultural anthropology is a branch of anthropology that studies human cultures, including customs, beliefs, and social systems.These course are studied as UG, PG, PhD, certification or diploma courses. Students can learn Cultural Anthropology course as full-time, part-time, distance or online learning modes as their convenience. 

Cultural Anthropology course eligibility criteria basically requires at least 50% marks in Class 12 in any stream from a recognized board of India. Most colleges in India accept admission based on merit, some popular colleges may ask for CUET PG entrance exam scores. 

The best Cultural Anthropology colleges in India are Holy Cross College, West Bengal State University, Vikram University, Sambalpur University, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, English and Foreign Language University, and various others. The Cultural Anthropology course fee in India varies on an average from INR 7,200 to INR 84,480.

Students can pursue multiple career options after completing Cultural Anthropology degree such as Researcher, Forensic Anthropologist, Medical Anthropologist, Social Worker, Professor, etc. The Cultural Anthropology degree salary package in most colleges of India vary from INR 3 LPA to INR 4.95 LPA, depending upon job profile.  

Cultural Anthropology Course: Highlights

Cultural Anthropology is a course that will continue to grow and expand in response to the demand for Anthropologists. It comments on the human condition, cultural anthropology plays an important role in raising cultural awareness, developing empathy, and respecting cultural diversity.

Students can see the below table to learn more details about Cultural Anthropology course:

Particulars Details
Course Name Cultural Anthropology Course
Cultural Anthropology Course Levels Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), PhD
Cultural Anthropology Course Duration

UG-3 years

PG-2 Years

PhD - 3 to 5 years

Cultural Anthropology Course Admission Criteria

merit-based and entrance exam based

Cultural Anthropology Course Eligibility Criteria

UG- Candidate should have passed class 12 with 50 per cent marks

PG-Candidate should have passed BA with 50 per cent marks

PhD-Candidate should have passed MA with 60 per cent marks

Cultural Anthropology Course Entrance Exams

CUET PG

Cultural Anthropology Course Best Colleges

Holy Cross College, West Bengal State University, Vikram University, Sambalpur University, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, English and Foreign Language University, etc. 

Cultural Anthropology Course Average Fees (annually) INR 7,200 to INR 84,480
Cultural Anthropology Course Job Profiles Conservation Officer, Economic Anthropologist, Anthropologist, Historic Buildings Inspector, Archaeological Field Technician
Cultural Anthropology Course Average Salary INR 3 LPA to INR 4.95 LPA
Cultural Anthropology Course Top Recruiters WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF, Educational Institutes, Archeological Sites

Note: This info. is taken from the official website and may differ.

Quick Links About Cultural Anthropology Course:

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Q:   What is Cultural Anthropology?
A:

Cultural Anthropology is a subfield of Anthropology that is concerned with the social and humanitarian aspects of the domain. In Cultural Anthropology, you will learn about Human societies, kinship, marriage, family, rituals, political systems, race, ethnicity etc. 

A Cultural Anthropology coursework includes theoritical subjects, internship and fieldwork.

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Q:   How is Cultural Anthropology different from Physical Anthropology?
A:

Cultural Anthropology and Physical Anthropology are two major subfileds of Anthropology. Both these fields involve the comprehensive study of human beings. They differ from each other because of their areas of focus. Cultural Anthropology is concerned with the social and cultural aspects of human beings whereas Physical Anthropology is concerned with the biological aspects of humans. Cultural Anthropology is similar to topics covered in Sociology whereas Physical Anthropology is related to biology. Both these try to comprehend the qualities and characteristics of human beings in order to get a holistic understanding.

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Table of content
  • Cultural Anthropology Course Eligibility Criteria
  • Cultural Anthropology Course Admission 2025
  • Cultural Anthropology Entrance Exams 2025
  • Cultural Anthropology Course Syllabus
  • Cultural Anthropology Best Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Cultural Anthropology Colleges in India
  • Cultural Anthropology Career Scope: Job Profiles, Salary and Top Recruiters
  • Cultural Anthropology FAQs: 2024
  • Popular Cultural Anthropology UG Courses
  • Popular Cultural Anthropology PG Courses
View More

Cultural Anthropology Course Eligibility Criteria

Candidates interested in pursuing a Cultural Anthropology course need to check the eligibility criteria given below:

Students are generally taught Cultural Anthropology as a specialisation and will have to learn about the various branches in Anthropology as they start their graduation.

Course Type

Duration

Eligibility Criteria

BA in Anthropology

3-Years

The student should be a Class 12 pass from a recognised board in any stream and should have secured a minimum of 50% aggregate.

MA in Anthropology

2-Years

The candidate should have done their BA in Anthropology or any similar field from a recognised University and should have secured a minimum of 50% aggregate.

BSc in Anthropology

3-Years

The student should be a Class 12 pass from a recognised board in the Science stream and should have secured a minimum of 50% aggregate.

MSc in Anthropology

2-Years

The candidate should have done their BSc in Anthropology or any similar field from a recognised University and should have secured a minimum of 50% aggregate.

PhD in Cultural Anthropology

3 - 5 years

must have passed post-graduation in a relavant field with at least 60% marks from a recognized university of India

Disclaimer: The information given above is taken from external sources and may vary.

 

Q:   Is there any age limit to pursue Cultural Anthropology courses?
A:

No, there is usually no minimum or maximum age limit that has to be fulfilled by candidates to pursue Cultural Anthropology courses. Neither colleges nor entrance exams conducting bodies prescribe any age limit for BA, BSc, MA, MSc or PhD. If you qualify for the entrance exam and satisfy other eligibility parameters then you need not to worry about age limit. However, if you wish to become a Junior Research Fellow then you should be less than 30 years of age to be eligible. This is as per the age limit prescribed by UGC for JRF General Category.

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Cultural Anthropology Course Admission 2025

The following steps show a general outline of the admission process accepted in most colleges of India for Cultural Anthropology course.

  • Make sure that you fulfil the eligibility criteria of the colleges.
  • Fill out the application form and pay the fee.
  • Appear for the entrance exams if any.
  • Wait for the results.
  • Sit for the counselling rounds.

Note: This info. is taken from the official website and may differ.

Cultural Anthropology Entrance Exams 2025

Students should look for universities or colleges that offer cultural anthropology courses. After that, they have to understand the approved entrance examinations and the admissions procedure. It is advisable to review thefees, available seats, and the qualifying requirements for the course before applying right away. For undergraduate programmes, some colleges and universities administer entrance tests, while others grant admission based on merit. 

Students seeking admission to Cultural Anthropology courses need to appear in the below-mentioned entrance exams for Cultural Anthropology.

Cultural Anthropology Entrance Exams 2025 Exam Dates 2025 Exam Schedule 2025
CUET PG 2025 13 March - 1 April 2025 CUET PG Exam Date 2025

Note: This information is sourced from the official website of the institute/exam and may vary.

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Q:   What is CUET UG exam?
A:

Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG is an entrance examination conducted for admission to undergraduation programs offered by various central, state, private and deemed universities. Candidates willing to take admission to undergraduation programme in streams like Science, Humanities, Commerce, Law and Management must appear for the CUET UG exam when conducted.

The entrance examination assesses candidates at various levels: Language, domain knowledge and general aptitude. CUET UG is conducted annually in computer based mode. CUET UG scores are accepted by more than 300 universities across India. 

Q:   How to prepare for CUET?
A:

Go through the entire CUET syllabus thoroughly. Understand and analyze the exam pattern and prepare accordingly. Keeping the exam pattern in mind, prepare well for all sections of the exam. Do take a look at previous years' cutoff lists to help you aim for a score. Refer to this link for preparation of CUET: https://www.shiksha.com/science/cuet-exam

Cultural Anthropology Course Syllabus

BSc Anthropology Syllabus

Students can find a brief syllabus of BSc Anthropology in the following table.

BSc Anthropology Syllabus Semester 1
Introduction to Social Anthropology  Introduction to Biological Anthropology
Archaeological Anthropology-I Technical Writing & Communication
BSc Anthropology Syllabus Semester 2
Technical Writing & Communication Archaeological Anthropology-II
Anthropology of Kinship Biostatistics and Data Analysis
BSc Anthropology Syllabus Semester 3
Theories of Culture and Society Human Genetics 
Primate Biology / Cell Biology-I  Molecular Biology-I 
BSc Anthropology Syllabus Semester 4
Tribes and Peasants in India  Anthropology of religion, politics & economy 
Biodiversity & Indigenous Knowledge / Cell Biology II  Anthropology of India / Molecular Biology-II 
BSc Anthropoloy Syllabus Semester 5
Human Ecology: Biological Dimensions Biological Diversity in Human Populations 
Human Ecology: Social and Cultural Dimensions Genetics & Genomics-I 
BSc Anthropology Syllabus Semester 6
Field work dissertation  Fundamental of Human Origins and Evolution 
Genomic Diversity in Human Populations  Anthropology In Practice / Genetics & Genomics-II

Disclaimer: The information given above is taken from external sources and may vary.

MA Cultural Anthropology Syllabus

Students can find a brief syllabus of MA in Cultural Anthropology accepted in most colleges in the following table.

MA Anthropology Syllabus Semester 1
Fundamentals of Physical Anthropology Fundamentals of Social Anthropology
Archaeological Anthropology Fundamentals of Population Studies
MA Anthropology Syllabus Semester 2
Human Variation and Adaptations Anthropology of India: Ethnic and cultural diversity
Kinship, Marriage and Family Human Ecology: Biological & Cultural Dimensions
MA Anthropology Syllabus Semester 3
Anthropological Theory-I Anthropological Theory -II
Epistomological Foundations of Social and Behaviour Sciences Religion and Symbolism
MA Anthropology Syllabus Semester 4
Psychological Anthropology  Ecological Anthropology
Urban Anthropology Gender & Society

Disclaimer: The information given above is taken from external sources and may vary.

 

Cultural Anthropology Best Colleges in India

Students can enrol in a range of cultural anthropology programmes at universities around the nation. These universities work hard to give students access to the faculty, resources, and infrastructure they need to study the subjects thoroughly.

The list of best government and private colleges from where students can pursue Cultural Anthropology courses are:

Cultural Anthropology Best Colleges Average Fees (in INR)
INR 7,200
INR 16,800
INR 84,480

Disclaimer: The information given above is taken from external sources and may vary.

 

 

1 Course

#82 The Week

7.2 K
4.95 LPA
1 Course
1 Course
10.63 K
4.85 LPA
Q:   Are there any colleges that offer Cultural Anthropology courses with low fee?
A:

Yes, there are several colleges that offer Cultural Anthropology courses with an affordable fee structure. There are not many colleges offering the course in India. These colleges may provide Cultural Anthropology courses of one or more course levels. You are advised to check if these colleges are approved by the UGC or not.
Some of these are as follows:

Cultural Anthropology Colleges

Average Fees (in INR)

West Bengal State University

7.2 K

Sambalpur University

16.8 K

The ICFAI University, Mizoram

84.48 K

Q:   Which colleges offer good placements for students of Cultural Anthropology courses?
A:

Cultural Anthropology is a field that has a wide range of applications in research and academia. Students who have pursued Cultural Anthropology courses can find most job opprtunities in the government sector. They can seek government jobs by qualifying for competitive exams. There are several jobs that one can pursue in the private sector that are related to their field of study. 
Given below are some colleges that offer good placement packages to students and graduates of Cultural Anthropology courses:

Cultural Anthropology Colleges

Average Salary (in INR)

West Bengal State University

4.95 LPA

Sambalpur University

4.85 LPA

Arignar Anna College

2.5 LPA

Popular Private Cultural Anthropology Colleges in India

1 Course

#82 The Week

7.2 K
4.95 LPA
1 Course
1 Course
10.63 K
4.85 LPA

Cultural Anthropology Career Scope: Job Profiles, Salary and Top Recruiters

Graduates in cultural anthropology have a wide range of professional options in numerous domains and industries. Cultural anthropologists are highly qualified for positions in academics, research, social services, international development, cultural heritage management, human resources, media, public policy, market research, and other fields because of their profound awareness of human cultures, social dynamics, and global concerns.

Candidates can check the below-given table to know about the job profiles and average salary for Cultural Anthropology graduates.

Cultural Anthropology Job Profiles Job Details Average Annual Salary
University Professor Teaches students courses related to their specialized field of subject and guides them throughout learning process INR 16 LPA
Researcher Reseaches in one's specific field of study for further findings and knowledge INR 8.9 LPA
Social Worker Works in the benefit of people's problems and solutions at hand INR 2.9 LPA
Human Resources Specialist Manages an organization's workforce including recruitment, training and other benefits INR 8 LPA
Journalist gathers, investigates and shares information through public media outlets INR 4.1 LPA
Market Research Analyst gathers and analyzes marketplace including top competitors, consumers, etc. INR 4.4 LPA

Note: This information is sourced from multiple sources on the web. Hence, is subject to vary. 

Cultural Anthropology Course Top Recruiters

Given below are the list companies that hire Cultural Anthropology graduates:

Top Recruiters for Cultural Anthropology

WHO

UNICEF UNESCO
CRY Goonj Help Age
Nanhi Kali Child Rights & You Arcaeological Survey of India
Learn For Leave 

Kalyani Laboratories Pvt Ltd 

Hindustan Unilever

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Q:   How do I become a registered social worker?
A:

To become a registered Social Worker you have to get a relevant degree, such as a BSW or related field. Gain supervised experience through internships or entry-level positions. Consider pursuing an MSW for advanced training (optional). Research and meet specific licensure requirements in your region. Pass the required licensing exams, often administered by the ASWB. Submit an application for social work licensure to the appropriate regulatory body.

Q:   How to become a journalist?
A:

A journalist must be curious about all things. He/she must always be questioning the world in which he/she lives in. There is no room in a journalist for manipulation or lie. The journalist must look for the truth. A good journalist is the one who is fearless. He/she should not afraid to take a risk. A journalist should loyal towards his work, no matter what time, place or situation. A journalist always chooses his work first. Before becoming a journalist, you should know that you have these characteristics or not. Journalist eligibility: He/she should hold the area of work and to get some kind of acknowledgement of one's work. 1) Pass in senior secondary examination (10+2) or equivalent recognised examination in any stream. 2) Graduation in any stream is the most preferred qualification for joining courses to be a journalist. Top colleges in India for becoming an aspiring journalist: 1) Asian College of Journalism, Chennai 2) Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad 3) Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore 4) Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Pune 5) Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi While you are in college, try to do as many internships as you can in electronics or print media. That way, you would have lots of experience before getting an actual job. Hope this will help you.

Cultural Anthropology FAQs: 2024

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions related to Cultural Anthropology:

Q:   How do I get admission to Cultural Anthropology courses?
A:

Students can see the below points to get admission to cultural anthropology courses:

Choose University/College: The first step is to search for colleges or universities which are offering courses in Anthropology. Check the fees, the seats offered, and the eligibility criteria which are set for the course.

Apply for Course: Proceed to apply for admission after getting to know the university offering the programme. Fill up the details as required and pay the application fee. The application forms are available for a limited period so the candidate is advised to know the details way in advance.

Mode of Admission: Universities and Colleges will either conduct entrance exams for admission or offer admission through merit. For postgraduate courses, the candidate will have to appear for an entrance exam.

Results: Selected and qualified candidates make the merit list. The student has to get the desired rank and percentage, to be eligible for admission.

Counselling: The candidate will have to appear for the counselling session conducted at the university to book their seat, submit their documents and pay the fees to seal admission.

Q:   What skills are required to study Cultural Anthropology?
A:

Cultural Anthropology is a discipline that requires professionals with knowledge and skills. If you wish to become a Cultural Anthropologist, then you may have to cultivate these skills in order to be successful in the field. Apart from the academic qualifications, candidates are required to possess below-mentioned skills to make a good career in the Cultural Anthropology field:

Skillsets Required for Students and Graduates of Cultural Anthropology

Observant

Passionate

Reader

Dedicated

Committed

Interpreter

Sharp

Confident

Leader

Critique

Critical Thinking

Understanding

Q:   Why study Cultural Anthropology course?
A:

Here are some top reasons to study Cultural Anthropology courses:

  • Cultural anthropology fosters understanding of diverse cultures.
  • It hones cross-cultural communication skills.
  • Students develop critical thinking and analytical abilities.
  • Self-reflection promotes cultural awareness.
  • Graduates pursue varied career paths.
  • Anthropology contributes to social change.
  • It enriches personal growth and understanding.

Relevant Link About Cultural Anthropology:

Courses in Anthropology

Popular Cultural Anthropology UG Courses

Following are the most popular Cultural Anthropology UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Cultural Anthropology PG Courses

Following are the most popular Cultural Anthropology PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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