Archaeology is the "cultural anthropology" of the human past. It uses scientific field work and laboratory techniques to investigate past human societies and the processes and effects of cultural evolution through the study of material remains. Archaeology also has its practical applications. For example: Archaeologists reconstructed ancient techniques used to grow fruit trees and other crops in the Negev Desert. Modern farmers successfully applied these ancient farming techniques to make the desert productive again for the first time in two-thousand years.
The Anthropology Department has a small, but growing program in archaeology. Our program is active in regional prehistoric and historic archaeology. Both undergraduate and graduate students' participation in fieldwork is encouraged, and necessary if one is to enter the field professionally. Unlike some professions, archaeology can be entered on some levels with a B.A. degree, although M.A. and Ph.D. work offer greater opportunities.
Mid-Program Checkpoint
Students seeking to complete a BA degree in anthropology with an archaeology concentration within a four-year time span should have completed the following courses by the start of their junior year. Major omissions from this list will make it difficult or impossible to complete this degree within two additional years.
ANTH 201, 210, 215 and prerequisites for supporting courses in sciences.
NEW! Students are only eligible to declare an anthropology major if they have successfully completed any one of the following core courses: Anth 301, 303, 335.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
Archaeology Concentration (80 credits)
This concentration is intended for students who plan to do professional work or enroll in a graduate program in archaeology.
Anthropology requirements as follows:
Cultural Core Component
Anth 201
Anth 210
Anth 215
Anth 247 (Ling 201 or 204, Eng 370 may be substituted for an anthropological linguistics course)
Anth 301
Anth 335 or another basic statistics course under departmental advisement
Anth 312 or equivalent field experience recommended
Two from the following courses: Anth 308, 310, 314
Two from the following courses: Anth 406, 410, 411, 428
Two from the following courses: Anth 420, 422, 470
Elective credits in anthropology.
Supporting Courses
12 credits of supporting courses in the sciences, mathematics or history selected under advisement. Strongly recommended courses include: Geol 310, 316, 413, 415, 442 or 447; Egeo 330, 351, 352, 432, 433 or 452.
Only one 100-level course will count toward major, minor or archaeology concentration.
Check back in January to learn more about WWU's Archaeology Field School. The 2009 session will be located at Woodstock along the beautiful shores of Bellingham Bay.
“Anthropology is the only discipline that can access evidence about the entire human experience on this planet.”
