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Anthropology

Field School

Projected Field School Schedule

Archaeology
2024 Spring: Petra, Jordan - May 10-June 13 (Dr. David Johnson)
2025: Hawaii (Dr. Zach Chase)
2026: SE Utah (Dr. Jim Allison)
2027: Jordan (Dr. Cyndy Finlayson)

Sociocultural Anthropology
2024: Local option (Winter 2024), Morocco (Spring-Summer 2024), Ecuador (Summer 2024)
2025: Local option (Winter 2025), Morocco (Winter 2025), Alaska (Spring-Summer 2025), Korea (Spring-Summer 2025)
2026: Local option (Winter 2026), Morocco (Spring-Summer 2026), Thailand (Fall 2026)
2027: Local option (Winter 2027), Morocco (Winter 2027), Korea (Spring-Summer 2027)

BYU Field School in Korea
BYU Field School in Korea


All majors in the Department of Anthropology are required to attend a faculty-supervised field school as part of their major (both archaeology and sociocultural anthropology). These field schools offer hands-on field research experience and training in our disciplines. This experience will also provide excellent training for graduate school or help you develop professional skills that will set you apart when you enter the work force. Students conduct first hand data collection and analysis, and the degree culminates in the writing of a senior thesis. Typically, the thesis is written based on your research, under close mentorship with faculty in our department. These programs are also open to students from other majors and universities. Please consult the director of each program to discuss these possibilities and how these field schools can enhance training toward your professional goals.

The Field Schools fulfill the fieldwork requirement for the senior thesis sequence in both majors in the department (ANTHR 495R for Sociocultural Anthropology and ANTHR 455 for Archaeology). It is important to plan for these programs in advance, since each requires a pre-fieldwork preparation course as a prerequisite. The senior thesis sequence for each major is as follows, and each course must be taken in sequence, one per semester:

  • Sociocultural Anthropology: 442 (Winter); 495R (Spring and Summer); [optional: 543 Data Analysis - Fall]; 499 (Winter)
  • Archaeology: 454 (Winter); 455 (Spring or Summer); 456 (Fall); 499 (Winter)