College Life
College Life
Private Schools That Are Well Known for This Major
State Schools That Are Well Known for This Major
- Stony Brook University
- University of Michigan—Ann Arbor
- University of California—Los Angeles (UCLA)
- University of Wisconsin—Madison
Classes in the Major
Archaeological Field Methods. This is where you get your hands dirty, or at least learn about the right way to get your hands dirty. You'll learn the different techniques for analyzing artifacts, how to use the specialized tools of the trade, and all the proper methods for collecting data. You'll also likely do lots of group work, go on field trips, and spend time in labs, crunching numbers and using fancy microscopey-thingies (actual technical term). To tell how old an artifact is, you can't just cut it open and count its rings. That really only works for one or two things. For everything else, there's a structured, highly calculated process—the kind you'll learn in this class.
History. Unless you're Bradley Cooper's character in Limitless, you're not going to know everything about human history. When you find yourself staring at ancient Roman ruins, it comes in handy to know a little about how the Romans lived. And if you're digging in a tomb, it might help to be well-versed in Egyptology —especially if you come across a cursed mummy who can literally suck the life out of you. History helps you connect the dots and draw your own conclusions as you compile data and create theories about your discoveries. You'll likely take classes about broader historical periods, such as antiquity or the Renaissance, and then choose more specialized regions, cultures, and periods to focus your attention. You could take courses that prepare you to participate in Civil War battle reenactments or critique the authenticity of Geisha dancing.
Art History. You can learn a lot about people through their art. By checking out Gothic architecture or impressionistic paintings, you can figure out what was going on during that time period. It's also kind of purdy. If you want to study ancient Greek archaeology, for example, learning about Greek mythology, architecture, and sculptures will help with that. So the next time you're at the Pantheon, you won't just be like, "Wow, that's a lot of broken pillars." Instead, you can tell your travel group a thing or two about what it originally looked like, who built it, and what it was used for. Impressive.
Religious Studies. So apparently, religion played a big part in shaping human history. Who knew? Pretty much every culture ever has been affected by organized religion, for better or for worse. We're talking about Islam, the countless sects of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism, to name a few. Since religion has played such a major role in human civilization, it's influenced stuff like art, architecture, customs, food, language, and even wars. Since there are so many political ties to religion, so many sects, and such a complex history, it's likely that you'll only skim the surface of each faction. It's your job to learn as much as you can so that one day during an excavation, your ignorance doesn't result in the accidental desecration of something holy. Fingers crossed.
Anthropology. Anthropology is a closely related to archaeology, and as a result, the two fields are often rounded up in the same category of study. Anthropology is the study of humans and culture, both social and biological. Like archaeologists, anthropologists attempt to unravel our mysterious past, how we got here, and why we do the things we do. Archaeology is more of a specialized field within anthropology, specifically using tangible remains to answer the same burning questions. The anthropology classes you take will turn you into a sharp, observant, and insightful archaeologist. Chances are good that a lot of anthropology and archaeology classes will overlap, so make sure you form good relationships with your professors; you will likely be seeing them again, and again, and again…and again.