Archaeological Studies Major - Bachelor of Arts (BA)
The Archaeological Studies Program at UWL is among the top comprehensive undergraduate programs in archaeology in the United States and the only one in the Midwest. Lewis Binford, one of the most influential archaeologists in the discipline's history, conducted a comprehensive review of our program and concluded: "I can say without hesitation that this is the best undergraduate program in archaeology that I have seen anywhere in this country." The uniqueness of our program lies in the fact that it is an interdisciplinary major that integrates a holistic anthropological approach, regional course offerings and a variety of study abroad experiences, a broad exposure to multiple methodological specialties, cutting edge technologies applied to archaeological research, and practical training in the applied field of cultural resource management (CRM) industry.
Most notably, we provide our undergraduate students with practical experience unmatched by other programs elsewhere for three primary reasons:
- Our close relationship with the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center (MVAC), which conducts extensive research and public education activities throughout the tri-state region of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa, provides students with direct exposure to applied archaeology and the kinds of careers they are likely to pursue upon graduation.
- Our impressive array of intensive international experiences are designed to expose students to different world cultures as well as equip them with practical anthropological and archaeological skills.
- Our focus on training students in cutting edge technologies that very few programs in the U.S. offer gives students opportunities to develop high-tech skills in field archaeology: geophysical and remote sensing equipment (ground penetrating radar, magnetometer, resistivity meter); precision laser mapping equipment; a complete photogrammetry array; 3-D scanning, photo, and video equipment; photographic drone for aerial photography and video.
Because our program is built around close student-instructor interaction and intensive experiential opportunities, our students are given ample opportunity for participation in all aspects of archaeological field and laboratory research. This ensures that students graduate with both academic and practical job preparation, so they are well prepared to enter the workforce upon graduation or pursue graduate studies in archaeology or anthropology.
(All colleges)
37 credits
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses 1 | ||
| ARC 100 | Archaeology: Discovering Our Past | 3 |
| ARC 196 | Archaeology: An Introduction to Lab and Field Methods | 1 |
| ARC 200 | World Archaeology: Origins and Development of Human Culture and Society | 3 |
| ARC 445 | Research Methods in Archaeology | 3 |
| ARC 455 | Historical and Theoretical Perspectives in Archaeology | 3 |
| ARC 489 | Honors Thesis in Archaeology | 3 |
| or ARC 499 | Senior Project/Thesis in Archaeology | |
| ARC 402 | Field Methods in Archaeology (minimum of six credits) | 6 |
| Regional courses | ||
| Select at least two courses (see below) | 6 | |
| Methods courses | ||
| Select at least one course (see below) | 3 | |
| Anthropology courses | ||
| Select at least two courses (see below) | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 37 | |
Anthropology credits applied to the archaeological studies majors or minor may not be applied to the anthropology minor.
Credits that are applied to the archaeology studies major cannot be applied to the archaeology studies major: cultural anthropology emphasis, archaeology minor, or the anthropology minor.
Regional courses (six credits required)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARC 280 | The Incas and their Ancestors: Archaeology of the Andes | 3 |
| ARC 302 | Egyptian Hieroglyphs: The Language and Culture of Ancient Egypt | 3 |
| ARC 311 | European Prehistory | 3 |
| ARC/ANT 325 | North American Anthropology and Archaeology | 3 |
| ARC 350 | Independent International Research in Archaeology | 1-6 |
| ARC 399 | Archaeology Forum | 3 |
| ARC 409 | Readings and Research in Archaeology | 1-3 |
| ARC 498 | Seminar in Archaeology | 1-3 |
| ARC/ANT 353 | Maya Civilization | 3 |
| ARC/HIS 295 | Pyramids, Temples and Towns! The Archaeology of Ancient Egypt | 3 |
| ARC 320 | Historical Archaeology | 3 |
| ARC/HIS 331 | The Ancient Greek World | 3 |
| ARC/HIS 332 | Ancient Rome and the Mediterranean | 3 |
| ARC/HIS 340 | Origins of Cities | 3 |
| ARC/HIS 365 | Ancient Iraq | 3 |
| ARC/HIS 366 | Ancient Israel | 3 |
| ARC/HIS 368 | History of Babylonian Language and Culture I | 3 |
| ARC/HIS 369 | History of Babylonian Language and Culture II | 3 |
| ARC/HIS 374 | Ancient Turkey | 3 |
| ARC/HIS 375 | Iran before Islam | 3 |
| ARC/HIS 396 | Ancient Syria | 3 |
| INS 350 | Independent International Research | 1-6 |
Methods courses (three credits required)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARC 250 | Museum Studies | 3 |
| ARC 300 | Cultural Resources Management | 3 |
| ARC 303 | Archaeology Lab Methods | 3 |
| ARC 345 | Zooarchaeology | 3 |
| ARC 399 | Archaeology Forum | 3 |
| ARC 404 | Environmental Archaeology | 3 |
| ARC 415 | Advanced Research Applications in Archaeology | 3 |
| ARC 450 | Internship in Archaeology | 1-15 |
| ARC 498 | Seminar in Archaeology | 1-3 |
| ARC/ANT 335 | Human Skeletal Anatomy and the Anthropological Study of the Dead | 3 |
| ARC/ANT 346 | Ethnoarchaeology and Experimental Archaeology | 3 |
| ARC/ANT 395 | Graduate Preparation Seminar | 1 |
| GEO 405 | Geographic Information System and Science II | 3 |
| GEO 410 | Geospatial Field Methods | 3 |
| GEO 415 | Remote Sensing of the Environment I | 3 |
Anthropology courses (six credits required)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANT 215 | Refugees, Displaced Persons and Transnational Communities | 3 |
| ANT/ARC 325 | North American Anthropology and Archaeology | 3 |
| ANT 366 | Anthropology of Food | 3 |
| ANT 307 | International Development and Culture Change | 3 |
| ANT 320 | Rites, Rituals and Ceremonies | 3 |
| ANT 321 | Images, Visual Culture and Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 323 | Anthropology of Childhood and Youth | 3 |
| ANT 351 | Peoples and Cultures of Southeast Asia | 3 |
| ANT 354 | Peoples and Cultures of Latin America | 3 |
| ANT 358 | Language Policy and Activism in Europe | 3 |
| ANT 362 | Hmong Americans | 3 |
| ANT 370 | Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 375 | Language, Power, and Inequality | 3 |
| ANT 399 | Anthropology Forum | 3 |
| ANT 401 | Ethnographic Methods | 4 |
| ANT 409 | Readings and Research in Anthropology | 1-3 |
| ANT 454 | Historical and Theoretical Approaches in Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 499 | Seminar in Anthropology | 2-3 |
| ARC/ANT 304 | Hunter and Gatherer Societies | 3 |
| ARC/ANT 305 | Indigenous Agricultural Societies: Past and Present | 3 |
| ARC/ANT 335 | Human Skeletal Anatomy and the Anthropological Study of the Dead | 3 |
| ARC/ANT 346 | Ethnoarchaeology and Experimental Archaeology | 3 |
| HIS/ANT 312 | Peoples and Cultures of Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union | 3 |
All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.
College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH/VPA) Bachelor of Arts core requirements
The CASSH core provides opportunities for students to deepen their knowledge by taking courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and/or sciences beyond the requirements of general education. Students may select from courses offered by the full range of academic departments within the college according to their interests. The college core allows students to build their critical thinking, communication, problem solving, teamwork, and global competencies through in-depth exploration of topics of their choosing.
The following conditions apply to one or both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees:
- Students majoring in English (writing and rhetoric or literary and cultural studies emphases) or in the department of global cultures and languages must earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Education majors earn a Bachelor of Science degree; English major: medical professions emphasis majors may earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.
- Students majoring in other CASSH programs may choose either a B.A. or a B.S. degree.
- Language courses (ARA, CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA) used to fulfill the general education requirement: "Mathematical/logical systems and modern languages" (GE 02, category 2) may also be used to meet the B.A. and B.S. language requirements.
- At least one course in the degree must be a CASSH designated diversity course.
- All other courses used to meet the requirements below must be in addition to the minimum 42 credits required in the General Education Program.
- Applicable courses may be found on the CASSH B.A./B.S. Degree Option Course List or in the Advisement Report (AR) when the degree has been declared.
Courses used to fulfill general education requirements will not apply to core requirements except for language courses (ARA, CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA) that count in the general education requirement: "Mathematical/logical systems and modern languages" (GE 02, category 2).
Bachelor of Arts students declare one of the following tracks online via the CASSH website:
A. Language track
- Native speakers of English complete:
Non-native speakers of English: provide English proficiency evidence acceptable for admission to UWL as a degree seeking student.Course List Code Title Credits Select one of the following: Intermediate Arabic II Chinese Language and Culture in Action II French Language and Cultures in Action II Intermediate Languages II German Language and Cultures in Action II Hmong Heritage Language: Intermediate Hmong Heritage Language: Advanced Intermediate Japanese II Russian Language and Cultures in Action II Spanish Language and Cultures in Action II or SPA 221Introduction to Spanish for the Health Professions - Two additional courses outside of the student's major in two of the following: humanities, social sciences or fine arts.
B. Humanities track
- One global language course 102 or higher; and
- Two additional courses outside the department of the student's major from two different departments chosen from: communication studies, English, history, philosophy and race, gender, and sexuality studies (see the Advisement Report (AR) for a listing of the approved courses); and
- One additional course in social sciences or fine arts.
C. Fine arts track
- One global language course 102 or higher; and
- Two additional courses outside the department of the student's major from two different departments chosen from: art, music, theatre; and
- One additional course in social sciences or humanities.
In addition to all other College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities core requirements, all students in CASSH must complete a second major, minor, or individualized option by satisfying one of the following:
- Complete a minor (or two certificates with at least 12 combined credits at the 300/400 level or a second major) outside of the student's major program, consisting of at least 18 credits; or
- Complete an emphasis, program or concentration of at least 18 credits outside the student's major program. General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements; or
-
Complete an individualized option, consisting of 18 credits. At least 12 credits must be earned at the 300/400 level outside the major department. The remaining six credits may consist of:
-
100 level or higher courses outside the major (general education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements); or
-
300/400 level courses inside the major department not being used to fulfill major requirements.
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Baccalaureate degree requirements
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:
- Fulfill the general education requirements.
- Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
- Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
- Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
- At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
- Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
- A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
- Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
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Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.
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The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.
No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.
Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.
The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.
General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.
At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level.
Note: New students and transfer students with less than 12 credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.
This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| ANT 102 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science) | 4 | ARC 101 | 1 | ||
| CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy - Oral) | 3 | Gen Ed Math | 4 | ||
| ARC 196 | 1 | ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy - Written) | 3 | ||
| ARC 100 (Gen Ed Self & Society) | 3 | ANT 202 (Gen Ed Global Studies) | 3 | ||
| FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar) | 3 | ARC 200 (Gen Ed World History) | 3 | ||
| 14 | 14 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CASSH Core Course | 3 | CASSH Diversity Core Course | 3 | ARC 402 | 6 |
| 102+ Level Gen Ed/CASSH Core Language1 | 4 | ARC Regional Course | 3 | ||
| Gen Ed Minority Cultures | 3 | Minor Course | 3 | ||
| Minor Course | 3 | Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 | ||
| ANT Course | 3 | CASSH Core Course | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | 6 | |||
| Year 3 | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| ARC 395 | 1 | ARC Regional Course | 3 | ||
| Gen Ed Humanistic Studies | 3 | Minor Course | 3 | ||
| ANT Course | 3 | University Elective | 3 | ||
| ARC 445 | 3 | Gen Ed Health & Well Being | 3 | ||
| CASSH Core Course | 3 | Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 | ||
| 13 | 14 | ||||
| Year 4 | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| Minor Course | 3 | University Elective | 3 | ||
| Minor Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 | ||
| University Elective | 3 | University Elective | 3 | ||
| ARC Methods Course | 3 | ARC 489 or 499 | 3 | ||
| ARC 455 | 3 | University Elective | 1 | ||
| 15 | 13 | ||||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||||
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CASSH Core Humanities and Fine Arts Tracks require 102+ level language. CASSH Core Language Track requires 202 level language. Students unprepared for 202 level will need to complete prerequisite course work.