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.

Program Standard Grade Point Average Requirement

The major GPA is calculated by all courses identified in the college catalog as required for the major. In addition, this program has an established program standard GPA which may be used to determine progress in the program.

• Program Standard GPA
  • Minimum GPA of 2.0 in any ANT course
• Archeology Major Requirements
  • 36 credits in any ANT course

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