Engage with Anthropology Experiences

Welcome to the virtual home for KSU Anthropology Internship and Research Experiences. Here you’ll find all the information you need to get started engaging with anthropology outside of the classroom.

Getting Started with Internships and Research for Credit

At KSU, Anthropology majors fulfill their Anthropological Applications requirement by completing 3 credit hours of either an internship (link to internship experience page) (ANTH 3398) or a research practicum (link to res. exp page) (ANTH 3397). 

  • ANTH 3398 INTERNSHIP ANTH 3397 PRACTICUM
    Conducted outside the department  Conducted with an anthropology professor
    Work oriented Research oriented
    Must be supervised by an anthropologist OR the placement must be in a cultural institution or have a substantial cultural component Like a DAR, but you must create a "product", which may be a dataset, paper or presentation
    Writing is graded by internship coordinator  Writing is graded by supervisor

    For both courses, pre-req is:

    • Research Methods
    • 3 credits required for Anth major (can take 6)
    • 150 hours
    • 15-20 pages of writing with 10 references
    • Final presentation to all anthro faculty
    • Midterm and final evaluations from supervisors
    • Regular meetings with supervisors

  • Ideally, you should choose to fulfill your Anthropological Applications requirement with the option that best suites your career goals. If you are thinking about graduate school, both an internship and a practicum are good ideas. A practicum will give you a first-hand experience in research and a good writing sample. Begin by communicating with a professor that shares your particular interests in anthropology. They can guide you to a project that will work for ANTH 3397.

    Looking to get right to work after graduation? An internship is ideal for you. Internships let you apply those anthropology skills in real and meaningful ways in your community and abroad! We encourage students to do more than one internship during their college career if they can. Our interns are often given job offers after they graduate.

    Check out our FAQs page to help guide you, and then, reach out to a professor in anthropology not sure which option is best for you.

    1. Contact the professor that you want to be your advisor for the practicum
    2. Discuss the topic/project you plan to work on for the practicum
    3. Ask your professor to complete the ANTH 3397 registration form
    4. Once submitted, look out for an e-mail from the Department of Geography and Anthropology on how to register for the course
    1. Find an internship by searching the internet for opportunities, reading about past internship experiences, and talking to KSU's Department of Career Planning and Development.
    2. Apply for an internship, then get confirmation of your acceptance to the internship in writing (e.g. an e-mail letter)
    3. Register the internship experience in Handshake
    4. If your proposed internship experience is approved, look out for an email from the Department of Career Planning and Development about how to register for the course.
    Reach our to the Anthropology Internship Coordinator, Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith with any questions.

  • Here are a list of resources you will find useful for finding internship experiences. 

How Do I Get Experience?

Collage featuring an archaeological dig site, an anthropologist working with a local community, and a historic building.

It can be very overwhelming to think about life after KSU. What are the options? What can I do with an anthropology degree? What if I don’t know what I want to do yet? For starters, check out the career section of the American Anthropological Association. The great news is that you will have a lot options because anthropology coursework and experiences build a variety of transferable skills.

What are transferable skills? These are skills you build and can take to just about any career. Examples include: oral and written communication, research and analytical skills, leadership, numeracy, etc. Experience in anthropology can build a resume that is full of these kinds of skills, rather than just direct experience in one area. A resume of transferable skills makes you very competitive on the job market.

One of the most common questions is about how to get started. From there, it's about figuring out what opportunities are out there and how to find out about them. 

What Opportunities Are Available?

To be competitive in the job or graduate school market after KSU, you need a variety of experiences in work and in research. We recommend that you get as many experiences as possible during your time at KSU.

  • Work experiences are generally those that expose you to jobs in, or related to, anthropology. You can choose to get work experience for course credit, or if you have enough credits, as a non-credit option.

    • Internships are usually off-site, but can occur at KSU if they are outside the department. You can do an internship for course credit (ANTH 3398) or on your own. Anthropology majors are required to get 3 hours of ANTH 3398 or ANTH 3397 (see below). Check out the Getting Started page for “how to” and then follow the Internship Experiences Blog to read how students are loving being on the job!
    • Shadowing and volunteering programs are another great way to get work experience, but usually require less commitment than an internship. Many organizations do not have the infrastructure for an internship program, but are willing to take you on so that you can gain experience in that field. Always reach out to an organization about these opportunities- it never hurts to ask!
    • Field schools are nothing short of amazing. All disciplines of anthropology offer field schools, some local, some abroad. Field school experiences are usually not paid but can be used for course credit to satisfy an upper-division elective or substitute for the required 3 hours in internship or practicum. Check out the AAA’s AnthroGuide for field schools.
    • Teaching Assistant: Some faculty members have teaching assistant positions available for courses you have already taken. These positions are not paid in our department, but you may be able to get course credit for your work as a TA. Reach out to a professor you want to work with and see if they offering a teaching assistant position.

  • Research experiences are generally those that expose you to creating and executing research questions related to anthropology. You can choose to get research experience for course credit, or if you have enough credits, as a non-credit option.

    • Practicums: research practicums are usually on-campus, working directly with a faculty member to complete independent research. You can do a practicum for course credit (ANTH 3397). Anthropology majors are required to get 3 hours of ANTH 3398 or ANTH 3397 (see below). Check out the Getting Started section for “how to” and then follow the Research Experiences Blog (link) to read how students are loving being involved in research!
    • Directed Applied Research (DAR): DARs are also usually on-campus, working directly with a faculty member to assist with a research project. You can do a DAR for course credit (ANTH 4100), which will satisfy an upper-division elective in the discipline of the faculty member (e.g. archaeology).
    • Research Assistant: Some faculty members have research assistant positions available for their ongoing projects. These positions are usually not paid in our department. Reach out to a professor you want to work with and see if they offering a research assistant position. Be sure to check out their faculty web page to explore their area of research!
  • A fantastic way to get experience is to go abroad. You can go abroad for a semester (e.g. summer semester), for a field school, or just to travel! We strongly encourage that you investigate the options and financial resources available. Find out more information about going abroad at KSU Education Abroad and get to know your professors in anthropology. Many of them host international field schools and research opportunities in Europe, South America, Africa, and beyond.
Build that Resume!

Ok, so you’re ready to get some experiences on your plate. What’s next? Head over to the Build My Resume/CV page to get going.

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