PREHISTORIC ARTIFACTS UNEARTHED—Students uncover buried features while others sift through dirt for artifacts at the Johnston Site, a prehistoric Monongahela village near Blairsville in Indiana County.
Looking for a Career as an Archaeologist?
Tools of the Trade
Matt Sagi uses the Bartington magnetic susceptibility loop to collect his thesis data during an archaeological field school.
Cultures that thrived centuries ago have left behind many clues about their lifestyles and culture. As an anthropology major in the archaeology track, you'll learn how to find those clues and interpret them. The archaeology track is especially tailored for students who have decided to focus on archaeology as their career path, and is designed to provide you with the needed information and experience to commence your profession as an archeologist upon finishing your BA. This track provides graduates with an in-demand résumé upon graduation that includes field and laboratory experience in addition to advanced courses in specialized archeological techniques.
Through our Archaeological Field School, you'll gain hands-on experience in survey methods, field excavation, laboratory processing, and artifacts analysis. You'll work on ongoing IUP excavations, such as a fifteenth-century Native American village site in Indiana County, or European American frontier sites in western Pennsylvania.
An important component of this track is giving students a solid foundation on the handling of archaeological remains to meet state and federal regulations (frequently called "Cultural Resource Management" or CRM), the largest sector employer of archeologists in the United States. IUP Anthropology students have the unique opportunity to gain paid CRM experience while undergrads through IUP Archaeological Services.
Some examples of recent graduates job placements include archaeological field director, museum curator, geophysical specialist, and GIS specialist.
Customize your Degree Through a Minor, Double Major, or Internship
You should plan on using the free electives in this major to add a double major or minor. Recommended minors for archeology track majors include disciplines that complement the overall skill set needed to be a successful archaeologist, such as geoscience, geography, history, or other related fields.
Students are also strongly encouraged to choose an internship from among the wide variety of opportunities available. We'll connect you with state, local, and private organizations engaged in cultural resource management, museums, and other fields, not only making your BA more competitive in the job market, but also helping you to understand the needs and requirements of employers in our area.
You can complete an undergraduate degree and a master's in applied archaeology in five years through IUP's Early Admissions Program. With a master's in applied archaeology you can hold almost any job in c
Targeting His Interests
Soon after Connor McClain discovered his chosen major, he found he has an interest in experimental archaeology. He's learned how to throw an atlatl, a prehistoric spear-throwing weapon, and has made his own atlatls to use in target competitions.
Come Talk to Us
If you are still unsure about archaeology or anthropology as a career path, feel free to come talk to us. We are located at McElhaney G1. Ask for Ben Ford, ben.ford@iup.edu.
Courses for the Anthropology, BA
Required Courses
- ANTH 211- Cultural Anthropology
- ANTH 213- World Archaeology
- ANTH 222- Biological Anthropology
- ANTH 233 - Language and Culture
- ANTH 244 - Basic Archaeology
- ANTH 320 - Archaeological Field School
- ANTH 325 - Archaeological Lab Methods
- ANTH 415 - Cultural Resources Management
- ANTH 425 - Archaeological Theory and Research Design
- ANTH 480 - Anthropology Seminar
Controlled Electives
- One Archaeology course (ANTH 315, 323, or 333)
- Two additional Anthropology courses
If you are curious how these courses will fit into a degree at IUP, this suggested course sequence will help.