In the Classroom
From excavation and survey to artifact analysis and dating methods, archaeology at the College of Charleston focuses on the methods and approaches of uncovering, studying, and interpreting the past.
Taking an interdisciplinary approach, we engage perspectives from all across campus.
Studying Archaeology
-
The Major
Required courses:
- ANTH 202: Introduction to Archaeology
- CLAS 104: Introduction to Classical Archaeology
- GEOL 103: Environmental Geology
Electives. Two courses related to archaeology in each of the three categories of:- Social Sciences
- Humanities and Arts
- Natural/Mathematical/Computational Sciences
Capstone. A field study that applies method, theory, and skills within the context of an active archaeological project. This can take the form of:- Active fieldwork projects organized as field schools conducted by the university.
- An approved internship with agencies/organizations focused upon data collection.
- An approved fieldwork opportunity through another institution.
-
The Minor
Required courses:
- ANTH 202: Introduction to Archaeology
- CLAS 104: Introduction to Classical Archaeology
- GEOL 103: Environmental Geology
- Social Sciences
- Humanities and Arts
- Natural/Mathematical/Computational Sciences
Capstone. A field study that applies method, theory, and skills within the context of an active archaeological project. This can take the form of:- Active fieldwork projects organized as field schools conducted by the university.
- An approved internship with agencies/organizations focused upon data collection.
- An approved fieldwork opportunity through another institution.
Declare your minor in Archaeology! -
Cognate Majors
A cognate major is an academic program you will pursue alongside your major in archaeology. A cognate major complements and enhances your study in archaeology and helps to prepare you for not only your first job, but your long-term career success. The addition of a major in a cognate field equips you to:
- take on additional approaches and skillsets in areas that enable you to pursue advanced studies or further career opportunities,
- substantially engage in synergies with future collaborators, and
- develop depth in an area of study that bears upon a geographical, chronological, or methodological area.
Archaeology majors will choose a cognate major from one of the following fields of study:- Anthropology
- Art History
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Classics
- Data Science
- Environmental Geosciences
- Geology
- Historic Preservation
- HistoryStatistics
Depending on the cognate, courses in these majors can also apply towards requirements of the archaeology major. -
Archaeology and the Liberal Arts
Charleston is redefining the Liberal Arts for the 21st century. The hallmark of the liberal arts is an approach to the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, arts, and mathematics that present the ways in which these fields of study can intersect. The archaeology program hard-wired this approach into its curriculum. This provides a connection between different modes of thought, data, and analysis. Archaeology is a 4-year exploration into how we use these approaches and datasets to develop an understanding of past societies, and how we can leverage that knowledge to understand our own.
-
Archaeology and General Education
Because of its interdisciplinary nature, the Archaeology Program enables you to pursue a major or minor while at the same time making progress towards completing General Education requirements:
- Social Science (6 credit hours): 50% completed (ANTH 202)
- Humanities (12 credit hours): 75% completed (CLAS 104 plus 2 courses from the list of Humanities and Arts electives)
- Natural Science (8 credit hours): 50% completed (GEOL 103)
