Profile -- by Erin McFarlane

Dr. Hartmut Krentz is a Research Coordinator with the Calgary Health Region. He spends much of his days at the Southern Alberta HIV Clinic in Calgary studying the ways in which HIV impacts Albertan immigrant populations. During spring each year, he works in the evenings as a professor, teaching a university class. He has also spent time living amongst the Hutterite population of Alberta, and has journeyed to Africa to study monkey bones. Sounds exciting, doesn't it? These opportunities arise because of his background in anthropology. Dr. Krentz has a PhD in anthropology and has worked in the field for 25 years. While not all anthropologists may work in as many areas as Dr. Krentz has through his career, it does provide an indication of how diverse the opportunities are in this field.

Often, when people hear the word 'anthropology', their first question is "What in the world is that?" According to Dr. Krentz, anthropology is "a very broad field, that examines human behaviour, both present and past." Generally, it takes a "cross-cultural approach to looking at behaviour worldwide in different societies." Anthropologists often use the method of fieldwork in their research. This means that they actually go and live amongst the populations (animal or human) they are studying for an extended period of time. Traditionally, anthropologists focused on remote, small-scale societies, such as hunting and gathering or tribal populations. More recently, anthropologists have shifted their focus to include North American and European populations as well.

A few different branches comprise the field of anthropology, including:

Social and Cultural: Anthropologists under this branch study, compare, and analyze socio-cultural information through close observation and contact with cultural, class, or minority groups. They try to study a society's concepts and world-views without imposing concepts from their own cultural traditions.

Physical or Biological: Anthropologists under this branch may study the evolution of human physical characteristics as influenced by heredity and environment, and the behaviour and biology of non-human primates. Human remains are sometimes used in research. For example, forensic anthropologists assist police departments and pathologists in specialized forensic activities.

Linguistic: Anthropologists under this branch study the development and everyday use of human languages and, in particular, study modern language patterns and their influence on thought and action.

In order to become an anthropologist, you are typically required to have a post-graduate degree in anthropology. This means obtaining a degree at the Masters or PhD level. You must obtain an undergraduate (or bachelors) degree in anthropology or a related discipline and then carry on to graduate school. The time it takes to complete these educational requirements varies from person to person, but can take close to ten years in total and involve a great deal of research. If you are studying social-cultural anthropology, you may be expected, as part of your degree requirements, to travel to a remote location and live with a group of people for an extended period of time (roughly half a year to a year). If your focus is physical anthropology, you might travel to study fossils, or animal bones.

Anthropologists are primarily employed in colleges and universities where they teach classes in anthropology and carry out research in any of the branches mentioned above. This is referred to as academic anthropology. On the other hand, in applied anthropology, anthropologists look for ways to apply anthropological research findings to particular problems in order to come up with practical solutions.

Anthropologists may find employment with: governments (in immigrant or health services), industry (social impact assessments), First Nations (land claims or self-government research) or as self-employed consultants. Anthropologists are also active in International Development. Dr. Krentz says that "certainly there is more of an interest now in using anthropologists in a lot of different areas, in a practical sense, not just in academics." He points out that in the current era of globalization, in which so many people are immigrating to Canada, cross-cultural understanding becomes extremely important, and anthropology becomes all the more relevant.

Dr. Krentz's current position as Research Coordinator at the Southern Alberta Clinic is an example of applied work. He conducts interviews with HIV patients, analyses data, and writes and presents papers on his findings. He looks at the different ways HIV impacts the lives of patients. While his research is not always strictly related to anthropology, his anthropology background really influences the research he does. It helps him to direct the types of questions he asks in his research, and influences how he interprets his findings. He speaks very positively about his job: "It's a great job actually... it allows me to use my anthropological background and knowledge and apply it in a real-world setting to get positive effects to patients."

The salary range for anthropologists varies according to the type of work you are doing. For instance, the range for university professors is $30,200 to $102,500 per year.

When asked about the personal characteristics those interested in anthropology should possess, Dr, Krentz suggests, "anthropologists are observers. They observe human behaviour without being judgmental. A lot of anthropologists go to areas where there are different people with different behaviours and you have toŠunderstand and not be judgmental in order to get the data that you want." In addition, they have to be able to adapt to new situations. It is important to have excellent reading, writing, and research skills, and a willingness to work in sometimes unfavourable conditions. For example, those who choose to work in more remote locations must be prepared to face severe weather conditions. Work hours can be long. Overall, however, Dr. Krentz believes anthropology to be a very fulfilling field: "you have a lot of flexibility, and you can do what you are actually interested in pursuing." It offers an exciting alternative to the typical 9-5 schedule. As Dr. Krentz put it, "if you're flexible, you can do okay."

It is important to note that many opportunities do exist for those who obtain solely an undergraduate degree in anthropology. According to Dr. Krentz, the degree provides students with a great foundation and numerous transferable skills, which can be applied to a number of different occupations. Dr. Krentz points out that there are more people with degrees in anthropology in the business community these days than one might realize. As he put it, "employers will hire someone with an anthropology degree because they know they think more holistically and appreciate diversity." However, Dr. Krentz also points out (while laughing to himself) that "you do have to learn how to sell yourself, because no one seems to know what anthropology is!" He suggests that anthropology majors take the time to volunteer, either locally or abroad, and get involved with research projects their professors are working on in order to gain more relevant experience and make themselves more marketable.

Post-secondary institutions throughout the country offer degree programs in anthropology. In Alberta, Athabasca University, the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and the University of Lethbridge all offer programs.

Alberta Occupational Profiles (OCCInfo) - Anthropologist

National Occupation Classification - Social Sciences

Athabasca University - Anthropology

University of Alberta - Department of Anthropology

University of Calgary - Department of Anthropology

University of Lethbridge - Anthropology Program

The Canadian Anthropology Society

Canadian Museum of Civilization

	Anthropologist - Video Profile.	Running Time Approx. 1:55 min/sec