The Archaeology certificate is designed to help students develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to analyze archaeological materials and participate in archaeological field research. Students who complete the certificate, along with a BA or BS degree from UW–Madison, improve their competitiveness in graduate school applications and are qualified for entry-level employment opportunities in archaeology. In addition to providing a strong intellectual foundation in archaeology and hands-on experience in fieldwork, the certificate provides an interdisciplinary link to courses in three or more departments, exposing students to diverse approaches to the study of our global human heritage.
Ancient history is a puzzle made up of innumerable fragments—pieces of bone, pottery, stone, and metal; remnants of architecture and monuments; residues of food; and traces of other things. Archaeology is the field of study that provides the tools to discover these fragments and piece them together to reconstruct a picture of the ancient world and to illuminate the stories of past peoples. An accurate understanding of the past is critical for developing a better present and future.
Through their participation in the Archaeology certificate program, students gain an appreciation of the diversity of human societies and a fuller understanding of the cultural processes that have resulted in the way that we live today. Students explore the origins of subsistence strategies, trade, technology, belief systems, and conflict that are relevant to understanding the human condition in our modern world.
How to Get in
To declare an archaeology certificate, should contact or visit the Department of Anthropology.
Requirements
7 courses and 21 credits 1
Credits must be distributed in at least three SUBJECTs, and must meet these requirements:
Introductory course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one: | 3 | |
| Archaeology and the Prehistoric World | ||
| Principles of Biological Anthropology | ||
| Principles of Archaeology | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Area courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 6 credits from: | 6 | |
| Topics in Archaeology | ||
| The Emergence of Human Culture | ||
| The Origins of Civilization | ||
| Prehistory of Africa | ||
| Archaeology of Wisconsin | ||
| The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece | ||
| The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Rome | ||
| History of Islamic Art and Architecture | ||
| From Tomb to Temple: Ancient Chinese Art and Religion in Transition | ||
| Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece | ||
| Introduction to Biblical Archaeology | ||
| The Greeks | ||
| The Romans | ||
| A History of Greek Civilization | ||
| A History of Rome | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Methods
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 6 credits from: | 6 | |
| Hominoid Evolution | ||
| Human Skeletal Anatomy | ||
| Ancient Technology and Invention | ||
| Bones for the Archaeologist | ||
| Archaeological Methods of Curation | ||
| Plants and Humans | ||
| Evolutionary Biology | ||
| Ethnobotany | ||
| Topics in Classical Archaeology | ||
| Climatic Environments of the Past | ||
| An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Practical Applications of GPS Surveying | ||
| Geomorphology | ||
GEOG 329 | ||
GEOG 360 | ||
| Introduction to Cartography | ||
| An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Glacial and Pleistocene Geology | ||
| Introduction to Geologic Structures | ||
| Geomorphology | ||
GEOSCI 326 | ||
| Glacial and Pleistocene Geology | ||
| Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | ||
| Practical Applications of GPS Surveying | ||
| Introduction to Applied Geophysics | ||
| Evolutionary Biology | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Field course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHRO 370 | Field Course in Archaeology | 3-6 |
| Total Credits | 3-6 | |
Capstone
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose from: | 3-4 | |
| Ancient Technology and Invention 2 | ||
| Undergraduate Seminar 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 3-4 | |
- 1
Courses taken Pass/Fail do not count.
- 2
ANTHRO 352 can count either for a methods course or for the capstone course, but not both.
- 3
ANTHRO 490 is a Topics course. In order to meet the capstone requirement, it must be on an archaeology topic.
Residence and Quality of Work
-
2.000 GPA on all certificate-approved courses
- At least 11 Certificate credits, taken in Residence
Undergraduate/Special Student Certificate
This certificate is intended to be completed in the context of an undergraduate degree and for those seeking this certificate that is preferred. For students who have substantially completed this certificate at UW–Madison and may need one or two courses to complete the certificate, they may do so immediately after completion of the bachelor’s degree by enrolling in the course as a University Special (nondegree) student. The certificate must be completed within a year of completion of the bachelor’s degree. Students should keep in mind that University Special students have the last registration priority and that may limit availability of desired courses. Financial aid is not available when enrolled as a University Special student to complete an undergraduate certificate.
Learning Outcomes
- acquire specialized training in archaeological research, which may include: obtaining basic knowledge of and skills in observational methods and recording of information for a variety of lines of archaeological evidence, putting these abilities into practice in the classroom and outside of the classroom, developing research questions and the analytical skills necessary to address them, strengthening archaeological interpretations through critical thinking and reference to empirical evidence, gaining experience in considering a problem, synthesizing information from disparate sources, and evaluating contrasting arguments, being able to distinguish between empirical research and speculation, communicating archaeological findings through written and oral expression.
- obtain comparative global knowledge of archaeology, material culture, and the evolution of people’s relationships with the physical world.
- become aware of the ethical practice of archaeology and heritage preservation.
- synthesize information relevant to archaeological research across multiple disciplines.
- gain an appreciation of cultural diversity through time and space.
Advising and Careers
Declare or Cancel This Certificate
Please follow the process described on the Anthropology website.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students