Based on a 2019 survey of AAA members, and in consultation with colleagues from anthropology programs across the US, the three-week curriculum for NSF CAMP is designed to meet the learning needs of contemporary Ph.D. students. The curriculum in the table below integrates and leverages methods from across anthropological subfields. Training students to do methodologically rigorous and innovative work will transform the field of cultural anthropology far into the future.
| CAMP Module | Methods to be Taught |
| Research Design | Research Design; Proposal Writing, The Exploratory-Confirmatory Continuum; Survey Methods; Online Research Methods; Causal Analysis; Data Management & Archiving |
| Ethical research | Doing Collaborative Research; Addressing Sexual Harassment & Assault; Advancing Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion |
| Data Management | Qualitative Data Management; Data Management and Archiving; PSPP |
| Sample Design | Non-Probability Sampling & Saturation; Sampling for Surveys; Sampling for Online Research |
| Indigenous Methods | Critical Indigenous Research Methods; Indigenous Storywork; Talanoa; Indigenous Data Sovereignty |
| Participatory Methods | Community Engaged Research; Participatory Visual and Digital Methods; Citizen Science; Participatory Action Research |
| Decolonizing Methods | Decolonizing Ethnography; Abolition as Method; Ethnographic Refusal |
| Linguistic Methods | Indexicality Methods; Discourse Analysis; Conversation Analysis |
| Cross-cultural Methods | Cross-cultural Design & Analysis; Cross-cultural Collaboration; International Research Ethics |
| Qualitative Data Analysis | Rapid Ethnography; Reflexivity & Positionality; Theme Identification; Coding & Content Analysis; Grounded Theory & Theoretical Sampling |
| Relational Analysis | Thinking with Matrices; Relational Analysis; Whole Network Analysis; Personal Network Analysis; Cultural Consensus |
| Ecological Methods | Ethnoecology; Spatial Analysis; Agent-based Modeling |
| Medical/Psychological | Cross-cultural Psychological Methods; Idioms of Distress; Medical Narratives |
| Biocultural Methods | Anthropometry & Nutritional methods, Cultural Domain Analysis, Cultural consonance |
| Gender Analysis | Feminist Methodologies; Gender Analysis in the Global South; Gender, Sex, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity |
Teaching approach: Our pedagogical approach was honed over years of teaching methods. A low professor-to-student ratio ensures that we are able to provide high-quality, individualized instruction to students throughout the NSF CAMP. We use a mix of teaching modalities, including hands-on exercises, online lectures (both asynchronous and interactive), student-led presentations, Critical Response Process, and one-on-one instruction. In addition to lectures and hands-on activities, we use small groups to guide students as they apply key lessons to their own research projects.
Diversity & Inclusion: The rising cohorts of Ph.D. students in anthropology are increasingly diverse, in terms of race, gender, immigration status, age, disabilities, and family responsibilities. To best serve Ph.D. students’ learning needs, our distinguished faculty is racially-diverse, gender balanced, and represents a range of career stages and anthropology programs nationally. NSF CAMP is accommodating of students’ individual needs, including disabilities and family responsibilities. All are welcome and all are asked to contribute to creating an environment that supports every student.
COVID-19 accommodation: To address COVID-19, the 3-week 2023 CAMP will be fully online. After one week of intensive online methods study and guided preparation, students will receive two weeks of interactive small group and one-on-one mentorship online.
Program dates & commitment: In 2023, NSF CAMP will be held online from May 10th–May26th. Additional meetings will occur on March 24th, April 14th, and May 5th. All CAMP activities will be online. Students can expect to be engaged full-time in learning, research, and mentorship activities during for three weeks, just as they would be at in-person CAMP. Instruction and mentorship will be conducted in synchronous and asynchronous modes. Students should prepare to be available online while CAMP is in session. NSF CAMP is an intensive, immersive learning experience.
Sample schedule: Here is an example of what a student’s daily schedule will look like at CAMP.
| Time | Activity |
| 9:00-10:00 | Lecture & discussion on a method |
| 10:00-11:00 | Hands-on Activity |
| 11:00-1:00 | One-on-one: Research advising |
| 1:00-1:30 | Lunch break |
| 1:30-2:30 | Breakout 1: Project progress |
| 2:30-3:30 | Breakout 2: Solve a research problem |
| 3:30-5:00 | Individual assignment: Work on your own |
Costs to students: For summer 2023, there are no travel or meal costs as we will be solely online.