Academic Advising

Coursework Required for Master’s in Historical Archaeology

At least 40 semester hours of coursework are required, including the completion of a written thesis.  

These hours include ANT 386, ANT 388, ANT 392, and HIS 497 or another 400-level history course and four courses in historical archaeology (ANT 460, ANT 469, ANT 481, and ANT 488).  Six hours of advanced archaeological field school (ANT 481) and four hours of thesis research (ANT 499) are also required.  The written thesis of high quality is required for completion of the degree.  A minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained in all graduate coursework.

Required courses

  • ANT 386 - Archaeology Theory
  • ANT 388 - Historical Archaeology
  • ANT 392 - Archaeology Material Culture
  • ANT 460 - Research Design in Historical Archaeology
  • ANT 469 - Seminar in Historical Archaeology
  • ANT 481 - Advanced Archaeological Field School
  • ANT 488 - Archaeological Ethics and Law
  • HIS 497 - Research in History or another 400-level history course
  • ANT 499 - Master's Thesis
  • Elective courses
    Of the remaining hours required, students are to choose electives at the 300-level and 400-level that will be useful for the thesis topic.  These must be approved by the major advisor, but could include courses in anthropology, history, and geography.
field school pic

Fieldwork requirement

Students are required to complete an advanced archaeological field school as part of the degree program. It is strongly recommended that an undergraduate archaeological field school be completed before beginning the Master's program.

Program Graduates and Thesis Titles

  • Gravestones and Figurines:  The Material Culture of Jewish Social Condition in Ireland and England Between 1600 and 1900, Or Jewish Separateness and Anti-Jewish Sentiments Within the British Isles / Jason Kaplan (2007)
  • The Janis-Ziegler Site (23SG272):  The Archaeological Investigation of a Houselot in a French Colonial Village / Meredith Hawkins (2007)
  • Negotiating Identity:  The Missouria’s Response to European Contact and Trade, 1670-1800 / Adam Fracchia (2006)
  • Environmental Influences at the Bequette-Ribault Site in Ste. Genevieve, MO / Dana Pertermann (2006)
  • Daughters of Éireann:  The Roles of Irish Women in Ballykilcline, Republic of Ireland and Five Points, New York as Revealed in the Archaeological Ceramic Assemblages / Julie Richko (2005)
  • Peripheralization and Historical Archaeology:  A Case for a World-Systems Perspective on the Material Culture of the Inishkea Islands / Sheila Wille (2005)
  • Faded Receipts and Buried Walls:  A Historical Archaeological Investigation of the Material Culture and Identity of the Cooper Family of Riverstown, County Sligo, Ireland /Michelle Charest (2005)
  • Making an Exhibit:  Public Presentation of the Native Americans and Archaeology of Grand Island, Michigan / Amanda Burke (2004)