An appreciation and understanding of human cultural diversity is one of the hallmarks of contemporary anthropology, and although we do not require it, we strongly urge our majors to study abroad and to learn a foreign language. We make every effort to accommodate difficult schedules and often are able to count coursework taken abroad as part of the major. Students should begin planning early in their careers for study abroad in order to assure that they will be able to complete all institutional requirements as well as study abroad in four years. First year is not too early!

The anthropology department currently sponsors three field schools for which students receive course credit: archaeological field schools in South America and in the Midwest, and an ethnographic field school in Jamaica.

• South America: Each summer, Dan Shea accompanies students to a field site in South America where they engage in professional archaeological work, such as site survey, excavation, and artifact analysis. Students are not required to speak Spanish, but some knowledge of the language is helpful.

• Midwest: An archaeological field school also is available to students interested in archaeology of the United States. Based around the investigation of a prehistoric site, Shannon Fie instructs students on methods commonly used in U.S. archaeology, including site mapping, survey, excavation, and basic artifact analysis.

• Jamaica: Lisa Anderson-Levy will direct this cultural anthropology program, which will run during the break between fall and spring semesters each year. You can download the informational flier for this program here. This field school will be structured as three courses: a preparatory ½ unit in the fall semester before going to Jamaica, one unit during the three weeks students are in Jamaica, and ½ unit in the spring semester for students to write up their research. The field schools are contingent on student enrollment. Therefore, students interested in a field school should contact the faculty member early in the academic year before the winter/summer in which they plan to enroll.