Courses

• CAS AR 491: Directed Study in Archaeology
  Individual instruction and directed research in archaeology.
• CAS AR 492: Directed Study in Archaeology
  Individual instruction and directed research in archaeology.
• CAS AR 504: Preserving World Heritage: Principles and Practice
  Examines fundamental issues in preservation and management of World Heritage sites. Topics include implementation of UNESCO's Conventions, Recommendations, and Charters; selection and evaluation of cultural properties for inscription as World Heritage sites; and their protection from natural and human threats.
• CAS AR 505: Remote Sensing and Archaeology
  Lecture/laboratory course introducing students to applications of remote sensing in archaeology. Students learn a variety of geophysical survey methods as well as multispectral image analysis. Topics include the use of remotely sensed data for regional analysis, the discovery and mapping of buried archaeological features, and computer analysis of multispectral data.
• CAS AR 506: Regional Archaeology and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
  Use of advanced computer (GIS) techniques to address regional archaeological problems.This applied course examines digital encoding and manipulation of archaeological and environmental data, and methods for testing hypotheses, analyzing, and modeling the archaeological record.
• CAS AR 509: Geoarchaeology
  Lecture/laboratory course illustrating the use of geological concepts and methods in the study of archaeological problems. Topics include: stratigraphy and stratigraphic principles, geological environments and earth-surface processes, anthropogenic sediments, archaeological materials and their analysis, and the formation of archaeological sites. Field trips in the Boston area.
• CAS AR 512: Laboratory and Field Methods in Geoarchaeology
  Introduction to laboratory and field methods used in geoarchaeology, including description of field profiles and settings; map (topographic, geological, soil survey) and aerial photo interpretation; laboratory analytical techniques, such as soil micromorphology, x-ray diffraction, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry.
• CAS AR 515: Micromorphology of Terrestrial Sediments
  The micromorphological examination and interpretation of soils, sediments, and archaeological and anthropogenic materials features (e.g., ceramics, bricks, hearths), with focus on the processes of landscape evolution and the mechanisms of archaeological site formation.
• CAS AR 534: Seminar in Roman Art
  In-depth examination of varying topics in the study of Roman art and architecture. Topics vary annually. Topic for Spring 2011: Pompeii. Also offered as CAS AH 534
• CAS AR 551: Studies in Mesoamerican Archaeology
  Analysis of major events and processes of the Mesoamerican area. Topics include rise of towns, temples, and urbanism; the origin of state; and the development of empires. Taught in Belize.
• CAS AR 570: Studies in Historical Archaeology
  Topics vary. Intensive coverage of particular aspects of historical archaeology as selected by instructor. (Course fulfills department area or technical requirement.)
• CAS AR 580: Studies in Archaeological Heritage Management
  Examination of public uses of archaeological collections and technical issues of archaeological curation. Topics vary.
• CAS AR 590: Life Is a Bowl: Ceramic Studies in Archaeology
  Before plastic, there was pottery -- pots and pans, cups and dishes, crocks and jars -- in every culture and in abundance. Research seminar studies pottery across time and space to elucidate personal habits as well as social, economic, and political developments.
• CAS AR 593: Memory in 3-D: Memorials, Then and Now
  Societies craft their histories and identities via memorials, thereby firming up the past for the future. In this course, we analyze the historical context, form, and message of important memorials in classical antiquity and modern America.
• CAS AS 100: Cosmic Controversies
  From surprise over the need to invoke Dark Matter and Dark Energy, to confusion about Pluto's being reclassified as a non-planet, this course explores how scientists explain our place in the physical universe, by focusing on some of the most current issues in modern astronomy. Topics range from the solar system, to extraterrestrial life, to the fabric of the entire universe. Carries natural science divisional credit (without lab) in CAS.
• CAS AS 101: The Solar System
  The historical development of astronomy and the motion of the planets. The formation of the solar system. The sun and its effects on the earth. Description of the planets and the moons of our solar system including recent results from the space program. Use of the observatory. Cannot be taken for credit in addition to CAS AS 105. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
• CAS AS 102: The Astronomical Universe
  The birth and death of stars. Red giants, white dwarfs, black holes. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, and other galaxies. The Big Bang and other cosmological theories of our expanding universe. Use of the observatory. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
• CAS AS 105: Alien Worlds
  Examination of worlds within and outside our solar system. History of NASA and other space exploration programs. Discovery and properties of hundreds of planets around other stars. Possibility of life on other worlds. Students use telescopes to observe our solar system. Cannot be taken for credit in addition to CAS AS 101. Carries natural science divisional credit (without lab) in CAS.
• CAS AS 109: Cosmology
  The evolution of cosmological thought from prehistory to the present: Greek astronomy, Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, and Einstein. Motion, gravity, and the nature of space-time. The expanding universe. The early universe and Big Bang. Carries natural science divisional credit (without lab) in CAS.
• CAS AS 117: Cosmic Evolution
  Physical and chemical evolution of the universe from its origin to the present, from simple to complex. Stellar evolution. Planetary formation and evolution. Origin of life. The rise of civilization and technology. The future of humankind. Search for extraterrestrial life. Carries natural science divisional credit (without lab) in CAS.

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