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; Designing Causal Research: Causal Analysis; Research Design for Qualitative Data Analysis: The Exploratory-Confirmatory Continuum; Research Design for Survey Research: Survey Methods; Designing Online Research; Proposal Writing |
| Ethical Research | Ethical Consenting; Ethically Engaging Marginalized Communities in Research; Indigenous Data Sovereignty; International Research Ethics; Ethical Collaboration: How to do Collaborative Research; Addressing Sexual Harassment and Assault |
| Data Management | Transcription; Qualitative Data Management; Quantitative Data Management and Archiving; Using a Quantitative Database: Free of Cost PSPP Software |
| Sample Design | Probability Sampling; Non-Probability Sampling & Saturation; Sampling for Surveys; Sampling for Online Research |
| Indigenous Methods | Critical Indigenous Research Methodologies; Indigenous Data Sovereignty; Talking Circles; Indigenous Stories; Talanoa |
| Participatory Methods | Photovoice and More: Participatory Visual and Digital Methods; Participatory Action Research; Participatory Approaches to Direct Observation; Community Engaged Methods |
| Ethnographic Methods | Decolonizing Ethnography; Duo Ethnography; Rapid Ethnographic Methods; Spatial Ethnography; Reflexivity and Positionality |
| Black Feminist Methods | Sister-Girl Talk; Refusal as Method; Abolition as Method |
| Cross-cultural Methods | Cross-cultural Design and Analysis I, II, and III; Cross-cultural Collaboration; Cross-cultural Data Analysis |
| Qualitative Data Analysis | Coding and Content Analysis; Theme Identification; Word-Based Analysis; Grounded Theory and Theoretical Sampling; “Making Qualitative Comparisons:” Thinking with Matrices |
| Linguistic Methods | Conversation Analysis; Discourse Analysis; Indexicality |
| Cultural Domain, Consensus, & Consonance Analysis | Free List Analysis; Pile Sort Analysis; Cultural Domain Analysis; Cultural Consensus; Cultural Consonance |
| Medical, Psychological, & Biocultural Methods | Cross-cultural Psychological Methods; Medical Narratives; Idioms of Distress; Anthropometry & Nutritional Methods |
| Relational and Quantitative Methods | Social Network Analysis; Whole Network Analysis; Personal Network Analysis; Spatial Analysis; Agent-Based Modeling |
| Gender Analysis | Gender and Sex Complexities I and II; Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Measures; Gender Analysis in the Global South; Feminist Methodologies |
| Teaching Methods the CAMP Way | Teaching Methods Using the CAMP International Curriculum; Implementing the NSF CAMP Feedback Method; Tips for Teaching Online |
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.
Program dates & commitment: In 2023, NSF CAMP was held online from May 10th–May26th. Additional meetings will occur on March 24th, April 14th, and May 5th. All CAMP activities were online but the CAMP 2025 iteration may be a different format. 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 |