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The practicum is the major independent project that students undertake in order to complete the master in applied anthropology. It involves doing work that will be of practical benefit to some organization or agency. Students must design and carry out a project that utilizes the skills in applied anthropology that they gained through their master's program coursework. The project has two kinds of outcomes:
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A practical application that benefits the organization or agency that is their client |
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A report to the department of anthropology, submitted both as a written document and a verbal presentation. |
The practicum is similar to a traditional master's thesis in that it represents a substantial effort on the student's part. It is different in that the student's project will always be directed toward the needs of a client.
Some students may conduct their practicum projects for established practicing anthropologists in their field of interest. In other cases, clients will come from another background, but they will recognize the value that the perspective of applied anthropology can bring to their organization. Clients will generally hold fairly senior positions in their organization.
Students in the online master's program may conduct their practicum project in whatever geographic location suits their needs. In many cases, students may choose to find an organization in the community they live in. Some students who work full-time may choose to conduct their practicum for the organization that already employs them.
The key to a successful practicum experience is
excellent three-way communication between the student, their faculty
advisor, and their practicum client. This is especially true in the
online context. The department has a set of guidelines to assist
everyone in building this triangular relationship. Students prepare
for the practicum by taking ANTH 5050, the Pre-Practicum. Selected
Examples of Past Practicum Topics
Student: Rocky D. Crocker
Project: An Organizational Study of a Growing Business
Client: Superior Trailer Sales Company
Graduation: August 2007Student: Andrea Robledo
Project: Latinos/as in Leadership: Participatory Action Research with Latino/a Organizations at the University of North Texas
Client: Multicultural Center at the University of North Texas
Graduation: August 2007Student: Steven D. Gomez
Project: Implementing Best Practices: Program Evaluation and Program Development for an American Indian Gestational Diabetes Program
Client: Diabetes Care Center, Chickasaw Nation Health System, Ada, Oklahoma
Graduation: May 2007Student: Nicole A. Matheny
Project: Traditional Healing and Biomedicine among Latinos in Denton, Texas: Beliefs, Practices, and Barriers
Client: Denton County Health Department
Graduation: May 2007Student: Andrea McCoy
Project: A Trend Analysis of Notebook Computer Use by College Students
Client: Dell, Inc.
Graduation: May 2007Student: Kelly Moran
Project: Designing Products and Work Practices with Pitney Bowes: Marketing Services for Small-Spend Advertisers
Client: Pitney Bowes
Graduation: May 2007Student: Michael Neil Mansfield
Project: Nature Evaluation in the Big Thicket
Client: Big Thicket Association
Graduation: May 2007
Student: David Howard
Project: Better Understanding Ourselves and Our Clients - A Community Needs Assessment for a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Community Based Organization
Client: The Resource Center of Dallas, Gay & Lesbian Community Center
Graduation Date: May 2007
Student: Rodney Bales
Project: A Cost/Benefit Analysis of Wrap-around Services for Children Experiencing a Serious Emotional Disturbance Diagnosis
Client: The City of Fort Worth Public Health Department
Graduation Date: August 2006Student: Michael Foitek
Project: Evaluation of the City of Denton's Mosquito Control Campaign
Client: The City of Denton Information Office
Graduation Date: May 2006
Student: Ethan McGaffey
Project: Feeding the Family: Prices Paid for Subsistence Salmon Near the Upper Copper River, Alaska
Client: Partners in Fisheries, Alaska Fish and Game
Graduation Date: May 2006
Student: Kiera Thaden
Project: Didactic vs. Constructivist: An Analysis of Two Label-Types at the Gyro Chair Exhibit
Client: The Science Place
Graduation: December 2005
Student: Pamela O. Brown
Project: Creating a Sex Education Program for Somali Bantu Women
Client: Refugee organization in the North Texas area
Graduation: May 2005
Student: Violet Sparks
Project: Homelessness in Denton County: Needs Assessment and Homeless Management Information Systems
Client: City of Denton
Graduation Date: December 2004
Student: Stephen Brown
Project: Community Integration and Resource Development: Landmine Removal Fundraising
Client: Dallas Peace Center
Graduation Date: December 2004
Student: Jason Swartwood
Project: Bajito Onda: A Grassroots Movement for Peace as an Alternative to Violence
Client: Bajito Onda
Graduation Date: December 2004
Student: Sandra Tyson
Project: Access to Health Care for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: A Participatory Action Research Project
Client: Texas Association of the Deaf
Graduation Date: December 2004
Student: Sarah Barraza
Project: Migrant Education: Giving Hispanic Students A Voice
Client: Denton Independent School District
Graduation Date: December 2003Student: Diane Naylor
Student: Albert Schott
Project: Somali Bantu in Dallas, Texas: Health Practices and Resettlement Issues
Clients: Parkland Hospital Outreach Clinic
Graduation Date: December 2003
Project: Evaluation of Dallas Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center
Client: Salvation Army
Graduation Date: December 2002
For more detailed information on the Practicum, see our Graduate Student Handbook (.pdf).
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