Experiential Learning

Prepare to live in a changing world and apply and strengthen your skills through academic research, internships or global experiences.

As a student, Anika Shah an Anthropology major interned at AARK Wildlife Rehabilitation and Educational Center and was responsible for taking care of the animals.
Martha Kerbel studied abroad in Mongolia as a sophomore. She did environmental field research and talked to local people about their livelihoods is in an anthropological context.
In the summer of 2024, Caden secured a CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Internship. Caden received on-the-job training and gained valuable skills in the professional areas of advancement, including fundraising, alumni relations, advancement services, and communications and marketing.

The Experiential Learning Project (XLP) is a requirement for all Ursinus graduates and may be fulfilled in several ways.

Independent Research

Students interested in research should contact the relevant professor and students interested in internship opportunities should connect with their advisor. View titles of recent honors theses.

Summer Fellows

The Summer Fellows program at Ursinus allows you, as a sophomore or junior, to pursue an independent scholarly project under the close tutelage of a Anthropology and Sociology faculty mentor.

Internships

Many students in the department take advantage of the close proximity of Ursinus to Philadelphia to gain experience in several settings. Learn more about internships through the Career and Professional Development Office.

Study Abroad

Students are encouraged to study abroad to challenge cultural assumptions, receive international experience, and diversify their education.

Ursinus offers several faculty-led programs and exchange opportunities through other institutions. Anthropology and Sociology faculty Dr. Catherine van de Ruit and Dr. Lauren Wynne lead ANTH/HSOC-283: Contemporary Issues in Public Health in the Yucatán, a four-credit short-term study abroad course that fulfills the XLP requirement. Students will explore matters related to health and healing in Mexico with a particular focus on the Yucatán Peninsula and Maya peoples. More information is available here.

COSA (Celebration of Student Achievement)

The Celebration of Student Achievement (CoSA), takes place each April at Ursinus College. It is a day long event filled with talks, poster presentations, and performances conducted by students from every discipline. Student presenters share their work while gaining valuable public speaking experience. Recent ANSO presentations at COSA include:

Neve Durrwacher
Virtue and Disease: Narrative Accounts of Orthorexia

Megan Burns
Where Trying to Conceive becomes a Community Effort: An Analysis of Online Infertility Forums

Chelsea White
“Putting it all out on the Table”: Exploring the Scripts of Femininity on The Real Housewives of Orange County and Bad Girls Club

ELEVATE YOUR MAJOR.

Stand out in the real world.

Through APEX—our applied, professional and experiential learning ecosystem—all Ursinus students engage in interdisciplinary hubs that go beyond the classroom with hands-on, career-connected experiences.

You'll network, shadow, and collaborate with experts, build in-demand skills, and participate in global learning and grant-supported opportunities—all included in the cost of tuition. This is how you set yourself apart in college, in your career, and in the world.

Emerge ready.

APEX at Ursinus