In the last few decades, there has been a movement in anthropology towards applying its methods and
theories outside of mainstream academia. This has been termed Applied Anthropology,
Practicing Anthropology, and Professional Anthropology.
Applied Anthropologists have used their anthropological training in research projects and
in many non-traditional settings, including businesses, corporations, governmental
agencies, and medical institutions, to influence positive changes in peoples' lives.
Some examples of organizations and agencies that anthropologists are now working for are:
and many more...
Applied anthropologists are typically involved in
advocacy or social change projects. They use their anthropological training to produce
information that will assist communities or groups of people rather than perpetuating
knowledge for the sake of knowledge. There are many training programs at universities that
are training their students to become applied anthropologists by providing them with
additional skills such as Internet research, writing papers for general audiences,
presenting concepts that can be understood by a general audience, and finding jobs outside
of academia.
In addition to applied anthropology, another distinctive
category has been used for those anthropologists who work strictly outside of academia
known as practicing anthropology. Anthropologists, including Baba (1994), Foster
(1969), and Reed (1997), contend that the main difference between an "applied"
anthropologist and "practicing" anthropologist is the work setting. Since both
applied and practicing anthropologists use anthropological theories and methods in their
work, the only difference is where they work.
Applied anthropologists are university-based and work outside academia for agencies and organizations. The majority of their work takes
place in the university setting. For example, Michael Vasquez of Northern Arizona University is a
university professor but has been working with the Hopis on applied projects including the Bacavi Terrace Garden Project,
HCPO Home Page Project, and training Hopi young men to work in agricultural development
projects on the reservation for the past eight years.
Dr. Miguel Vasquez is an applied anthropologist because most of his work takes place at NAU but he also works with the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office on
a regular basis. Practicing anthropologists work primarily in non-academic settings as
research directors, program coordinators, and research associates. Many practicing
anthropologists only hold a B.A. or M.A. in anthropology.
