Training for Research and Practice: The Rewards of Applying Anthropology in an Undergraduate Context

Abstract

Two recent articles in Practicing Anthropology described undergraduate anthropology programs that stress community-based learning (J. Simonelli and B. Roberts, Connecting Classroom with Community: Service and Professional Socialization in Applied Programs for Undergraduates, PA 20(4):45-49. 1998; and V. Rohrl, Yes, In Our Backyard, PA 22(2):33-37. 2000). In this article, we describe the various ways in which student research and experiential-learning are incorporated into the undergraduate anthropology curriculum at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California. We focus on our Special Emphasis Program in Applied Anthropology by highlighting the community research conducted by students in our Fall 2001 Applied Anthropology course.