 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Resources in Archaeology at Boston University
The Center for Archaeological Studies, which is affiliated with the Department,
sponsors numerous lectures throughout the year and publishes a journal,
Context, to which faculty and students frequently contribute. The University's
Center for Remote Sensing works jointly with the Archaeology Department
on many projects using high-technology methods for archaeological investigation.
The administrative offices of the Archaeological Institute of America,
and the American Schools of Oriental Research sponsor centers and projects
all over the world, the International Center for East Asian Archaeology,
sponsor centers and projects in East Asia, Central Asia, and Southeast
Asia. The centers are located on campus. A wide variety of professional
journals and publications, including Geoarchaeology, the Journal of
Field
Archaeology, and the Journal of East Asian Archaeology, are edited by
members of the Faculty. A major asset of our program is the city of
Boston
itself. With its many museums of art, science, anthropology, and other
specialties; its many major and specialized libraries, and with its
vast
wealth of historical sites and landmarks, the city and its environs expose
students to sophisticated and exciting work in many fields. Various
consortia
make it possible for students to take advantage of the collective resources
of numerous institutions of higher learning in the metropolitan area.
The Boston University Archaeology Club (BUAC), is organized by undergraduate concentrators and offers many opportunities for students to socialize, meet visiting scholars, and learn about fieldwork opportunities. The club has regular meetings and is open to all students.
Career Opportunities
An undergraduate degree in archaeology is preparation for continued study
or professional development in almost any field. If you are interested
in a career in archaeology itself, either in research, higher education,
museum work, or cultural resource management, you will need an advanced
degree. Your undergraduate degree from Boston University will put you
in a competitive position to continue in the field. If you decide to pursue
another career, the broad range of studies you will cover as an undergraduate
represents excellent preparation for a career in law, business, medicine,
education, or most other professions. Archaeology fascinates almost everyone,
but only a few individuals are trained in it. Archaeologists attract considerable
interest from employers in areas like publishing, government service,
management, and foreign service who are looking for diversity in skills
and breadth of knowledge in their employees. Your strength will lie in
your broad training in the liberal arts.
The Structure Requirements of the Undergraduate
Program
An undergraduate major in archaeology requires study in a broad
set of disciplines. Aside from the required curriculum in liberal arts
and courses in the Department of Archaeology, students are encouraged
to have a minor in a related field and must take courses in cultural anthropology,
languages, and laboratory sciences.
Within the Department, only three specific courses are required for the major: AR 101 Introduction to Archaeology, AR 307 Archaeological Science, AR 450 Methods and Theory of Archaeology. Other archaeology courses fall into three categories: one topical course, which deal with general problems such as the origins of agriculture or the rise of civilization; two technical courses, which provide training in specific archaeological methods and technologies such as remote sensing or geoarchaeology; and three area courses, which are devoted to specific cultures and regions. As a minimum, Archaeology majors must take one topical, one technical, and three area courses. They may elect to take all of the area courses in one particular field, such as Mesoamerican archaeology or Classical archaeology, or they may take them in diverse areas.
Before graduation students are expected to learn excavation techniques first-hand by participating in a field school. This may be done either by joining one of the projects conducted by the Department itself, or by taking a field school that meets the Department's standards through another institution. Majors exercising the latter option must obtain approval from their advisor in the Department of Archaeology prior to participating in the expedition they have selected at another institution.
In addition, Archaeology majors must take two courses in cultural anthropology
and fulfill their science requirement in the College of Arts and Sciences.
A statistics course, either CAS MA115 or MA213, also is required.
Minor Concentration in Archaeology
Students with concentrations in other programs may earn a minor concentration
in archaeology by completing the following courses with a grade of C
or
better: CAS AR 101, 307; and four other CAS AR courses at the 200 level
or above, one of which must be at the 400-500 level.
