Anthropologists in the Department of Anthropology and the Museum of Natural History offer participatory learning experiences for upper division undergraduate students. PLE's provide first-hand practical experience in a variety of laboratory analysis, data interpretation, and research skills. The anthropology PLE program, coordinated by Jon M. Erlandson, is expanding individualized research and internship opportunities for undergraduate students within a framework of mentoring, research training, team learning, problem-solving, and career guidance. PLEs in anthropology take the form of individualized courses of two major types, laboratory research and internships. Laboratory Research consists of 1-4 student credit hours, taken as ANTH 406 Special Problems and ANTH 409 Practicum. Internships consist of 5-12 student credit hours taken as ANTH 406 Internship. Interns have been placed with cooperating government agencies, private firms, museums, or other educational institutions.

• get hands-on experience working in the anthropology laboratories or museum.
• contribute to new research on human cultures, ecology, and evolution.
• work closely with faculty and advanced graduate students.
• work as an intern doing applied anthropology, cultural resource management, or museum work.
• get practical work experience to assist in career planning and graduate school applications.
• reconstruct skeletons, help create a dictionary, enter data, sift soil, wash rocks, sort shells, and have fun!