Introduction
Students pursuing Archaeology at Dickinson learn foundational methods and theory, gain essential laboratory skills, and achieve practical experience by participating in summer excavations, laboratory research, and internships. Students learn and do research in three fully equipped laboratories. The Keck archaeology laboratory includes a full-scale training excavation and workstations for digitization, imaging, and the use of spatial technologies like Geographic Information Systems. The Dickinson Environmental Archaeology Laboratory (DEAL) includes microscopes with digital imaging capabilities and the facilities to analyze archaeological plant remains. In the Keck biological anthropology laboratory, students learn paleoanthropology through hominin fossil casts, human skeletal identification and analysis, and other biological, forensic, bioarchaeology, and other anthropology methods. All students complete a practical experience requirement outside of the regular class offerings. Opportunities for field and laboratory research with department faculty exist in the Mediterranean and South America. Outside programs for fieldwork, laboratory work, archival work, and museum experience are also available.
Potential majors and advisors of first-year students should note that the study of Archeology at Dickinson includes many interdisciplinary opportunities. Students can earn credit toward the Archaeology major through coursework in the programs of Anthropology, Art and Art History, Classical Studies, and Geosciences. Many students in Archeology also choose to pursue additional majors in these and other fields.
Courses appropriate for prospective majors
Students intending to major in Archaeology should take ARCH 110, Archaeology and World Prehistory, in the first year (usually offered Spring semester), ARCH 120, Greek Art and Archaeology, or ARCH 130, Roman Art and Archaeology, ANTH 100, Introduction to Biological Anthropology (usually offered Fall semester), and/or an Archaeology elective at the 100 or 200 level (examples listed below, offered Fall and Spring).
Students may explore their interest in Archaeology by selecting any of the 100- or 200-level courses, which may be taken as the "first course" in the field. In the 200-level courses, students can expect greater depth and analysis of topics through reading, writing, and discussion.
ANTH 100, Introduction to Biological Anthropology
ARCH 110, Archaeology and World Prehistory
ARCH 120, Greek Art and Archeology
ARCH 130, Roman Art and Archaeology
ARCH 200, Current Topics in Archaeology
ARCH 210, Epics and Empires: Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean Bronze Age
ARCH 260, Environmental Archaeology
ARCH 261, North American Archaeology
ARCH 262, South American Archaeology
For course descriptions and requirements for the major, refer to the Academic Bulletin: Archaeology. Additional course descriptions are available at Anthropology or Classical Studies.
Courses that fulfill distribution requirements
Arts (Division I):
ARCH 120, Greek Art and Archaeology
ARCH 130, Roman Art and Archaeology
ARCH 210, Epics and Empires: Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean Bronze Age
Social Sciences (Division II):
ARCH 110, Archaeology and World Prehistory
ARCH 260, Environmental Archaeology
ARCH 261, North American Archaeology
ARCH 262, South American Archaeology
Lab Science (Division III):
ANTH 100, Introduction to Biological Anthropology
Global Diversity:
ARCH 110, Archaeology and World Prehistory
ARCH 260, Environmental Archaeology
ARCH 262, South American Archeology
US Diversity
ARCH 261, North American Archaeology
Sustainability
ARCH 110, Archaeology and World Prehistory
ARCH 260, Environmental Archaeology
ARCH 261, North American Archaeology
ARCH 262, South American Archaeology
Suggested curricular flow through the major
The Archaeology major consists of courses at four levels.
- Courses at the 100 level introduce students to archaeology’s breadth and depth, forming a foundation for courses at higher levels. Majors take three 100-level courses (ARCH 110, Archaeology and World Prehistory, ARCH 120, Greek Art and Archaeology, or ARCH 130, Roman Art and Archaeology, and ANTH 100, Introduction to Biological Anthropology).
- At the 200-level, students take Archaeological Methods (ANTH 290) and at least one other “Methods in Archaeology” course, introducing research methods, and they choose electives from the breadth of the field. These elective courses provide extensive examination of parts of the world and/or archaeological topics. Examples include Epics and Empires: Art and Archaeology in the Mediterranean Bronze Age (ARCH 210), Environmental Archaeology (ARCH 260), and Archaeology of South America (ARCH 262).
- For the 300 level, students take at least two courses, all of which emphasize theory an interpretation within specific themes. These 300-level seminars focus on topics that students explore more intensively than in lower-level courses, and students learn about theories involved in these topics. Recent 300-level courses include Archaeology of Food; Ancient Pasts, Modern Politics; Archaeological Theory and Interpretation; and Life in the Anthropocene, usually offered as Advanced Topics in Archaeology (ARCH 345) or Advanced Topics in Anthropology (ANTH 345).
- At the 400 level, students apply lessons from lower levels to their own engagement with archaeology. In the required Senior Colloquium (ARCH 400, Fall semester, senior year), students design and carry out research leading to a senior thesis. If a student is eligible for and wishes to pursue departmental honors, they register for ARCH 495, Senior Thesis (Spring semester, senior year), where they work directly with a thesis advisor.
Each student majoring in Archaeology completes a practical experience for credit, usually during the summer months. We recommend that students consider such possible experiences early, ideally completing one by the summer of their sophomore year, to gain valuable experiences that may shape their trajectory in the major.
Students do not necessarily need to take courses for the major in a specific sequence, although course content and expectations build with the course level, and some courses have prerequisites. Students can tailor their course selections in discussions with a faculty member in the department. Here is a suggested flow through the Archaeology major:
First Year
ARCH 110, Archaeology and World Prehistory (usually offered in the Spring)
ARCH 120, Greek Art and Archaeology
ARCH 130, Roman Art and Archaeology
ANTH 100, Introduction to Biological Anthropology (usually offered in the Fall)
We recommend taking ANTH 100 in the first year due to enrollment pressures in the course
We recommend taking at least two 100-level courses in the first year
Consider taking a 200-level elective
Sophomore Year
Complete 100-level coursework
Take ARCH 290, Archaeological Methods
Take a 200-level course designated as “Methods in Archaeology”
Take ARCH general electives at the 200-level
A student planning to study abroad for a full year should take a “Methods in Archaeology” course and at least one 300-level course this year.
Practical Experience. Consider completing the practical experience for the major, if not already completed.
Junior Year
ARCH general electives at the 200-level
A 200-level “Methods in Archaeology” course, if not already taken
ARCH 300-level electives
Study Abroad—full year or semester; a student should speak with their advisor about possible Anthropology electives abroad
Practical Experience. Consider completing a practical experience, either for additional experience or for the major requirement if not already completed.
Senior Year
ARCH 400, Senior Colloquium (Fall semester only)
Finish any remaining ARCH requirements or electives
If pursuing Departmental Honors, ARCH 495 (Spring semester only)
Other pathways through the major are possible. Find course descriptions and additional information in the Academic Bulletin: Archaeology.
Many students who major in Archaeology also study abroad and successfully complete a second major, a minor, and/or a certificate, and some students complete two additional majors.
Honors
Eligibility for honors candidacy requires a minimum overall GPA of 3.7. A student wishing to pursue honors in the major must submit a proposal—two pages, approximately 500–650 words—to the department chair by week five of the Fall semester of their senior year. The proposal must include the research questions and problem, methods the student plans to use, and the evidence and analysis that will substantively differentiate the honors research from the student’s senior project for ARCH 400. Department faculty will review the proposal with three possible outcomes: approval to honors candidacy; request for a revised proposal to be considered for honors candidacy; or rejection of the proposal. Students approved to pursue honors will register for ARCH 495 in the Spring semester. A determination by the department faculty that the senior thesis work from ARCH 400 and ARCH 495 is "exceptional" is the primary basis for awarding honors to graduating seniors at the end of the spring semester. The faculty will also consider the student’s successes in the major during their time at Dickinson.
We strongly recommend that a student interested in pursuing honors consult with their advisor during their junior year to consider possible projects. Some of the strongest honors projects emerge from field or laboratory work initiated in prior coursework, study abroad, or field experiences.
Independent study and independent research
Independent studies are available. Any independent study must involve an interdisciplinary research topic in Archaeology. No more than two independent studies may be counted toward the major. Topic proposal and program of work must be approved by the instructor.
Independent research leading to Honors in the Major or student/faculty collaborative research may be undertaken with one of the contributing departments.
Co-curricular activities/programs
Archaeology Club
The Archaeology Club meets weekly to discuss topics in archaeology and to plan activities related to archaeology. Past activities have included campus events for International Archaeology Day (mock excavations and artifact analysis), flint knapping and atlatl experiments, cooking ancient recipes, ceramic workshops, movie nights, and visits to museum exhibits in nearby cities (Philadelphia, Washington DC, etc.) Washington DC, etc.)
Anthropology and Archaeology Majors Committee
Majors can join the Majors Committee, which is a student organizing arm of the department. Students on the majors committee help interview job candidates; contribute to discussions about the department and the majors; contribute to faculty reviews; and organize special programming, activities, and events with the department. Students who join the majors committee tend to care about the department and their experiences at Dickinson and want to help make these experiences and the department even better.
Human Cultures House
The department helps to support a Special Interest House for Anthropology and Archaeology Majors. Students living in the house study together and bring classroom and campus discussions about human cultures to their living spaces. The house also hosts BBQs and events with students and faculty.
Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) Lectures
麻豆区 hosts one or two AIA lectures each year. The lectures are given by distinguished archaeologists working around the world on a variety of major topics in the field. In addition to attending the lectures, students often have an opportunity to meet the speaker during an informal gathering. Students learn about the guests' research and teaching and can ask questions about opportunities for research and practical experience.
Opportunities for off-campus study
Field experience in archaeology is an important component of the Archaeology major/minor. We encourage participation in summer archaeological field schools, museum internships, and other hands-on research opportunities. The Field/Lab Requirement ensures that all Archaeology majors have an opportunity to experience archaeological field work, laboratory research, or museum work first-hand, domestically or abroad. This may come through field work/study abroad programs carried out by Dickinson faculty, or by approved opportunities through other institutions. Information about and approval of eligible field schools should be sought through the student’s advisor.
Ancient & Modern Foreign Languages
At least two semesters of Latin or ancient Greek are required for those choosing the Classical Art and Archaeology area emphasis. Recommended modern foreign languages include any of the following: Spanish, German, French, Modern Greek, or Italian. Four semester courses of a recommended ancient or modern foreign language may be counted collectively as one (maximum allowed) of the four elective courses toward the Archaeology Major.
Additional Remarks
Experiential learning opportunities: Students may have excavation, laboratory, or other research opportunities with Dickinson faculty during the academic year and/or summer. Opportunities could include work on archaeological sites, laboratory work with archaeobotanical materials, artifacts, or data from archaeological projects, and work with archival materials. Students should discuss experiential learning opportunities with their advisor and prepare for these opportunities by taking recommended courses. Students may also pursue non-Dickinson archaeological field schools, laboratory opportunities, internships, and museum experiences after consultation with their advisor and approval from the department.