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 public and private cultural resource management, historic preservation, and heritage conservation. NMSU occupies a strategic position as a land grant institution in a multi-cultural regional setting, combined with its geographic location on a binational border. Students in different programs can use the minor in archaeology to enhance their undergraduate degrees and prepare themselves professionally to seek careers and graduate degrees in archaeology, public lands management, environmental sciences, public history, geography, or teaching.

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.
  • At least three credits must be earned in each division – required, area studies, field methods, and laboratory methods.
Prefix Title Credits
Required Courses18
Introduction to Archaeology (required Archaeological Method & Theory course)3
Select a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 credits in Area Studies in Archaeology from the following:
World Archaeology3
Physical Geology4
Archaeology: Search for the Past3
The Ancient Maya3
Ancient Mexico3
Archaeology of the American Southwest3
Historical Archaeology3
The Archaeology of Religion3
Greek Civilization: From Helen of Troy to Alexander the Great3
Roman Civilization3
Select a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 credits in Field Methods from the following:
Archaeological Mapping3
Intermediate Archaelogical Field School6
Archaeological Field School Advanced
Geomorphology3
Select a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 9 credits in Laboratory Methods and Analysis from the following:
Pottery Analysis in Archaeology3
Lithic Technology Organization3
Introduction to Lab Methods in Archaeology3
Curation Crisis in Archaeology3
Human Osteology3
Zooarchaeology3
Cartography and Geographic Information Systems4
Introduction to Rocks and Minerals (pre/co-requisite GEOL 1110G)3
Total Credits18

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 advisor for the minor.