We're excited to hear that so many of you are interested in a career in paleoanthropology. There are many different ways to work toward a degree in anthropology and many different branches of the field to study. Cultural, physical, and linguistic anthropology and archeology are the four usual branches of anthropology, and most colleges or universities will give you an introduction to all fields and perhaps allow you to concentrate in one. Studying anthropology is popular among undergraduates, and many schools offer major and minor programs. Our advice to those entering college or already there is to take a wide variety of courses, including biology, geology, chemistry, and physics. All of these fields will prove useful if you decide to continue studying anthropology after college. In graduate school, you can choose to focus on one of the four branches.

Graduate programs in paleoanthropology are selective and not as common as undergraduate programs. If you are seriously considering a career in paleoanthropology, this will most likely require you to obtain your Ph.D. An increasing number of graduate programs in paleoanthropology urge students to combine the variety of disciplines we've noted above - for example, geoarchaeology, evolutionary biology of early hominins, or the chemical analysis of early human paleoenvironments.

We encourage you to look into practical experiences either through participating in a field excursion or volunteering with a local museum. These experiences would allow you to apply what you are studying in school. You will also want to check with the anthropology department and career planning office at your college or university. Professors and career counselors can often help you line up a summer internship or volunteer position. The Paleoanthropology Society's student section has many useful resources on graduate programs, field schools, funding, job postings, and related links.

INTERNSHIPS

The Human Origins Program does not have any internships available at this time.

You may want to visit the internship project list for the Smithsonian to see if there is another internship at the National Museum of Natural History of interest to you.

PALEOANTHROPOLOGY FIELD SCHOOLS

The following links may be useful in helping you find a paleoanthropology field school. The field schools are listed in the application deadline order. Please note this page was last updated December 11, 2025 and is being continually updated with information as released by individual field schools.

SUMMER

Introduction to Methods and Applications in Ancient DNA (American School of Classical Studies at Athens)

• running in 2026 (May 25 through May 29)
• application deadline January 15, 2026
• applications are open NOW!

Harvard Summer Program in Kenya (Harvard University; Kenya)

• running 2026 (No dates yet, check back soon!)
• application deadline January 29, 2026
• applications are open NOW!

Natural History of Tanzania (University of Arkansas; Tanzania)

• running in 2026 (May 17 through June 4)
• application deadline February 1, 2026 (early application encouraged)
• applications open NOW!

Kromdraai Human Origins (IFR, Toulouse University)

• running in 2026 (July 12 through July 25)
• application deadline February 1, 2026
• applications are open NOW!

Koobi Fora Field School (George Washington University; Kenya)

• running in 2026 (No dates yet, check back soon!)
• priority application deadline January 10, 2026
• secondary application deadline March 15, 2026
• applications open NOW!

Paleolithic & Neolithic Research at the Cova Gran Rock Shelter (Anthropocene Research Center)

• running in 2026 (June 20 through July 18)
• application deadline rolling
• tuition payment deadline April 26, 2026
• applications are open NOW!

Turkana Basin Institute Origins Field School (Stony Brook University; Kenya)

• expected to run in 2026 (No dates yet, check back soon!)
• application deadline unannounced

Paleoanthropology and Geology Field School at Olduvai, Tanzania (Indiana University Bloomington; Tanzania)

• not running in 2026 (But will be in 2027!) 

Drimolen Paleoanthropology and Geoarchaeology Field School (Washington University & La Trobe University; South Africa)

• not running in 2026 (But will be in 2027!)

Swartkrans Archaeology Field School (University of Wisconsin-Madison; South Africa)  

• Program currently suspended, check back later for updates

SPRING AND/OR FALL

Turkana Basin Institute Origins Field School (Stony Brook University; Kenya; spring, summer, and fall)

• Spring semester 2026 running (January 21 through April 5)
• application deadline November 1 2025