The Anthropology Department’s internship program is designed to offer anthropology majors an opportunity to put to practical use a variety of skills and information acquired in the classroom. Internship credit may be earned by working with local, state, and federal government entities, as well as with non-government organizations, museums, and private companies where the anthropologist’s analytical and research skills can be practically applied. The ultimate goal is to teach the intern how to use these skills in the workplace while earning credit toward their degree. A secondary result is that interns gain experience that makes them more marketable upon graduation. Registration for internships is subject to approval by the student’s advisor or the department Internship Coordinator, Dr. John Ziker, 208-426-2121, jziker@boisestate.edu. The advisor must first evaluate the work to ensure that it meets department guidelines and help the student decide how many credits the internship should be assigned.
Internship Requirements
- Fulfill the hourly obligation with the agency for the number of credits you expect to earn, i.e. 45 hours for each credit taken.
- Maintain a journal or log in which you describe your assignments and record the number of hours worked at each. It is also a good idea to enter here the type of learning experience you gained in each task. At the end of the semester, you should present the log to your supervisor(s) to make sure that your records correspond to theirs. The completed log, with the supervisor’s signature, should then be turned into the department’s internship coordinator during the last week of classes.
- Two weeks before the end of your internship, give your internship supervisor the Internship Supervisor Evaluation Form to complete and turn in to John Ziker, Internship Coordinator. You have the right to see the evaluation your supervisor submits before Dr. Ziker turns your grade into the Registrar.
- It is your responsibility to keep in touch with the internship coordinator about problems that may surface as you engage in your internship activities. The sooner you do this, the easier it is to make adjustments. It is our intention to make the internship process a positive educational experience where the student and the agency both benefit.
Enrollment for Internship Credit
Anthropology majors may take no more than 6 hours of internship credits. The Internship Application for Academic Credit form is found online. It is important to complete this paperwork before actual work on the internship begins. If you are receiving financial aid your internship application must be submitted with appropriate signatures on or before the tenth day of classes of each semester. If you are not on financial aid and your internship is for less than 3 credits you have six weeks to register from the first day of classes.
Internship Opportunities
Over the years the Anthropology Department has established relationships with various federal, state, and local government entities that from time to time request interns. We also have developed internships in museums, non-governmental organizations, and within the private sector. We encourage students with particular interests to develop their own internship opportunities. The following is a partial list of internship possibilities. For details about each see the internship coordinator or your advisor.
- Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology
- Idaho Commission on the Arts
- Idaho Department of Commerce
- Idaho Oral History Center
- Idaho State Historical Society
- Idaho Legal Aid Services
- Idaho Black History Museum
- Coroner’s Office
- ESL Programs
- Idaho Food Bank Warehouse
- Basque Museum
- Celebration Park
- Snake River Alliance
- Oregon State Park
- Bureau of Land Management
- Bureau of Reclamation
- Research assistant for department faculty
- Self-generated internships (dependent on department approval)
Visit the Career Center website to learn more about how to find, apply and register for Internships.