As a high school student, research programs may allow you to explore your interests in a particular field. For social science subjects like anthropology, research programs can keep you abreast of contemporary developments in the field, teach you about research methods, help develop your skills and more.
Furthermore, such programs also give you access to technology, software and resources to facilitate subject-specific knowledge and take your learnings beyond the classroom. You will usually conduct research under the guidance of experts and scientists, providing an opportunity to build a network in the industry you wish to pursue a career.
If this sounds interesting, we have compiled a list of research programs in anthropology to get you started:
1. American Anthropological Association Virtual High School Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Deadline: April 26 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Program Dates: May – June (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: High school students interested in anthropological research
This virtual internship with the American Anthropological Institution allows high school students to work on a primary and secondary research project every spring. In the primary project, you will engage with contemporary anthropological scholarship and adapt it to make it suitable for students in grades 6 – 12. This adaptation is meant to explain anthropology and how it can be useful to understand complex topics like migration and displacement.
In the past, students have made research summaries, infographics and informational videos. The secondary project is different yearly; however, it is usually related to accessibility or public education.
2. National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) High School Internship Program
Location: National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C.
Cost: None, stipend provided
Deadline: To be announced
Program Dates: June – August
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 11 enrolled in a high school in Washington D.C. and aged 14 – 19 years
The NMNH offers a career immersion program for high school students to intern with a museum mentor. During the internship, you can assist with NMNH research or museum projects in various departments, including anthropology.
You will also be trained in communication by engaging various audiences and peers on scientific and museum topics. The internship includes field trips and behind-the-scenes tours to better understand the field, all while earning a stipend.
3. Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Internships
Location: Virtual or in-person in Washington D.C.
Cost: None
Deadlines: March 1
Program Dates: 6 weeks – 1 year. The internship has a flexible duration, allowing part-time or full-time work options.
Eligibility: Students (high school, undergraduate or graduate) and non-students
The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage offers year-round internships in various fields, such as cultural anthropology, museum studies, and folklore. While working under the guidance of the Centre’s staff, the internship will involve research and production for the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives, educational outreach and cultural sustainability research and programs.
You can get course credit for your work if you are studying folklore, American studies, history, music, library science, etc. The internship also provides a stipend.
4. Syracuse University Pre-College Program: People and Cultures of the World
Location: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Cost: $4,895 (residential) or $3,919 (commuter). Scholarships are available.
Deadlines: May 1 and March 1(financial assistance deadline)
Program Dates: July 20 – August 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors or 2025 high school graduates
This pre-college program teaches students about the sociocultural aspects of various societies. It explores the relationship between culture, power and identities and examines how anthropologists grasp, understand and write about these issues in diverse social and cultural settings. The class is divided into two parts: Culture/Power/Identities draws on ethnographic writings and films based on social inequality. Global Assemblages looks at the effects of global processes on people and cultures.
This program will introduce you to various theoretical dimensions of anthropology, based on which you will write a research paper on a contemporary issue. At the end of the program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion and can request a Syracuse University credit transcript.
5. Brown Pre-College Program’s Visions of a Just City: Urban Anthropology for All
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: $5,534 (commuter) and $4,286 (residential). Financial aid is available.
Deadline: May 9
Program Dates: June 30 – July 11
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 to 18 by June 15
In this pre-college program, you will explore anthropology in terms of urban spaces and the present and future of cities. You will understand what makes a city livable, sustainable and just. The course content specifically deals with urban anthropology and related research methods.
In particular, this course approaches injustice in urban settings using case studies. You will complete a hands-on research project and learn solution-based design practices relevant to urban contexts and their peculiarities. In addition to classroom instruction, you will attend guest lectures and take field trips to key spots in the city.
6. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,800 (12 weeks) | $5,400 (16-20 weeks). Financial aid is available.
Deadline: February 9 (Spring cohort). Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the spring, summer and winter cohorts
Program Dates: Vary according to cohort
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, aims to provide high school students with the opportunity to work one-on-one with a researcher from a top university to conduct research in a field of their choice. Allowing flexibility of subject, you can customize your research topic. During the program, you will engage in sessions with your mentor as you identify your research question, develop your study and complete a college-level research paper. A writing coach will also support you during this process.
A graduation ceremony and symposium are held at the end of the program. You can also submit your paper to journals for publication. Moreover, after you complete the program, you will be eligible to receive 3 post-baccalaureate credits and a digital transcript from UCSD Extended Studies.
7. Horizon Academic Research Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,950 for a Labs course and $5,950 for a Seminars course
Deadline: Spring: February 16; Summer: February 16 (early), March 23 (priority), April 20 (regular-I), May 18 (regular-II)
Program Dates: Spring: March 3; Summer: June 16. Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders. Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon’s trimester-long programs allow you to research various subjects, such as psychology, sociology, history and more. All of the subjects have a list of research questions you can investigate. For anthropology, some questions cover Greco-Roman history, notions of therapeutic and religious society, etc.
After you choose the track and research question, you will be paired with a professor or PhD scholar who will guide you throughout your research. The program aims to complete a 20-page university-level research paper that you can submit to journals for publication. At the end of the program, you will receive a letter of recommendation and detailed feedback that will help you in other projects you undertake and college applications.
Image source – American Anthropological Association logo
