Archaeology - Undergraduate Minor
The Undergraduate Minor in Archaeology is an interdisciplinary program through which students develop a deeper understanding of global culture change and the long-term anthropogenic impacts to our planet. Archaeologists use the material evidence of landscapes, sites, and artifacts to reconstruct past lifeways and interpret human behavioral variation and cultural change. They apply their knowledge to promote stewardship of cultural resources and respect for diverse pasts. The minor offers students the opportunity to acquire training in archaeology through experiential learning of field data collection techniques, laboratory analysis of archaeological materials, and cross disciplinary skills needed for careers in cultural resource management (CRM), historic preservation, and heritage conservation.
The minor requires 18 credit hours, distributed as follows.
- At least 12 credits must be earned in upper division (300+) courses.
- At least one course and no more than two courses (6 credits) must be earned in a field other than Anthropology.
- In addition to the required core class, students must earn at least 6 credits in Archaeology Area Studies and at least 6 credits in Archaeology Field/Lab Methods.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 18 | |
| Introduction to Archaeology (required Archaeological Method & Theory course) | 3 | |
| Select 6-9 credits in Archaeology Area Studies from the following: | ||
| World Archaeology | 3 | |
| Archaeology: Search for the Past | 3 | |
| The Ancient Maya | 3 | |
| Ancient Mexico | 3 | |
| Historical Archaeology | 3 | |
| Archaeology of Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion | 3 | |
| Cultural Resource Management I | 3 | |
| Archaeology of Ancient Southwest | 3 | |
| Greek Civilization: From Helen of Troy to Alexander the Great | 3 | |
| Roman Civilization | 3 | |
| Select 6-9 credits in Archaeology Field/Lab Methods from the following: | ||
| Archaelogical Field School | 6 | |
or ANTH 488 | Advanced Archaeological Field School | |
| Archaeological Mapping | 3 | |
| Pottery Analysis in Archaeology | 3 | |
| Lithic Technology Organization | 3 | |
| Lab Methods in Archaeology | 3 | |
| Curation Crisis in Archaeology | 3 | |
| Human Osteology | 3 | |
| Zooarchaeology | 3 | |
| Geomorphology | 3 | |
| Cartography and GIS | 4 | |
| Physical Geology | 0,4 | |
| Introduction to Rocks and Minerals (pre/co-requisite GEOL 1110G) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Notes:
- Students who earn a B.A. in Anthropology may also earn a minor in Archaeology.
- Students earning the minor must pass 18 credits with grades of C- or higher.
- Students may count S grades only in courses in which all grades are S/U.
- Alternate courses may be substituted with approval of the Anthropology Department Head.
- Students who wish to work professionally in archaeology are encouraged to take an archaeological field school, as this training is required by most employers. The NMSU summer field school (ANTH 388/488), like most field training programs, requires student to apply for admission. Applications are typically due in mid-March. Information is available on our field school website: https://anthropology.nmsu.edu/projects/field-school.html.