Overview
Join an award-winning field school that’s training the next generation of professionals in curation, museum studies, and archaeological collections management. Based at the Arkansas Archeological Survey’s collections facility in Fayetteville, this four week program gives you the rare opportunity to work directly with archaeological artifacts and documents while contributing to a statewide initiative to modernize and digitize collections. You’ll help rehabilitate and document materials from a 1990s excavation in southwest Arkansas, including artifacts from the Caddo Nation and earlier occupations. Students not only gain experience in preserving, cataloging, and sharing archaeological resources but also learn from Caddo Nation representatives firsthand about the ethical responsibilities of archaeological work.
Field school highlights:
- Develop a diverse skillset in cataloging, digital database entry, 3D modeling, and public engagement.
- Help make a collection of artifacts accessible digitally and physically, bringing them up to current curation standards.
- Deepen your experience with field trips to excavation sites, Caddo cultural landmarks, and regional museum collections.
| Course Details | |
|---|---|
| Course Dates | June 14 – July 17, 2026 |
| Course Type | Archaeology, Museum Studies, Curation |
| Instructors | Dr. Michelle Rathgaber & Sarah Shepard |
| Credits* | 8 semester (12 quarter) |
| Apply By | April 1 |
| Fees Due By | April 15 |
| Program Fees | (2026) |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $3,375 |
| Transcript Fee* | $350 |
| Health & Evacuation Insurance | N/A |
| Room & Board | $3,370 |
| TOTAL: | $7,095 |
*Please email admissions@ifrglobal.org for any application issues.
Applications accepted on a rolling basis until program fills or final deadline passes.
Instructors
The directors welcome emails and inquiries about the research elements of this project. More general information (tuition, health insurance, and payment schedule) can be found under the ‘Students’ tab above. Any further questions may be addressed to IFR staff. Additional details about research, course schedule, travel, accommodation, and safety can be found on the syllabus. Contacting the directors or the IFR office is encouraged and appreciated. It may help you determine if this field school is a good fit for you.
Testimonials
This is a new IFR field school. No student testimonials are available at this time.
Payment & Student Fees
Application Fee: There is a $45 fee to submit an online application.
Deposit Payment: A nonrefundable $500 deposit is due within 3 weeks of program acceptance in order to secure your place. The remainder of your program fees are due by the deadline indicated under “Course Details”.
*Transcript Fee & Academic Credit Opt Out: If you wish to participate in an IFR field school without earning academic credits, you will not be charged a transcript fee.
For more information about payment, fees, and policies, please see details under our Payment & Finances and Withdrawal and Cancellation Policy pages.
Accommodations
Students will be staying at the dorms on the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville campus. The dorms will provide single rooms within 4 person suites. Each student will have their own, lockable room; 2 students will share a bathroom in each wing of the suite; and there is a shared public area in the center.
The program will provide linens (sheets, blanket, pillow, pillowcase, bath towel, hand towel, washcloth) to each student. Each student is responsible for laundering their own linens and returning them at the end of the program. There is a paid laundry facility in the dorm.
Students will be responsible for keeping their room, shared bathroom, and suite clean. Cleaning supplies and toilet paper will be provided by the program.
Meals: Students will have breakfast and dinner provided to them at the cafeteria on campus near the dorms during weekdays. Staff will join them for dinner a couple of nights each week. The cafeteria serves food buffet style and provides an assortment of different foods for each meal. They can also accommodate most dietary restrictions. On weekends the cafeteria provides brunch and dinner and will be open to field school students. (All of these meals are included in the cost of tuition)
Lunch during the week will be sandwiches/salads/chips/etc. put together by students from supplies kept in the refrigerator in the break room at the CO. Staff and students will put together a shopping list and go 1-2x per week to the grocery store to pick up supplies as needed. (These costs are included in tuition)
On field trip days (Fridays) students may opt to pack a lunch from the breakroom to bring along or stop at a local restaurant. Meals at restaurants are not covered by the cost of the program.
Travel Info
Natural disasters, political changes, weather conditions and various other factors may force the cancellation or alteration of a field school. IFR recommends students only purchase airline tickets that are fully refundable and consider travel insurance in case a program or travel plans must change for any reason.
General information for this program is below, but keep in mind we will discuss any updated travel information and regulations during the required program orientation, which could affect travel plans.
You can choose to fly or drive to this program
> If you fly, staff will pick you up at Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) is the closest airport to Fayetteville. Pickup times will be scheduled based on student arrival times.
> If you drive, you will need a parking pass to keep your car on campus near the dorms, which you will need to purchase from the parking office. The program will indicate an arrival time for drivers at orientation.
When students are on campus, there are free buses that run to various parts of Fayetteville, including one that runs to the ARAS Coordinating Office/Lab. Students will catch the bus each morning to the CO and back to campus in the afternoon (exact start and end times of the work day will depend on the bus schedule).
If there are problems in a student’s travel agenda they can contact Michelle Rathgaber on her cell phone, which will be provided after registration.