Here at Davidson, we offer many opportunities for you as an undergraduate to do field-based research, either within the United States or abroad. Students have found that what they’ve mastered best in anthropology has come from the work that they’ve done for thesis research or some other independent research project. For fieldwork overseas, there are many study abroad programs that highlight independent research — I especially recommend the School for International Training; anthropology majors who do an SIT program (there are programs in many different places throughout the world, with different thematic foci) receive ANT 371 credit (methodology) and usually one or two other courses that count for the major. More study abroad opportunities can be found through The Dean Rusk International Studies Program.
Doing research is great, but presenting your results is also worthwhile — and a lot of fun. There are also many opportunities for you to present a paper (and perhaps publish your work) through various undergraduate and professional conferences. Some conferences that past students have participated include the Society for Applied Anthropology, the Southern Anthropological Society, and many others.
Here are some practical tips and guides helpful for doing your own research. If you would like to see more about something that is not listed here, please let me know so that I can add it!
