BA in Archaeological & Environmental Sciences/MA in Archaeology

Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Programs are linked bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in which the two degrees are conferred sequentially. This Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Program allows students to apply a maximum of 8 units from their undergraduate degree toward the associated master’s degree. The units applied toward the master’s degree must be at the 500 level or above.

Students must apply to Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Programs before the conferral of the bachelor’s degree. Typically, students apply to the BA in Archaeological & Environmental Sciences/MA in Archaeology Program in their second or third year of undergraduate study. Students in the BA in Archaeological & Environmental Sciences/MA in Archaeology Program must complete at least 24 units while enrolled as a graduate student. Students should consult with the Financial Assistance office to learn how entrance into the Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Program might impact their financial aid.

The major in Archaeological & Environmental Sciences engages students in the study of scientific approaches that illuminate human interaction with environments in the past. By integrating perspectives and methods from both the natural and social sciences, students gain a well-rounded understanding of the deep history of human modifications of the environment and a deep-time perspective on sustainability. A capstone seminar and research opportunities with faculty from both the Archaeology Program and Department of Earth & Environment allow students majoring in Archaeological & Environmental Sciences to apply their knowledge to real-world problems of the present day, preparing them for graduate study (for example, in environmental archaeology, archaeological sciences, environmental or sustainability studies, or paleoenvironmental sciences) or professional employment (in environmental or archaeological consulting, laboratory work, nonprofit organizations, or with local, state, and federal agencies).

Combining this degree with an MA in Archaeology allows students to apply their considerable scientific expertise to an area and period of their choice, which is investigated in detail through a master’s project. MA coursework includes advanced training in archaeological ethics and practice, preparing students for a variety of careers in public service, management of archaeological resources, consulting, and research.

Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a major in Archaeological & Environmental Sciences are able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental concepts and specific topics in biological, environmental, earth, and climate sciences that inform the study of past environments on Earth and human interactions with them.
• Understand the application, and limits, of problem‐solving tools from the earth and environmental sciences to represent, organize, and assess information.
• Appropriately and ethically apply methods of archaeological analysis to material remains common to archaeological datasets.
• Identify and quantitatively analyze data in order to critically evaluate scientific arguments related to the study of human interactions with environmental systems.
• Incorporate core knowledge of both archaeological and environmental science methods and theory to synthesize scientific data to solve complex problems and evaluate contemporary debates concerning the understanding of the human role in environmental change, past and present.
• Communicate these understandings clearly and persuasively, orally, in writing, and through digital means of data presentation and storytelling.

Students graduating with an MA in Archaeology will also be able to:

• Synthesize and apply core knowledge pertaining to archaeological research topics, methods, theory, and ethical practices to their own research or professional practice.

Requirements

Students must complete all the requirements of the BA in Archaeological & Environmental Sciences and an additional 24 units of graduate work in archaeology, or in related disciplines with permission of their advisors. A total of 152 units is required. The specific graduate-level course requirements beyond requirements for the BA in Archaeological & Environmental Sciences are:

• CAS AR 591 Theory in Archaeology (4 units)
• CAS AR 592 Archaeological Ethics and the Law (4 units)
• CAS AR 594 Scientific Methods in Archaeology (4 units)
• CAS AR 595 Professional Futures in Archaeology (4 units)
• 4 units of field or laboratory research, or external internship (options include CAS AR 503, CAS AR 556, CAS AR 901–908, CAS AR 910, and CAS AR 911)
• An additional 12 units of graduate-level coursework chosen in consultation with a student’s advisor

Master’s Project

The master’s project will consist of a substantial piece of research and writing. There is no single required standard for format and style; both will depend on the nature of the project. Students must work with their Advisory Committee to craft a project prospectus. An initial prospectus must be included in the student’s program of study. The final prospectus must be approved by the Advisory Committee and submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies for review by the Graduate Studies Committee by the eighth week of the student’s eighth term of study. The final version of the master’s project must be approved by the Advisory Committee no later than week 13 of the term in which the student intends to graduate, and such approval must be indicated to the Director of Graduate Studies at that time in order for the student to receive the MA.

Advisory Committee and Program of Study

Upon entry into the Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Program, all students must form an Advisory Committee, which shall comprise two members: one from the Archaeology faculty and one from the faculty of either Archaeology or Earth & Environment. The student is responsible for submitting the names of their Advisory Committee members to the Director of Graduate Studies; one of these members should be named as the student’s advisor of record.

This program may be changed, subject to approval of the student’s Advisory Committee and the Director of Graduate Studies. All such modifications must be finalized in writing to ensure that no misunderstandings arise.

In planning their program of study, students and their advisors should be attentive to upcoming faculty leaves and projected course scheduling (e.g., noting that not all survey courses are offered every year). Students are responsible for maintaining regular contact and communication with their advisors. Every spring, the full faculty will meet to review and evaluate graduate student progress. A student’s continuation in the program is contingent upon satisfactory progress.

Application Information

For general Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Program information for prospective students and application instructions, please refer to BA/MA and BA/MS Programs section of this Bulletin. Applications must be received by April 1 of the junior year. If the application does not meet the deadline, a Request for Waiver of Application Deadline must be completed and signed by the department chair and submitted with an application. The applicant must include their BU transcript, two faculty recommendation letters, a writing sample (10 pages, usually drawn from previous coursework), a plan of study, and a personal statement describing the applicant’s interest in the program. Applicants ordinarily must meet a GPA requirement of at least 3.0 overall and 3.3 in the major at time of application.