Anthropology and Geography

Students organizing applications and data on computers in archaeological repository

Internships & Practicums

Earning Credit and Experience

As an Anthropology and Geography student, you can pursue internships, practicum, and independent study to gain hands-on training and professional work experiences. Through these opportunities, students learn how to assist with research, develop practical skills, and explore career pathways — while earning credit!

Interns and student researchers frequently gain experiential learning through faculty-led labs, the CSU Archaeological Repository, museums, national parks and forests, local governments, nonprofits, and cultural resource management firms. Opportunities often enable students to learn and apply in-demand skills including geographic information systems (GIS), artifact curation, cataloging and database management, aerial and terrestrial remote sensing methods, report writing, and more. Many students also use their experiences to complete Capstone and other research projects.

CSU Anthropology and Geography has a faculty Internship Coordinator ready to support students seeking internships and other opportunities.

Resources & Information

Finding Your Internship
CSU Career Center
Student Experiences
What Can I Do With a Liberal Arts Major?

  • Practicum

    A practicum provides students with practical experience in a professional setting or workplace, including faculty-led labs and research centers.

    Students who choose to complete a practicum (ANTH/GR 486) have the opportunity to earn 1 to 3 credits under the direction of a faculty member. Several Anthropology and Geography labs offer practicum options for students to gain a variety of experiences from assisting with research to hands-on work with archaeological materials or paleontological fossil specimens.

    Interested? Contact a faculty member or lab director to inquire about opportunities.

  • Internship

    An academic internship is a form of experiential education that integrates knowledge and theory with practical application and skill development in a professional setting on or off campus.

    Undergraduate and graduate students can earn college credit and learn valuable skills while completing an internship (ANTH/GR 487). Students are encouraged to seek out host organizations for internships and, with input from an employer and faculty, to customize their experiences to suit their career goals. Students may also find opportunities through the CSU Career Center.

    Interested? Contact a host organization and see additional resources below.

  • Independent Study

    An Independent study is a learning experience that supplements regular, supervised classroom instruction by permitting a student to study and work independently under necessary guidance of a supervising instructor.

    An Independent Study (ANTH/GR 295 or 495) offers students an opportunity to expand, enrich, or deepen their understanding of some aspect of anthropology or geography. Typically, students pursue a special interest in an area not covered by a regularly offered course. An independent study is undertaken in cooperation with a faculty mentor, who will assist in shaping the proposal and supervise the project.

    Interested? Contact a faculty member to inquire about opportunities.

Finding Your Internship

The Department of Anthropology and Geography offers support and guidance for student internship placement. We do not arrange internships for students. It is your responsibility to set up your internship and complete CSU and organizational requirements! Contact the ANTH/GR Internship Coordinator for more information.

  1. Ensure you meet department requirements for completing an internship or other credit opportunity including a solid academic record, a minimum 2.9 GPA, and a demonstrated commitment to their education. A letter of recommendation may also be necessary.
  2. Start early! Pursue multiple possibilities to find different and best options for you. Begin your search several months before you plan to start a position and complete all CSU registration prior to the start of the semester!
  3. Explore CSU resources! Visit Handshake through CSU’s Career Center for current openings. Scroll through our Student Experiences posts to see where others have worked.
  4. Reach out to your personal networks. Friends, family, roommates, classmates, TAs, professors can share ideas on organizations and opportunities.
  5. Research organizations that interest you. Think big! Many students intern with local and regional organizations but others have worked and done research around the world.
  6. Contact organizations directly to inquire about opportunities and how they have worked with students and universities in the past.
  7. Be sure the internship aligns with your academic field of study and your career goals, and that it will allow you to work at least 150 hours.
  8. Complete registration and other requirements for internships, practicums, and independent study. Determine if you have additional requirements from your host organization.
  9. Make your thank you’s — before, during, and after — to supervisors, colleagues, advisors, and mentors. Build your professional network and represent CSU Anthropology and Geography!

Essential information, links and steps for securing your internship or job.

FAQ Page (PDF)

Student manual with information, requirements, and expectations for enrolling for an internship, practicum, or independent study for credit with the CSU Department of Anthropology and Geography. Winter 2025: Under revision. Contact the Internship Coordinator if you have questions regarding the manual.

Student Experiences

  • Mothering Monkeys: Shelby Calvin

    Mothering Monkeys: Shelby Calvin

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    CLA Webmaster

    Shelby Calvin: Baby Mom Intern, Vervet Monkey Foundation, South Africa By Josh Zaffos Shelby Calvin approached her final year of school knowing she wanted a hands-on experience working with wildlife. As a Fish, Conservation, and Wildlife Biology major and Anthropology minor (2025), she was especially interested in studying primates and…

    Read More: Mothering Monkeys: Shelby Calvin
  • Sebastian Schipman: Piecing It Together

    Sebastian Schipman: Piecing It Together

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    CLA Webmaster

    Piecing It Together Sebastian Schipman: BLM Collections Technician Intern By Joshua Zaffos Sebastian Schipman (ANTH: Archaeology BA ’23) completed an internship with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management during his final semester as an undergraduate. As an intern, Schipman worked to rehouse collections from a 1979 survey project in northwestern…

    Read More: Sebastian Schipman: Piecing It Together
  • Nancy Wynstra-Cope: Handling History

    Nancy Wynstra-Cope: Handling History

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    CLA Webmaster

    Handling History Nancy Wynstra-Cope: Avery House Practicum By Josh Zaffos Through her practicum at the Avery House in Old Town Fort Collins, Nancy Wynstra-Cope gets to handle and catalogue 19th-century artifacts of life in Fort Collins, and even restores broken materials from the era so they can be displayed. Her…

    Read More: Nancy Wynstra-Cope: Handling History

Host Organizations and Employers for Student Internships

  • National Park Service
  • CSU Summer Extension Internship Program
  • History Colorado
  • U.S. Bureau of Land Management
  • CSU Archaeological Repository
  • Colorado Water Center
  • Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • Avery House
  • Global Village Museum of Arts and Culture
  • CSU Geospatial Centroid