ARCHA-BA - Archaeology (BA)

Archaeology is the study of human societies through their material remains. Archaeology is a discipline that offers direct access to the experiences of a wide range of people in numerous cultures across the globe. Increasingly, archaeology bridges past and present societies through the study of the human heritage and its role in contemporary societies. Stanford's Archaeology program provides students with an interdisciplinary approach to the material remains of past societies, drawing in equal parts on the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

The Archaeology curriculum draws on faculty from a wide range of University departments and schools. To complete the requirements for the major, students must take courses from the offerings of the program and from the listings of other University departments. The program culminates in a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Archaeology.

The mission of the undergraduate program in Archaeology is to provide students with a broad and rigorous introduction to the analysis of the material culture of human societies, drawing on the questions and methods of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Students in the major learn to relate these analyses to the practice of archaeology in the contemporary world. The program seeks to help each student achieve a high level of understanding through concentrated study of a particular research area. Courses in the major draw on faculty from a wide range of University departments and programs. Archaeology majors are well prepared for advanced training in professional and graduate schools.

Suggested Preparation for the Major 

Students who plan to pursue graduate work in Archaeology should know the admission requirements of the particular departments to which they intend to apply. These vary greatly. Early planning is advisable to guarantee completion of major and graduate school requirements. See Archaeology graduate programs here.

How to Declare the Major

To declare a major in Archaeology, students should:

1. Apply for the BA in Archaeology on Axess.

2. Contact the Archaeology student services officer, who provides a course tracking form, answers initial questions, and helps choose a faculty advisor.