Greetings, I hope your fall semester is off to a good start. We’ve created a new ethnographic training program that allows students to conduct their research either on the ground where they are located, remotely, or a combination of both (or remotely from anywhere they prefer). This is a new, more flexible program created on the foundations of our main summer program. It would be greatly appreciated if you could forward this information to your undergraduate and graduate students.
I am open to having Zoom meetings with potential students (or faculty) to answer any questions they have
Sincerely,
Todd G. Pierce, Ph.D.
Director
The Isla Mujeres Ethnographic Field School
In...@AnthroFieldSchool.com
Admis...@AnthroFieldSchool.com
202-241-5325 (USA)
998-139-7122 (MX)
http://www.AnthroFieldSchool.com
https://www.facebook.com/Islamujeresethnographicfieldschool
http://instagram.com/anthrofieldschool
FALL / SPRING 2025 - 2026
GLOBAL ETHNOGRAPHY PROGRAM
ON THE GROUND, REMOTE, AND HYBRID ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH & TRAINING
10 WEEKS OF LECTURE AND RESEARCH - 2 WEEKS OF WRITING AND ANALYSIS
(This program will have a summer session as well)
The Global Ethnography Program is a flexible, immersive training in ethnographic methods and theory.
Participants develop and carry out independent research
We encourage students to please coordinate with their advisors to discuss how this program can be used to benefit their current course of study. Students should also ask how they can receive credits from within their university for their participation in this program. Many universities offer independent research credit (some up to 12 credits), but students can also seek credit in theory, methods, and ethnographic representation.
This program intends to work in tandem with universities as a way to offer students more training and experience.
The Global Ethnography Program offers a flexible, immersive introduction to ethnographic research. Whether your work is on-the-ground, remote, or hybrid, you’ll be guided through each phase of the research process, including design and ethics, fieldwork, analysis, and final presentation. This is a hands-on, personalized training program designed to meet you where you are, wherever you are.
This is a methods course, but also a complete research experience. You’ll design your own original project, carry out real fieldwork, and produce a final research product that reflects your growth as a social scientist. Weekly cohort meetings, one-on-one mentorship, and structured guidance will help keep your work focused, ethical, and relevant.
The goal isn’t just to do research...it’s to do something with it. Our program offers support for those looking to present at academic conferences or prepare journal-style manuscripts, as many of our students have done in the past. Others use the program to build portfolios for graduate school, professional work, or community-based projects.
Fall Session Application Deadline September 10th.
Start Date Sept 15th
OPEN TO ALL ACADEMIC LEVELS
The program is open to students at all levels, from early undergraduates to Ph.D. candidates and post-doctoral researchers. Whether you’re just beginning your journey within ethnography or refining advanced skills, the Global Ethnography Program is built to expand your toolkit, sharpen your critical perspective, and elevate your personal work.
FALL 2025 / SPRING 2026 PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Each semester includes:
● 10 weeks of lecture and research plus 2 weeks of mentored writing and analysis
● Weekly cohort meeting (1 hour, time to be chosen by group consensus)
● Weekly 1:1 meetings (flexible by appointment)
● 6–8 hours total weekly commitment, including readings, fieldwork, writing, and meetings
● 8 students maximum per session to allow for maximum individualized attention
● Tuition: $2,500 USD
The program is remote in instruction but flexible in application: you may conduct research locally, in the field, or entirely online using remote ethnographic techniques, or a mix of both.
KEY FEATURES
- One-on-one mentorship
- Flexible scheduling and structure
- Emphasis on applied, real-world research
- Support for publication and conference presentation
- Based on the successful Advanced Methods Program
You can find examples of our student publications in academic journals here.
Here is an example of a project where the student was fully trained online and conducted her research completely remotely. Her article has been published ea597b_b932995bf4f54265ba75930ee597c1ab.pdf
Our students have also presented at conferences, including the American Anthropological Association and the Society for Applied Anthropology. Each of those events has garnered the student more recognition and opportunities to network with others within the discipline, while advancing their careers.
FALL SESSION 2025
Sepember 14 - December 7
APPLICATION DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 10
- August 25 – September 14: Intake and Field Pack Period
- September 15 - Program Start Date
- November 17 - November 30: Writing and Analysis Break
- December 3 – December 7: Final Week and Presentations
- December 7 - Program End Date
SPRING SESSION 2026
January 6 - April 17
APPLICATION DEADLINE JANUARY 1
- December 6 – January 6: Intake and Field Pack Period
- January 7 - Program Start Date
- March 30 - April 10: Writing and Analysis Break
- April 13 – April 17: Final Week and Presentations
- April 17 - Program End Date
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SUMMER FIELD SCHOOL 2026
Ethnographic Field School
On the Ground and On-Line
Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Advanced Ethnographic Methods – Summer 2026
June 22 – August 14, 2026
Applications open September 1, 2025
Location: Isla Mujeres, Mexico
A small Caribbean island just off the coast of Cancún. Students live in the vibrant mid-island community, conduct community-based research, and experience immersion in local cultural life.
Whether you're a first-year undergrad eager to get started in research, a grad student developing a thesis idea, or a post-doc sharpening your methods, this program gives you the tools, structure, and support to conduct your own ethnographic project from start to finish.
Now in our 14th year, The Advanced Ethnographic Methods program is the flagship course of the Isla Mujeres Ethnographic Field School. It is not a simulation or class exercise—this is real, independent fieldwork with daily mentoring and professional-level training.
Three Pathways to Real Ethnographic Research
Isla Mujeres Ethnographic Field School – Summer 2026
IFS offers three integrated research tracks, all built around real ethnographic projects, professional mentorship, and the opportunity to publish or present your work. Whether you're leading your own study or supporting another, you’ll learn how to do fieldwork the way ethnographers really do it: collaboratively, ethically, and with clear academic outcomes.
1. Advanced Ethnographic Methods: Principal Investigator (In-Field)
Role: Research Team Leader
Format: 8 weeks (1 week remote prep + 6 weeks in-field +1 week post-program writing)
Tuition: $5,750–$6,250
Cohort Size: 8 students max
Design, lead, and execute your own ethnographic research project.
You’ll develop your proposal before arriving, conduct fieldwork independently, and participate in structured writing and analysis sessions. Research Associates (below) will support your project.
2. Ethnographic Research Associate (Hybrid)
Role: Research Team Member (In-Person)
Format: 8 weeks (1 week remote prep + 3 weeks in-field research + 3 weeks remote research + 1 week post-program writing)
Tuition: $4,750–$5,250
Cohort Size: 4 students max
You’ll travel to Isla Mujeres and join one or more Advanced Methods research teams.
You’ll assist with interviews, transcription, analysis, and data collection. You’ll attend all lectures, participate in team meetings, and may be listed as a co-author on future publications if your contributions warrant it. Great for students newer to ethnography who want in-the-field training without leading a full project.
You’re doing the work, in the field—but not flying solo.
3. Ethnographic Research Associate (Remote)
Role: Research Team Member (Remote)
Format: 8 weeks (1 week remote prep +6 weeks remote research + 1 week post-program writing)
Tuition: $2,450–$2,950
Cohort Size: 4 students max
You’ll join one or more Advanced Methods teams from wherever you are.
Remote ERAs collect metadata, analyze media content, help transcribe and code interviews, and participate in live lectures and weekly team meetings. You’ll gain research experience, contribute to a real publication, and learn to do remote ethnography—a growing field in digital anthropology, UX research, and applied social science.
You’re part of the team—just working from your side of the world.
Who Should Apply?
This program is designed for serious students and emerging researchers at all levels:
- Undergraduate students
- Graduate students (MA, PhD)
- Post-docs
- Independent scholars not currently enrolled
You don’t need to know everything to start. You just need the motivation to learn and the commitment to carry out a meaningful project. We'll help you with the rest.
What You’ll Gain
- A completed ethnographic research project
- Real field experience in a culturally rich, community-based environment
- Practical training in methods, ethics, analysis, and theory
- The foundation for publication or graduate-level work
- Long-term mentorship and access to a growing professional network
- A standout addition to your academic CV or professional portfolio
Sample Research Areas
- Medical Anthropology
- Environment & Development
- Latin America & the Caribbean
- Tourism Economies
- Gender & Identity
- Globalization & Culture
- Space, Place & Meaning
- Community Health & Social Change
Students often use their data for senior theses, MA projects, doctoral fieldwork pilots, or publish in journals like Practicing Anthropology.
Applications Open September 1, 2025
Start your proposal early. Build a project you're proud of. Spend your summer doing something that matters.
Applications: https://www.anthrofieldschool.com/applications--deadlines--tuition
We prefer students to apply as early as possible, as this will allow for more time to develop research ideas and proposals!
OBJECTIVES:
Creating Original Applied Research Projects
Conducting Research and Producing Empirical Data
Delivering Publications and Conference Papers
The Isla Mujeres Ethnographic Field School specializes in community-based projects and trains students on how to conduct ethnographic research. Located on a small Mexican Caribbean island, much of the student research is focused on the community. Some of our current areas of interest are culture and environment, Latin America & Caribbean, Medical Anthropology, Gender and identity, History, Space and meaning, and Economic Development. There is a wide variety of research subjects. In the past, some students have conducted research on diabetes, body image and health, GLBT identity, teenage pregnancy, HIV and Dengue Fever prevention, Economic Development and Tourism, Sea Turtle, reef, and Whale Shark conservation, tourism industry, language, and government policy. Whatever the student's specialty area is, we can design a project that will fit their career objectives.
For more information, please see our website: http://www.AnthroFieldSchool.com
The Isla Mujeres Ethnographic Field School (I.F.S.) is dedicated to the professionalization of ethnographic research and the training of students on how to conduct ethical, meaningful, and professional research. Our mission is to train ethnographers that we are confident in and who we know can get the job done. Be it future graduate school research or projects for employers. Our trained ethnographers can tackle a research project from beginning to end with confidence, experience, and know-how.
We train both undergraduate and graduate students. We also have post-docs who attend the Field School for further training and career development. Our program provides students with the cutting-edge knowledge needed to gain admission to top graduate school programs, develop graduate school dissertation research (which will aid in securing research funding for dissertations), and help them secure the job they desire in their discipline. Some undergraduates have used their experience and data for senior thesis projects, while graduate students use it for pilot research to develop their Master's thesis or doctoral dissertations. We have had some amazing publications produced by our students and have several more being created right now.
I'm also open to doing a Zoom discussion with classes. I recently spoke with anthropology students (and others) from Central Florida State University about the importance of gaining methodological training and field experience, where they can apply those methods to produce meaningful results. I also discussed the importance of becoming members of the AAA and SFAA as undergraduates (and certainly as graduate students) and to start networking within these organizations as early on as they can, attending and presenting at National and regional conferences within and outside of our discipline. We recently had a student as the Chair of a roundtable presentation at the AAA conference in Tampa, and at the SFAA in Portland this past March. Besides training in methods, theory, and ethics, our program also holds professional development at the heart of its philosophy.
Our Students Publish!
Our students not only learn how to create a professional academic research proposal, receive training on the theory, ethics, and methods of ethnographic research, experience cultural and linguistic immersion, conduct the proposed research, but are also encouraged to present their research at professional conferences and publish their research results in peer-reviewed academic journals, like Practicing Anthropology, or edited volumes (books). Many succeed in doing so. Please see our website to view some publications and see what our students have been up to.
anthrofieldschool.com
