CIFAS

The CIFAS Field School on Ethnographic Research Methods offers rigorous, practice-focused training that balances theory with hands-on fieldwork. Faculty work closely with each participant to identify the methods best suited to their academic or professional needs—whether in social sciences, education, health, communication, the arts, or beyond. We offer an engaging in-person or online program designed for students and professionals who want rigorous, hands-on training in ethnographic research — whether for academic projects, applied research, or professional practice. For more information, visit cifas.us or scan the QR code.

Preparing for fieldwork this summer?
19th CIFAS Field School in Ethnographic Research Methods Online Cohort | April–May 2026

The Comitas Institute for Anthropological Study (CIFAS) is pleased to announce the April online cohort of the 19th CIFAS Field School in Ethnographic Research Methods.
This intensive, live online program is designed for students and professionals who want rigorous, hands-on training in ethnographic research — whether for academic projects, applied research, or professional practice.

Schedule: Classes meet live on: April 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 and May 5 and 7
8:30–11:30 a.m. EDT
Total workload: 30 hours

What You Will Gain: Participants receive structured training in both the foundations and practice of ethnographic research. Faculty work closely with each participant to help identify the field methods most appropriate to their specific academic or professional goals.
Topics include:
• Foundations of ethnographic research
• Ethics in fieldwork
• Feminist, multi-species, and decolonial approaches
• Research design and data generation techniques
• Field logistics and project planning
• Digital ethnography
• Ethnography in applied fields (health, public policy, environmental studies, business, social services, and more)
• Organizing and indexing field data
• Analyzing field materials
• Introduction to qualitative analysis software

Who Should Apply: Graduate and undergraduate students in the social sciences; students in fields using qualitative methods (education, communication, cultural studies, health, development, consumer research, etc.); applied researchers; professionals incorporating ethnographic approaches into their work.
Whether you are preparing for dissertation fieldwork, launching a qualitative research project, or expanding your methodological toolkit, this course provides practical and theoretically grounded training.

Tuition & Support
Tuition: US$1,700
Comitas Field School Fellowships: A limited number of fellowships are available for students from underrepresented minorities and low-income countries. See our website for more information.
Places are limited.

Additional Offerings: The Field School will also be offered in person in New York City (July 2026) and Online (August 2026)

Apply online:
https://www.cifas.us/field-school/field-school
Questions?
[email protected]