How to Become a Ethnologist

Ethnology, a branch of anthropology, focuses on human cultures in terms of social structure, language, religion and technology. It is synonymous with cultural anthropology. A person can become an ethnologist after about a decade of schooling and by earning a PhD in ethnology.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Attend a school with a well-defined ethnology program such as the ethnology program at the University of New Mexico. The University offers a minor in ethnology at the undergraduate level and a Master's and PhD at the graduate level in the Department of Anthropology.

2. Take the required courses to earn enough credit hours for the undergraduate minor, at the University of New Mexico that is 36 hours. Earn a full bachelor's degree with general ethnological and historical topics. Take an additional 32 hours of coursework and seminars, have a strong GPA and take the Master's Comprehensive Exam to fulfill the Master's degree requirement.

3. Continue to the PhD level after earning the Master's Degree. Many schools offer a combined, Master's/PhD curriculum as an option to streamline coursework. After the coursework is complete then field work is the next step.

4. Earn a doctorate degree in Ethnology after finishing required coursework, 2½ to 3 hour weekly seminars, finishing fieldwork, passing comprehensive exams and defending a dissertation.

5. Conduct field research through organizations like SIL International. Publish work through professional journals and publications.

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