Mar 29, 2024  
Course Catalog 2010-2011 
    
Course Catalog 2010-2011 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Archeological Studies


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Susan Kane, Professor of Art

Archeology is the study of the past through material remains. Archeological Studies at Oberlin is based on a program of interdepartmental offerings that covers a range of cultures—from prehistoric to early historic—in both the Old and New Worlds. This program of study also introduces students to the analytic tools that facilitate archeological research.

The Archeological Studies major is an interdisciplinary major administered by the Curricular Committee on Archeology. The major is interdisciplinary in two respects. First, it requires students, regardless of their specific interests, to become acquainted with a range of different archeological research perspectives among those represented in the College curriculum. Second, it permits students to explore the interrelations between archeology and science in a manner that is consistent with current trends in both study and research.
Majors will design their own curriculum in close consultation with their advisor according to the specific area of concentration within the discipline.
The core curriculum will consist of a selection of courses drawn from the regular offerings in Anthropology, Art, Classics, and Religion, and supplemented by appropriate courses in related disciplines such as Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Studies, Geology, Mathematics, and Physics.

Major


No fewer than 32 hours of coursework distributed as follows:

  1. Introduction to Archeology (Anthropology 103) is required of all majors.
  2. In addition, fifteen hours of course work including at least six hours in at least two of the following departments: Anthropology, Art, Classics, Religion. These courses may include: Art (ancient art courses in the 200 and 300 ranges); Anthropology; Classics (103, 104, and courses in the 250-270 and 350-370 ranges); and Religion (courses with a material culture emphasis). Among these, students must take at least one seminar. 
  3. Nine hours of coursework in natural science, mathematics, and computer science. A course in statistics is recommended and to be taken as early in the major as possible. Courses should be selected in close consultation with the major advisor and may include relevant courses in: Biology; Chemistry; Computer Science; Environmental Studies; Geology; Mathematics; and Physics. Please consult individual departmental listings for full course descriptions and availability in a given semester and year. Not all of these courses are offered every year. 
    Students who wish to apply courses from departments not on this list to the major may petition the Curricular Committee on Archeology for approval to substitute.
  4. Three to six hours of field or laboratory experience (Archeological Studies 200 or equivalent). This experience can be gained through internships or participation in an archeological field school.
  5. Senior Project: All majors are required to undertake a research project during one semester of their senior year. These projects should involve more than one area or discipline. Senior projects may be pursued either within the context of existing seminars or as independent study courses. In either case, students must enroll in Archeological Studies 300 (1-3 credit hours) in consultation with the project advisor. An invitation from the Curricular Committee on Archeology to participate in the Honors Program would replace the senior project requirement.

In addition, students may choose to concentrate in Classical Archeology, in which case Latin or Greek 202 (or the equivalent) and Classics 103-History of Greece and Classics 104-History of Rome are required. This concentration will be registered on the student’s transcript.

Those students planning to study Archeology at the graduate level should plan to have a reading knowledge of appropriate foreign languages and a familiarity with all relevant computer applications. It is recommended that Statistics be taken as early in the major as possible.

Winter Term projects, mini-courses, colloquia, and lectures are sponsored by the Curricular Committee. As in the College Individual Major Program, students may take reading courses as a means of integrating their interests.

For further information about the archeological studies major, students should contact Susan Kane (Art Department).

Minor


There is no minor offered in Archeological Studies.

Course Listing


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