Research & Study Abroad

The Department of Anthropology offers a variety of research opportunities through coursework and independent studies, internships, and field schools.

Courses and Supervised Independent Study

Many classes in Anthropology offer students opportunities to develop research skills and conduct supervised research. In addition, students can pursue research for concentration credit through independent studies with faculty who have ongoing research projects, such as in departmental labs. Concentrators often begin to work more closely with individual faculty, senior graduate students, and Peabody Museum staff on research projects during their tutorials or through supervised reading and research courses, sometimes culminating in a senior honors thesis.

Study Abroad

Fieldwork and other forms of independent research may be taken for credit through an approved university. Although concentrators will register directly with the other university, they must first obtain permission from the Department of Anthropology at Harvard, and apply for credit through the Office of International Education. Upon completion of this work and receipt of the official transcript, the department will make a recommendation to the Office of International Education regarding the amount of concentration credit to be granted toward the degree.

Internships

Peabody Museum Internship

The Peabody Museum invites applications for summer internships at the Museum for undergraduate (or recent graduates) and graduate students of any college or university. Opportunities vary from year to year, but generally the internships are designed to offer experience in museum activities such as curatorial research, collections management, archives, museum education, public programming, publications and/or conservation.   Summer internship programs are offered every other year. The next Summer Program will be offered for Summer 2022.

Dumbarton Oaks Summer Internships for Harvard Students

Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, in Washington, D.C., is an institute of Harvard University that supports scholarship in Byzantine, Pre-Columbian, and Garden and Landscape Studies.

Harvard Field School Programs

The Viking Studies Program in Scandinavia

Itself founded during the Viking Age, the lovely Danish city of Århus and its modern university are our principal hosts. From this charming seaside location, we visit significant sites and collections throughout northern Europe, and participate in an archaeological dig connected with the Viking Age site on Samsø. Specialists in many different aspects of Viking culture lecture and guide classes.

Other Field School Resources

Funding Sources for Research and International Experiences

Students who conduct senior thesis research often receive receive grants to support their work, typically undertaken during the summer after their junior year. Below are a few links to Harvard funding sources as well as information on preparing for the summer research experience.

For further information and advising about research funding, please contact the Undergraduate Program Office.