2026 Program
Wednesday, Aug. 5 - Saturday, Aug. 15
Please note that the 2026 Early Start will not convene on Sunday, Aug. 9 and Thursday, Aug. 13.
During Early Start, you can expect to be busy each day throughout the entirety of the program. And we promise — you won’t be sitting and falling asleep in a classroom all day!
- Meet your advisors and other university experts to learn about courses, majors and career paths, plus other tools to maximize your ASU experience.
- Learn about your Anthropology and Global Health courses, available internships, study abroad opportunities, career paths and more.
- Get a sneak peak of campus facilities and classrooms, and find cool spots to study, eat or hang out with friends.
- Explore campus and the surrounding area so you know how to get around before classes begin.
- Engage with scholars from the School of Human Evolution and Social Change and our many affiliated research centers.
- Global Health students will have the opportunity to meet with their faculty you'll be studying with and get a tour of our labs.
- Anthropology students will meet their faculty and visit the Phoenix Zoo to learn about primate behavior, as well as local archaeological sites and ASU's anthropological collections.
- Lunch and dinner are provided.
2026 applications are due by July 15, 2026.
Join us
Participation in the School of Human Evolution Early Start program is by special invitation only.
Explore your major
Dig deeper to learn more your major, or learn more about the other majors in our school. Our Early Start program will include students from across our different programs, allowing you to connect with other students who share your interests, while also discovering new ones!
Meet our team
During Early Start, you’ll work with dedicated faculty members and advisors who are eager to help you succeed at ASU. You’ll get to know your professors and mentors on a personal and professional level so you’ll be more confident asking for help during the school year.
Rhian Stotts
Teaching Associate Professor
School of Human Evolution and Social Change
Carita Harrell
Associate Director of Academic Services
School of Human Evolution and Social Change
One of my favorite parts of being a faculty member at ASU is getting to lead the SHESC Early Start program. Early Start embodies ASU’s commitment to inclusion—not just access, but equipping students with the tools to thrive.
My goal in Early Start is simple: to show students they belong at ASU and give them a roadmap to success. To me, Early Start is not just a nine-day program, it’s the beginning of a long-term community of support.
Rhian Stotts, faculty lead of SHESC's Early Start