2019-20 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Apr 19, 2024  
2019-20 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Archaeology: Concentration in Americas Archaeology [ARC_AARC] or World Archaeology [ARC_WARC]


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The Sociology/Anthropology Department  offers the major in Archaeology which is the discipline within anthropology that studies prehistoric and historic societies in worldwide contexts. The archaeological discipline offers a balance between the scientific investigation and culture-based understanding of past societies through their material remains and their environmental settings.

Archaeology majors may choose between the Americas or World Archaeology concentrations, both of which are seated solidly in an anthropological archaeology paradigm, in which students gain a firm cultural anthropological basis for exploring ancestral and prehistoric cultures of these geographical regions. Students also acquire basic knowledge of the scientific and laboratory-based methods employed in the discipline.

There is also a minor in archaeology which is particularly suitable for those interested in the teaching professions who must be prepared to teach about global cultures both past and present.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Understand the principles and areas of work in the five sub-disciplines within the anthropological discipline:
    • Physical/Biological Anthropology: demonstrate an understanding of the process of human, i.e., bio cultural, evolution and the major events associated with these processes both past and present.
    • Archaeology: demonstrate a basic understanding of how human behavior is gleaned from archaeological sites and their contexts and how human heritage contributes valuable information about people of the past to present-day audiences.
    • Sociocultural Anthropology: demonstrate an understanding of cultural relativism, the dangers of ethnocentrism, and the basic tenets of the process of carrying out field research with present-day cultures.
    • Linguistic Anthropology: acquire a basic understanding of human communication systems and how they function in the larger cultural milieu.
    • Applied Anthropology: Understand the philosophies behind the rise of this most recent field and the basic tenets of how the application of anthropological training can intersect with, and may offer constructive suggestions for, present-day cultures in trouble.
  2. Understand the process of "doing fieldwork," i.e., methodologically, and/or carry out one's research agenda in any of the five sub-disciplines.
  3. Acquire a thorough knowledge of the major anthropological and archaeological theoretical frameworks within the discipline as utilized in the past and present.
  4. Understand the fundamental processes involved in addressing a research topic or building a hypothesis as the basis for proceeding with anthropological fieldwork (in any subfield).
  5. Demonstrate the ability to communicate their own ideas, and the ideas of others, clearly and effectively in writing.

Career Potential

  • Teaching (all levels at elementary and secondary schools)
  • State and Federal advisory positions (e.g. Environmental Protection Agency)
  • Cultural Resource/Land Management/Environmental Agencies
  • National and State Park Service
  • Public Archaeology Facilities
  • UNESCO World Heritage Centre
  • College Professor
  • Museum Curator
  • Laboratory (archaeobotanical/archaeozoological/archaeometric) consultant/technician

A. Required Americas Archaeology Core - six credit hours


B. Culture Area Courses - six credit hours


Select two courses from the following:

C. Field Courses - three credit hours


Select one course from the following:

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 124


A. Required World Archaeology Core - six credit hours


B. Culture Area Courses - six credit hours


Select two courses from the following:

C. Field Courses - three credit hours


Select one course from the following:

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 124


Example of the B.A. in Americas Archaeology over Four Years


 Link to General Education (GE ); Link to Foreign Language  

First Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 16-17


First Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 15-16


Second Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Second Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Third Year Fall


Archaeology culture area course (3 cr. hr.)
Archaeology elective (3 cr. hr.)
GE course (3 cr. hr.)
GE course (3 cr. hr.)
Elective (3 cr. hr.)
Presentation skills (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester: 18


Third Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Fourth Year Fall


Archaeology elective (3 cr. hr.)
Anthropology fieldwork/lab course (3 cr. hr.)
Elective (3 cr. hr.)
Elective (3 cr. hr.)
Elective (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester: 15


Fourth Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Example of the B.A. in World Archaeology over Four Years


First Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 16-17


First Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 15-16


Second Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Second Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Third Year Fall


Archaeology Culture area course (3 cr. hr.)
Archaeology elective course (3 cr. hr.)
GE course (3 cr. hr.)
GE course (3 cr. hr.)
Elective course (3 cr. hr.)
Presentation Skills course (3 cr. hr.)
 

Total credit hours for semester: 18


Third Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Fourth Year Fall


Archaeology elective course (3 cr. hr.)
Anthropology fieldwork/lab course (3 cr. hr.)
Elective course (3 cr. hr.)
Elective course (3 cr. hr.)
Elective course (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester: 15


Fourth Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 15


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