Students may emphasize archaeology both at the undergraduate and graduate levels by selecting courses offered in a number of departments, especially the Departments of Anthropology, Art History, Visual Art, and Theory; and Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies. In each case, a major or honours program can be developed with an emphasis on archaeology. UBC is strong in areas complementary to archaeology, such as ethnology, ecology, geography, geology, metallurgy, biology, and quantitative methods; and students are urged to begin courses in these fields at an early date. They are encouraged to acquire a broad knowledge of different geographical areas, techniques, and theories. Several possibilities are listed below in and Courses Ancillary to Archaeology and in Courses.
Archaeology can be pursued as a minor in anthropological archaeology. Archaeology courses in the Department of Anthropology explore the archaeological past of B.C., subarctic Canada, Mesoamerica, eastern Asia, east Africa, and Europe while emphasizing current methods, theory, and practice of archaeological research. The program provides hands-on experience, through the direct study of ancient objects, in classes and labs, many of which take place in the Laboratory of Archaeology located in the Museum of Anthropology. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in archaeology field training courses, both locally and abroad.
The Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies covers the material and visual cultural history of ancient Europe and the Middle East from the Neolithic (c. 10000 BCE) to the founding of Constantinople (330 CE). Courses focus on archaeological and art historical material and method; discussion of relevant social and historical processes; and cultural interconnections across the Mediterranean, Europe, and the Middle East. Attention is also paid to ancillary disciplines such as epigraphy (the study of inscriptions) and numismatics (the study of coins). Field experience is acquired through a summer practicum (AMNE 395 or 595). There are teaching collections in the Museum of Anthropology and in the department itself that offer other hands-on learning opportunities.
The Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences offers several courses that may prove of value to the student of archaeology, particularly in the fields of mineralogy and the analysis of materials.
The Department of Art History, Visual Art, and Theory offers a number of courses at the undergraduate and graduate level that depend to a greater or lesser extent on material deriving from archaeological work; these courses are concerned with archaeological interpretations and they may be of great value to students specializing in archaeology.
The Department of Geography offers courses of value to the archaeologist in a variety of fields. Students can undertake combined programs with Anthropology in the fields of subsistence and cultural ecology.
The Department of History offers various courses on cultural history relevant to those working in archaeology. The Department also offers an introductory course in historical archaeology that concentrates on material culture in the period of written records, with an emphasis on North America.
Courses in biology, botany, and zoology that deal with the basic structures and functions of the plants and animals found in archaeological sites are also listed below.
Courses
AMNE 170, 278, 306, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 376, 377, 379, 395, 470, 471, 472, 571, 572, 575, 576, 577, 578
ARCL 103, 203, 204, 228, 231, 232, 235, 305, 306, 309, 318, 319, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 345, 405, 406, 410, 411, 419, 420, 424, 425, 430, 510, 517, 520, 527, ANTH 433, 495
HIST 205
Courses Ancillary to Archaeology
ANTH 332, 360, 418, 431, 451, 452, 461, 462, 515
ARTH 251, 261, 262, 330, 331, 332, 333, 352, 353, 358, 359, 364, 365, 370, 371, 372, 373, 376, 377
BIOL 204, 205, 209, 210, 324, 343, 412, 421
EOSC 220, 221, 222, 320, 425
GEOG 101, 207, 308, 315, 317, 318, 329, 370, 372, 373, 422, 472, 495