Davila Applied Anthropological Research (DAAR), LLC is implementing a structured internship program to expand opportunities for Harlem-based students in anthropology and related fields. The program builds on lessons from a successful pilot internship in 2025, where a student contributed up to 300 hours of research support. During the pilot, it became clear that the program needed two critical improvements: (1) a formalized onboarding curriculum that allows interns to self-manage and contribute productively from the start, and (2) virtual access systems to ensure equitable participation, particularly when students must balance academic and personal responsibilities. The following proposed curriculum framework provides a scalable structure for interns who may participate for either 150 hours or the full 300 hours, depending on their college program requirements.
The program begins with Orientation and Onboarding, which requires approximately 10 hours for the 150-hour track and 20 hours for the 300-hour track. This phase introduces DAAR’s mission, values, and approach to applied anthropology. Interns review key ethical considerations, including informed consent, equity principles, and privacy responsibilities. They also receive technical onboarding to DAAR’s secure systems and complete introductory readings in applied anthropology and research methods.
The second phase, Core Skills Development, builds foundational research competencies. Students spend approximately 30 hours (150-hour track) or 60 hours (300-hour track) learning how to design research questions, prepare for fieldwork, and conduct desk-based research. Training modules include structured note-taking, cultural competence in community-based research, literature review techniques, and practice exercises such as coding sample transcripts or drafting short memos.
The third and largest phase, Applied Project Work, accounts for 80 hours in the 150-hour track and 160 hours in the 300-hour track. In this phase, interns directly support DAAR’s ongoing consulting and research projects. Typical assignments include assisting with community outreach, supporting fieldwork sessions, contributing to data collection and management, and drafting components of knowledge products such as research summaries, literature reviews, or protocols. This phase ensures that students apply their training to real-world contexts while meaningfully advancing DAAR’s mission.
The final phase, Reflection and Professional Development, integrates mentorship and self-assessment. Students spend approximately 20 hours (150-hour track) or 40 hours (300-hour track) participating in periodic check-ins with DAAR leadership, engaging in skill-building workshops (for example, understanding the MWBE ecosystem or the role of applied anthropology in policy), and maintaining structured reflection journals. Each internship concludes with an exit conversation and the provision of a letter of completion.
In total, the 150-hour pathway is divided into 10 hours of orientation, 30 hours of core skills development, 80 hours of applied project work, and 30 hours of reflection and professional development. The 300-hour pathway is divided into 20 hours of orientation, 60 hours of core skills development, 160 hours of applied project work, and 60 hours of reflection and professional development. This scalable model ensures that students gain essential skills in the shorter track, while students completing the full track have the opportunity to develop advanced competencies in fieldwork, data management, and knowledge production.
The proposed curriculum framework is designed to be refined and expanded by a consultant, who will develop detailed training modules, onboarding kits, templates for fieldwork and literature reviews, and assessment rubrics for tracking skill growth. The consultant will also recommend integration points with DAAR’s new web technologies to enable secure intern access, data protection, and documentation of work.
This framework balances academic training with applied experience and ensures that interns contribute directly to DAAR’s operations. By providing both 150-hour and 300-hour options, the program remains accessible to students with varying schedules while maintaining rigor and consistency. This curriculum will serve as the foundation for a sustainable internship program that builds applied research capacity, supports Harlem students, and advances DAAR’s mission of equitable, community-rooted consulting.
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