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ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES

Permission Required Courses:

ANTH 358A/B/C

ANTH 386

ANTH 398A

Capstone Projects:

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS

SENIOR RESEARCH THESIS PROGRAM


Other Resources:

STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS

THE CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES OF THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA

 

Permission Required Courses

The Anthropology Department offers special courses designed to compliment the students in-classroom experience within the discipline.  These courses are permission required, and have high criteria for enrollment.  Students must seek written approval from both their faculty advisor and the undergraduate advisor in order to enroll.  The specific process for each course is outlined below.  These courses include:

ANTH 358A/B/C: Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

ANTH386:  Experiential Learning (Internship) Course

ANTH398A:  Independent Study Course

 

Guidelines for ANTH 358A/B/C
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

Overview

The University of Maryland encourages that all students have the opportunity to have an enriched and challenging experience through a variety of learning opportunities.  Working as and Undergraduate Teaching Assistant can be a source of considerable enrichment for the student. The course letter corresponds to the area of focus within the discipline. For example, ANTH358A refers to an Undergraduate TA working on an Archaeology course, ANTH358B to a Biological Anthropology course, and ANTH358C to a Cultural Anthropology course. Therefore, the Undergraduate TA should have taken the appropriate Method and Theory Course or have permission of the instructor.

Requirements for ANTH 358A/B/C

  1. A Method and Theory Course (ANTH 320, ANTH 340, or ANTH 360) is a suggested prerequisite for the respective ANTH 358A/B/C course.
  2. Students shall earn a B or better for the respective Foundation and Method and Theory course, when applicable.
  3. Students should have previously taken the course to which they are applying to be a Teaching Assistant and have earned a B or better.
  4.  The student must have at least Junior standing, be an Anthropology major, and have an overall GPA of 3.0 or better.
  5. Permission of the department and receipt of contract by Undergraduate Advisor is necessary for a student to register for ANTH 358.
  6. The course is repeatable to 6 credits if the content is different. 
  7. A signed contract OR memorandum of understanding shall exist between the student, and faculty member. This agreement shall clarify duties, assignments, expected hours of effort, and final product(s).  Usually 135 hours of TA experience is equal to 3 credit hours. This agreement shall be filed with the undergraduate advisor office and be placed in the student’s files.  (See below for a sample agreement.)
  8. The evaluation process shall be specified in the contract.

Steps and Timeline for ANTH 358A/B/C Credit

  1. Identify a potential faculty sponsor and meet with him or her.

  2. Make sure you have taken the appropriate prerequisites.

  3. Create a contract OR memorandum of understanding with your faculty sponsor.

  4. Have the contract or memorandum of understanding confirmed through required signatures.

  5. Register for ANTH 358 (A, B, or C) under your faculty sponsor’s section.

  6. Turn in a copy of the ANTH 358 contract or memorandum of understanding to the undergraduate advisor’s office no later that 10AM on the last day of schedule adjustment period.

  7. Students shall complete the requirements outlined in the contract.

Paperwork

Please complete either a Contract OR Memorandum of Understanding for this course.  You can use either of the following documents as a template:

 

Guidelines for ANTH 386
Experiential Learning (Internships)

Overview

The University of Maryland encourages that all students should have the opportunity for an enriched and challenging experience through a variety of learning opportunities. Students benefit significantly from experiential learning activities.

The Washington area has a large variety of high quality agencies and/or experts involved in research and practice, and opportunities for field experiences exist in all areas of anthropology. Working with anthropologists in these settings can be a source of considerable enrichment for the student. Students should be able to apply their classroom learning, test out their interests and skills in anthropology, and receive training in a specialized aspect of anthropology which is not available on campus.

Requirements for ANTH 386

  1. Permission of the department is necessary for a student to register for ANTH 386, and a contract or a memorandum of understanding is required.
  2. A signed agreement and / or contract shall exist between the student, advisor, and mentor. This agreement shall clarify duties, assignments, and expected hours and final product to be produced as a result of the experiential learning opportunity. This agreement shall be filed with the undergraduate advisor and will be placed in the student’s files. (See below for a sample agreement.)
  3. Completion of advanced courses in a relevant subfield of anthropology is recommended.
  4. Students can register for ANTH 386 once, and the student may receive up to 6 credits, depending upon the amount of work performed. Typically, one academic credit shall be received after completing 45 hours of the experiential learning program. Therefore, three credit hours of experiential learning shall be earned when the student completes 135 hours of the experiential learning program.
  5. Advisors may want to have their students create a product from their experiential learning program : keeping a diary or writing a paper, for example. The nature of the final product and the basis for the final grade shall be specified in the contract.
  6. Students shall meet with their advisor before, during, and after the course, and the advisor and student shall remain in contact (via email, phone, or meeting) throughout the course.
  7. At the end of the course the advisor shall make contact with the mentor and receive an evaluation of the student’s work (see below for a sample evaluation).

Steps and Timeline for ANTH 386 Credit

Prior to the semester in which the student registers for ANTH 386 credit:

  1. Read the ANTH 386 guidelines.
  2. Find an internship site. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure there is a workable arrangement with the agency and to develop an appropriate learning contract with the instructor.
  3. Meet with ANTH 386 course instructor who will review the particulars and decide whether the placement will meet the course goals. The instructor will also evaluate the adequacy of the supervision.
  4. Fill out the ANTH 386 contract and ensure all signatures are in place.
  5. Turn in copies of the ANTH 386 contract to the undergraduate advisor no later that 10AM on the last day of schedule adjustment period.
  6. Register for ANTH 386.

In the semester students receive ANTH 386 credit:

  1. Students shall complete the requirements outlined in the contract.
  2. Students shall have the mentor complete the final evaluation and ensure that it is mailed to the undergraduate advisor and instructor immediately after the internship.

Paperwork

1) Please use the following template for the Memorandum of Understanding to enroll in this course:

Sample Memorandum of Understanding for ANTH386

2) At the end of your internship you will also be required to have an evaluation of your work completed:

Internship Evaluation Form for ANTH386

 

Guidelines for ANTH 398A
Independent Study: Research Problems

Overview

The University of Maryland encourages that all students should have the opportunity for an enriched and challenging experience through a variety of learning opportunities. Students benefit significantly from Independent Studies.  Working in an Independent Studies situation can be a source of considerable enrichment for the student.  Students should be able to apply their classroom learning, test out their interests and skills in anthropology, and receive training in a aspecialized aspect of anthropology, which is not available on campus.

Requirements for ANTH 398A

  1. Permission of the department is necessary for a student to register for ANTH 398A, and a contract or a memorandum of understanding is required.
  2. A signed contract or memorandum of understanding shall exist between the student and faculty member.  This agreement shall clarify duties, assignments, expected hours of effort, and final product to be produced as a result of the independent study.  This agreement shall be filed with the undergraduate advisor and will be placed in the student’s files. See below for a sample agreement.
  3. Students can register for ANTH 398A (1-3 credits), and the student may earn up to 6 credits (for 2 or more courses).  If a student takes more than one independent study, the subject matter must be different and specified in the contract.
  4. Typically, a student can earn one credit for every 45 hours of effort.  Therefore, three credit hours of independent study shall be earned when the student completes 135 hours of study in the course.  Students should work closely with their mentor/advisor on the number of credits they may earn in the course.
  5. Advisors may want to have their students create a product from their independent study course, for example - keeping a diary, or wrting a research paper.  The nature of the final product and the basis for the final grade shall be specified in the contract.
  6. Students shall meet with their advisor before, during, and after the course, and the advisor and student shall remain in contact (via email, phone, or meeting) throughout the course.
  7. The evaluation process shall be specified in the contract.

Steps and Timeline for ANTH 398A Credit

Prior to the semester in which the student registers for ANTH 398A credit:

  1. Read the ANTH 398A guidelines.
  2. Identify a potential faculty sponsor and meet with him or her.
  3. Negotiate your learning contract.
  4. Have contract OR memorandum of understanding confirmed through required signatures.
  5. Turn in copies of the ANTH 398A contract to the undergraduate advisor no later than 10 a.m. on the last day of schedule adjustment period.
  6. Register for ANTH 398A under your faculty sponsor's section number.

In the semester students receive ANTH 398A credit:

Students shall complete the requirements outlined in the contract OR memorandum of understanding.

Paperwork

Please complete either a Contract OR Memorandum of Understanding for this course.  You can use either of the following documents as a template:

 

Capstone Projects:

ANTHROPOLOGY DEPARTMENTAL HONORS

Qualified majors are invited to participate in the department’s honors program. Graduation with Honors is permanently noted on student transcripts and can benefit graduates in seeking employment as well as applying for graduate school.

The anthropology honors program is designed to be accomplished over two consecutive terms, typically Fall and Spring of the candidate’s senior year. In this program, a student works individually with a faculty member of his or her choosing (the Honors Thesis Committee Chair). Students gain the experience of working on a particular topic over an extended period of time and of completing a thesis with the guidance of the committee chair and other members of the thesis committee. To be considered for departmental honors, the ANTH major must have:

  • an overall G.P.A. of at least 3.0
  • a G.P.A. of at least 3.5 in all major courses

Additionally, the student is required to take the following:

  • ANTH486: Honors Research (3 credits)
  • ANTH398R: Capstone Research (1 credit)
  • ANTH487: Honors Thesis (3 credits)
  • ANTH398T: Capstone Thesis (1 credit)
  • One approved graduate level ANTH course (3 credits, taken with the committee chair)

Honors candidates typically take the research course the first term (ANTH486) and the thesis course the second term (ANTH487). Both courses are taken under the direction of the committee chair. Additionally, the student takes a 1-credit course (ANTH398R: Capstone Research and ANTH398T: Capstone Thesis) with ANTH486 and ANTH487 respectively.

Students interested in entering the honors program should secure the cooperation of an anthropology faculty member to serve as her or his committee chair and contact the Director of the Departmental Honors Program. During the first semester of honors research the honors candidate needs to add two additional committee members, at least one of whom must be a member or affiliate of the Department of Anthropology. When the committee is in place the candidate will prepare, under the direction of his or her committee chair, a research proposal which will be presented to the full faculty committee for their advice and approval.

During the second semester of the thesis preparation, the honors candidate prepares a summary statement of the status and results of the research and writes, under the guidance of her or his committee chair, a detailed thesis proposal which must then be approved by the full faculty committee.

The completed thesis requires approval from the committee chair prior to being distributed to the other faculty committee members. The student will then present and defend his or her thesis in the presence of the entire committee. Possible results of the defense include “No Pass,” “Pass,” and “High Pass.” Students who receive a “No Pass” for the defense will be afforded one additional opportunity to defend.

Paperwork

Please complete a Memorandum of Understanding for this course.  You can use the following template:

Sample Agreement for Honors Program

 

ANTHROPOLOGY SENIOR RESEARCH THESIS PROGRAM

Students who do not meet the criteria for admission to the department’s honors program can still have the opportunity of developing a senior research thesis. The process of enrolling in and completing the senior research thesis program is the same as described above for the honors program (please review). Additionally, the following conditions apply:

  • overall G.P.A. may be less than 3.0
  • G.P.A. in major courses may be less than 3.5

The student is required to enroll in the following courses:

  • ANTH476: Senior Research (3 credits)
  • ANTH398R: Capstone Research (1 credit)
  • ANTH477: Senior Thesis (3 credits)
  • ANTH398T: Capstone Thesis (1 credit)

For additional information pertaining to either the Departmental Honors Program or the Senior Research Thesis Program, contact the Director of the Departmental Honors Program:

Dr. William Stuart
0106 Woods Hall
Phone: 301.405.1435
Fax: 301.314.8305
E-mail: wstuart@anth.umd.edu

Paperwork

Please complete a Memorandum of Understanding for this course.  You can use the following template:

Sample Agreement for Senior Research Thesis Program

 

Other Resources:

In addition to on-campus resources, we encourage students to diversify their experience by participating in study abroad programs, or through taking courses at nearby institutions participating in the Consoritium of Universities in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

 

STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS

The opportunity to participate in a study abroad program, for a few weeks or for an entire year, can be a life changing experience. The University of Maryland offers a variety of year long, semester long, winter term, summer term, and spring break study abroad activities throughout the world. With advance approval, students can also participate in study abroad programs that are offered by other universities in the U.S. and abroad.

Visit the Study Abroad Office for more detailed information and program descriptions:

1101 Holzapfel Hall
Phone: 301-314-7746
Fax: 301-314-9135
E-mail: studyabr@deans.umd.edu

Especially rewarding can be the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program that is devoted to anthropology. There is really no substitute for experiencing anthropology in the field. The following study abroad programs are currently offered by our own Anthropology faculty:

 


THE CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES OF THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA

University of Maryland students are eligible to take courses at consortium institutions for resident credit.  There are no additional fees; the tuition charged is the same for taking a class at UMCP.  The consortium is an excellent way for majors to add to the number and variety of anthropology courses available to them.

The consortium schools are: American University, The Catholic University of America, Gallaudet College, George Mason University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Howard University, Marymount University, Southeastern University, Trinity College, University of District of Columbia, and the University of Maryland, College Park. 

For more information about the consortium:

http://www.testudo.umd.edu/soc/consortium.html

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