BA in Archaeology

The BA in Archaeology is one of the few degrees of its kind in the United States. The curriculum focuses on both the Old and New Worlds and examines issues of state formation, power and human origins.

The 39-credit interdisciplinary degree program draws from disciplines common in archaeological research to round-out its core curriculum. These include anthropology, art history, classics and history.

Courses are divided into three groups for distribution purposes: Field and laboratory work, anthropological archaeology and ancient civilizations. Students take courses in all groups, and may further specialize in one discipline or area. All students acquire experience in field or laboratory methods. Twelve credit hours or the equivalent of a pertinent foreign language are also required. 

 


Stephen Lubkemann

"The historical record tells a story of those who have the ability to write, usually people in power. It doesn’t reflect the experience of those who didn’t have a voice. Archaeology provides a different perspective."

Stephen Lubkemann
Associate Professor of Anthropology

Course Requirements

The bachelor of arts with a major in archaeology is an interdepartmental program offered by the Department of Anthropology in cooperation with the Department of Arts and Art History and the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations.

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.

Additional curriculum requirements:

Language requirement
Students must complete 12 credits or demonstrate equivalent skill, in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Arabic, Hebrew, Latin, or Greek.
Students whose preparation allows them to waive this requirement are encouraged to begin study of a second language. Graduate study in archaeology usually requires knowledge of two or more languages besides English, and students planning to pursue advanced study should consult with an advisor early in their program.
Major requirements
No course can be counted toward more than one of the following requirements:
Core courses
ANTH 1002Sociocultural Anthropology
ANTH 1003Archaeology
ANTH 3838Theory and Practice in Archaeology
or ANTH 3838W Theory and Practice in Archaeology
Field and laboratory work
One or two courses (3 or 6 credits) selected from the following:
ANTH 3832Paleoanthropological Field Program
ANTH 3833Field Research: New World
ANTH 3834Field Research: Old World
ANTH 3835Historical Archaeology Field Program
ANTH 3839Lab Research Methods in Archaeology
ANTH 3995Undergraduate Research (With the advisor's approval.) *
ANTH 6806Technology (Qualified juniors and seniors with departmental approval.)
Anthropological archaeology
Four or five courses (12 or 15 credits) selected from the list below. Students must take at least one course marked with an asterisk. A course counted toward this requirement cannot also be counted toward the Ancient Civilizations requirement (below). A total of only one course from (ANTH 2821 or ANTH 2822) or (ANTH 3812 or ANTH 3814) can be counted toward this requirement.
ANTH 2821Myths and Mysteries in Archaeology
ANTH 2822Archaeology in Film and Television
ANTH 3801African Roots from Australopithecus to Zimbabwe
or ANTH 3801W African Roots from Australopithecus to Zimbabwe
ANTH 3802Human Cultural Beginnings
or ANTH 3802W Human Cultural Beginnings
ANTH 3803Old World Prehistory: First Farmers to First Cities
or ANTH 3803W Old World Prehistory: First Farmers to First Cities
ANTH 3805Archaeology of Israel and Neighboring Lands *
or CAH 3106 Art and Archaeology of Israel and Neighboring Lands
ANTH 3806Art and Archaeology of the Aegean Bronze Age *
or CAH 3104 Art and Archaeology of the Aegean Bronze Age
ANTH 3808Archaeology and the Celts *
or CAH 3104 Art and Archaeology of the Aegean Bronze Age
ANTH 3811Historical Archaeology
ANTH 3812The Aztec Empire *
or CAH 3116 Aztec Empire
ANTH 3813Archaeology of North America *
ANTH 3814Ancient Mexican Civilizations *
or CAH 3107 Ancient Mexican Civilizations
ANTH 3823Archaeology of Ritual and Religion
ANTH 3891Special Topics in Archaeology
Ancient civilizations
Five courses (15 credits) selected from the following list, which must include at least one course in each of the categories below. Courses marked with an asterisk can count in only one category.
Art history
CAH 3101Ancient Art of the Bronze Age and Greece
CAH 3102Ancient Art of the Roman Empire
CAH 3103Art and Archaeology of Egypt and the Near East
CAH 3104Art and Archaeology of the Aegean Bronze Age
or ANTH 3806 Art and Archaeology of the Aegean Bronze Age
CAH 3105Topics in Ancient Art and Archaeology
or CLAS 3115 Topics in Ancient Art and Archaeology
CAH 3106Art and Archaeology of Israel and Neighboring Lands
or ANTH 3805 Archaeology of Israel and Neighboring Lands
CAH 3107Ancient Mexican Civilizations
CAH 3117Special Topics in Precolumbian Art and Archaeology
or ANTH 3891 Special Topics in Archaeology
Classics
CLAS 2105Special Topics
CLAS 2106Mythology of the Classical World
CLAS 2107Greek and Roman Drama
CLAS 3114Topics in Ancient Literatures and Cultures
CLAS 3115Topics in Ancient Art and Archaeology *
or CAH 3105 Topics in Ancient Art and Archaeology
History
HIST 2112History of Ancient Greece
or CLAS 2112 History of Ancient Greece
HIST 2113The Roman World to 337 A.D.
or CLAS 2113 The Roman World to 337 A.D.
HIST 2803The Ancient Near East and Egypt to 322 B.C.
or CLAS 2803 The Ancient Near East and Egypt to 322 B.C.
HIST 2804History of Ancient Israel
or CLAS 2804 History of Ancient Israel
HIST 3111Topics in Ancient History
Archaeology of ancient civilizations
ANTH 2821Myths and Mysteries in Archaeology
ANTH 3804Origins of the State and Urban Society
ANTH 3805Archaeology of Israel and Neighboring Lands *
or CAH 3106 Art and Archaeology of Israel and Neighboring Lands
ANTH 3806Art and Archaeology of the Aegean Bronze Age *
or CAH 3104 Art and Archaeology of the Aegean Bronze Age
ANTH 3808Archaeology and the Celts *
or CAH 3116 Aztec Empire
ANTH 3812The Aztec Empire *
ANTH 3813Archaeology of North America *
or CAH 3116 Aztec Empire
ANTH 3814Ancient Mexican Civilizations *
or CAH 3107 Ancient Mexican Civilizations
ANTH 3891Special Topics in Archaeology *
or CAH 3117 Special Topics in Precolumbian Art and Archaeology