Study Abroad Overview
The study of humans is inherently a global phenomenon and takes place wherever people are today or have been in the past. Studying and researching abroad through the WU Overseas Studies Program, with WU faculty, or alternative programs will provide you with the opportunity to explore new environments, grow your personal and professional networks, navigate and appreciate different ways of life. Learning and working outside the United States can be a transformative experience that will impact your academic path and personal life at WU and beyond. This page provides information about study/research abroad for Anthropology/GHE majors and minors.
Majors and minors in Anthropology and GHE can petition to have study abroad credits transfer to count towards their degree. The number of credits allowed varies for each degree. The transfer limits are as follows:
Anthropology Major: up to 9 credits
Anthropology Minor: up to 6 credits
Anthropology/GHE Major: up to 6 credits
Anthropology/GHE Minor: up to 3 credits
Your time abroad may also start you off on the road to research and you may find yourself wanting to shape your ideas and data into a more formal product (Capstone project, Senior Honors Thesis, conference presentations, publications). If you plan to conduct research through an Overseas Study Abroad program (e.g., SIT) or under the guidance of WU Anthropology faculty, please consult our departmental policies below, the Anthropology study Abroad coordinator, or your Anthropology major advisor/Anthropology faculty before leaving for the field.
WU Overseas Studies Program
The Anthropology Department accepts courses from over 20 pre-approved WUSTL Overseas Program semester, year, or summer. After opening an application through the Study Abroad Portal for the program you have selected, you will need to meet with the Department Study Abroad Coordinator to fill out a study plan. Please do this at least two weeks before the application deadline. The Study Abroad Coordinator will work with you to identify courses offered through the study abroad program that will transfer to your Anthropology/GHE major/minor.
Below is a list of the approved Anthropology/GHE courses through the Overseas Study Program, but we recommend you check out the most up-to-date offerings through their website.
Browse approved course offerings using the Guided Program Search
Approved Programs for the Anthropology & GHE Major/Minor
- University of Cape Town with IES Abroad in Cape Town, South Africa (ANTHRO & GHE)
- IES Abroad Cape Town Summer – Health Studies in Cape Town, South Africa (ANTHRO & GHE)
- SIT Study Abroad Kenya: Global Health, and Human Rights in Nairobi, Kenya (ANTHRO & GHE)
- SIT Study Abroad South Africa: International Relations in the Global South in Durban, South Africa (ANTHRO)
- SIT Study Abroad South Africa: Multiculturalism and Human Rights in Cape Town, South Africa (ANTHRO)
- SIT Study Abroad Cameroon: Development and Social Change in Yaoundé, Cameroon (ANTHRO)
- SIT Study Abroad Tanzania: Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology in Arusha, Tanzania (ANTHRO & GHE)
- WU Drimolen Cave Field School Summer Program (South Africa) in Krugersdorp, South Africa (ANTHRO & GHE)
- SIT Study Abroad India: Public Health, Gender, and Sexuality in New Delhi, India (ANTHRO & GHE)
- SIT Study Abroad Indonesia: Arts, Religion, and Social Change in Bedulu, Indonesia (ANTHRO)
- SIT Study Abroad Nepal: Development and Social Change in the Himalaya in Kathmandu, Nepal (ANTHRO)
- SIT Study Abroad Nepal: Tibetan and Himalayan Peoples in Khatmandu, Nepal (ANTHRO)
- SIT Study Abroad Viet Nam: Culture, Social Change, and Development in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (ANTHRO)
- SIT Study Abroad Samoa: Pacific Communities and Social Change in Apia, Samoa (ANTHRO & GHE)
- University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane, Australia (ANTHRO & GHE)
- University of Auckland with IES Abroad in Auckland, New Zealand (ANTHRO)
- College Year in Athens (CYA) in Athens, Greece (including summer courses) (ANTHRO & GHE)
- DIS Copenhagen Public Health in Copenhagen, Denmark (ANTHRO & GHE)
- IES Abroad Amsterdam Semester Program in Amsterdam, Netherlands (ANTHRO & GHE)
- SIT Study Abroad Vienna, Budapest & Belgrade: Comparative European Perspectives on Conflict & Democracy in Vienna, Austria (ANTHRO)
- WU Program in Spain (Exchange) in Madrid, Spain (ANTHRO)
- SIT Study Abroad Jordan: Geopolitics, International Relations, and the Future of the Middle East in Amman, Jordan (ANTHRO)
- SIT Study Abroad Argentina: Social Movements and Human Rights in Buenos Aires and Patagonia, Argentina (ANTHRO)
- SIT Study Abroad Argentina: Public Health in Urban Environments in Buenos Aires, Argentina (ANTHRO & GHE)
WU in Chile at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) in Santiago, Chile (ANTHRO & GHE)
Programs
Many of the WU Anthropology faculty and graduate students conduct research abroad usually during the summer months. Researchers working in the fields of archaeology, primatology, human biology, and applied cultural anthropologists often lead teams of students and volunteers who already have or are looking to gain experience. There are generally no formal courses for such opportunities (except for the Drimolen Field School offered through WU Overseas Study Programs). Students are encouraged to consult with individual faculty about opportunities to participate in research abroad, with the possibility of enrolling in Independent Study or Research credits through Anthropology.
Formal study abroad programs that are not on the WU Overseas Study Abroad Anthropology Approved Programs list may be viable options for Anthropology students as credit toward the major if approved by the Department in advance. Please meet with the Anthropology Study Abroad Coordinator as early in the application window as possible and be prepared to bring a list of proposed courses, a description of the program, and a separate statement from you explaining why the specific alternative program assists in your academic and career goals. The Anthropology Study Abroad Coordinator will work with you to identify appropriate courses to take for anthropology credit. Please schedule your meeting with the Anthropology Study Abroad Coordinator as early as possible in the application window.
These websites hosted by professional or non-profit organizations led by anthropologists list active study/research programs for undergraduate students in anthropology-related fields and may serve as a useful search for alternative opportunities abroad. You should meet with the Anthropology Study Abroad Coordinator to discuss the credit options toward the major/minor for these programs. *Please note that the programs listed on these websites are not approved as credit for WU (unless specifically stated) nor are they endorsed by the WU Anthropology Department.
Departmental Policies
University regulations require all students expecting to enroll in any Study Abroad Program for credit during the spring or fall terms to contact their departmental Study Abroad Coordinator at least two semesters prior to the proposed date of entry into such a program; or one semester for summer programs. Many anthropology majors opt for semester abroad opportunities that are not yet on the WU 'previously approved' list. You are encouraged to locate the program most appropriate for your own career needs.
If you find that you want to make changes in course selections once abroad, e-mail the Anthropology Study Abroad Coordinator to secure the necessary approvals for these changes. Course changes happen frequently, and we expect to make adjustments.
Your transcript will be forwarded to the department Study Abroad Coordinator for evaluation by the Overseas Office, along with the official forms to approve a credit transfer. The Study Abroad Coordinator will send an email requesting your portfolio once they have received your transcript from Overseas Office. This typically occurs between the beginning to middle of the semester after you return to Washington University.
We want to hear from you about your experience abroad and how it has impacted your study, practice, and understanding of anthropology. Please complete this short survey upon returning to WashU from your time abroad (within 30 days of return or even before returning). We welcome any photos or additional materials you may want to share with us!
Click here to fill out the WashU Anthropology Study Abroad Survey
The university and federal government require that all students carrying out research involving interactions with human communities or individuals must go through the Human Subjects Research Protection review process, which is designed to protect research participants from risk.