Students have many opportunities to get hands-on experience in anthropological fieldwork. Field schools and internships are an excellent way to explore your interest in anthropology and to decide if it is the right career for you. Many graduate programs in archaeology require you to have a field school before you begin your studies. Many cultural resource management companies also want their employees to complete a field school. Field schools and internships can be very pricey. A student may have to pay for tuition, airfare to the location, and fees for housing and food. Some excavations accept volunteers (they will pay for food and board if you can get yourself to the field site), particularly if you have any previous field experience. There are a few opportunities for paid internships. These are highly competitive, but well worth applying for.
Research Opportunities in Morris
If you are interested in archaeological research while you're a student at Morris, contact Rebecca Dean or Joseph Beaver. Students have done research with one or both of us through Federal work study, directed study courses, positions funded through faculty grants, and MAPs. Morris students have accompanied me into the field in Portugal, worked with me in a museum in Arizona, and presented their work at the national meetings of the Society for American Archaeology.
If you've done research at UMM, please consider presenting your work at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. It's a great way to showcase what you've accomplished!
If you've done research at UMM, please consider presenting your work at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. It's a great way to showcase what you've accomplished!
Fieldwork Opportunities in Archaeology
The best source for fieldwork opportunities in archaeology is the Archaeological Institute of America's archaeological fieldwork opportunities bulletin. Follow the link to an interactive map that will show you field schools and volunteer opportunities all over the globe.
If you have an interest in a specific region or type of excavation, please come talk to me! There are far too many field schools and volunteer opportunities offered every year for me to put them all on the web page, but I'm happy to go through options with you and find the right fit.
If you have an interest in a specific region or type of excavation, please come talk to me! There are far too many field schools and volunteer opportunities offered every year for me to put them all on the web page, but I'm happy to go through options with you and find the right fit.
Funding for Research at UMM
The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) consolidates all research funding opportunities at Morris.
Anthropology students have received funding for research and travel through faculty grants and division money, but also through:
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) - A U-wide program that provides a stipend for students doing independent research under faculty supervision.
Morris Academic Partners (MAP) - Provides a paid research partnership to third-year students to work on a faculty-led project.
Multi-Ethnic Mentorship Program (MMP) - A stipend for students of color working with faculty or staff on research projects.
Katherine E. Sullivan Scholarship - An all-U scholarship for up to $25,000 to cover one academic year abroad. Must be a senior at the time of application, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and have a GPA of at least 3.50.
The Bos Research Fund and Owen and Frances Tate Memorial Fund are both used to fund travel, for research or for conferences.
Anthropology students have received funding for research and travel through faculty grants and division money, but also through:
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) - A U-wide program that provides a stipend for students doing independent research under faculty supervision.
Morris Academic Partners (MAP) - Provides a paid research partnership to third-year students to work on a faculty-led project.
Multi-Ethnic Mentorship Program (MMP) - A stipend for students of color working with faculty or staff on research projects.
Katherine E. Sullivan Scholarship - An all-U scholarship for up to $25,000 to cover one academic year abroad. Must be a senior at the time of application, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and have a GPA of at least 3.50.
The Bos Research Fund and Owen and Frances Tate Memorial Fund are both used to fund travel, for research or for conferences.
Fieldwork Scholarships and Funding from outside sources
The Society for American Archaeology has scholarships for Native American students interested in archaeology.A Morris student won this scholarship in 2012, so it is worth applying!
The Archaeological Institute of America administers the Jane C. Waldbaum Archaeological Field School Scholarship. To qualify, you must have begun your junior year, not yet completed your first year of graduate school, at least 18 years of age, and not yet participated in archaeological field work of any kind.
The Plains Anthropological Society offers a Native American Scholarship each year. To qualify, you must be Native American (including Metis), enrolled in a four-year university in the Plains area (Morris counts), and be an undergraduate or graduate Anthropology student.
The American Schools of Oriental Research offer fellowships to help students and volunteers participate in excavations in the Eastern Mediterranean. To apply, you need to be a member of ASOR.
American Archaeology Abroad administers the Al and Margaret Cohen Fellowship for students interested in participating in an excavation outside of the United States. Students must be 18 and declared majors in archaeology or a related field to apply.
The Archaeological Institute of America administers the Jane C. Waldbaum Archaeological Field School Scholarship. To qualify, you must have begun your junior year, not yet completed your first year of graduate school, at least 18 years of age, and not yet participated in archaeological field work of any kind.
The Plains Anthropological Society offers a Native American Scholarship each year. To qualify, you must be Native American (including Metis), enrolled in a four-year university in the Plains area (Morris counts), and be an undergraduate or graduate Anthropology student.
The American Schools of Oriental Research offer fellowships to help students and volunteers participate in excavations in the Eastern Mediterranean. To apply, you need to be a member of ASOR.
American Archaeology Abroad administers the Al and Margaret Cohen Fellowship for students interested in participating in an excavation outside of the United States. Students must be 18 and declared majors in archaeology or a related field to apply.
Other Funding of Potential Interest to Anthropology/Archaeology Students:
Critical Language Scholarships - covers all expenses for summer language programs in Arabic, Azerbeijani, Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian Turkish, or Urdi.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program - funds for study abroad, preferably outside of Western Europe and Australia.
National Security Education Program - supports a year or term of study abroad, particularly in areas or on languages of critical interested to the United States and underrepresented in study abroad.
Morris K. Udall Scholarship - for students pursuing a career related to the environment, or a Native American student pursuing a career in tribal public policy or health care.
Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship - for students interested in pursuing a career in the U.S. Foreign Service. Must commit to three years working for the Dept. of State. Pays for junior and senior years of college and first year of graduate school.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program - supports study, research, or English Teaching Assistantship for one academic year abroad.
Luce Scholars Program - living stipend and internship placement in Asia for one year.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program - funds for study abroad, preferably outside of Western Europe and Australia.
National Security Education Program - supports a year or term of study abroad, particularly in areas or on languages of critical interested to the United States and underrepresented in study abroad.
Morris K. Udall Scholarship - for students pursuing a career related to the environment, or a Native American student pursuing a career in tribal public policy or health care.
Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship - for students interested in pursuing a career in the U.S. Foreign Service. Must commit to three years working for the Dept. of State. Pays for junior and senior years of college and first year of graduate school.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program - supports study, research, or English Teaching Assistantship for one academic year abroad.
Luce Scholars Program - living stipend and internship placement in Asia for one year.