ARCHA-BA - Archaeology (BA)

Archaeology studies the past through its material remains that survive into the present. 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 by studying 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 civilizations, drawing in equal parts on the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

The Archaeology curriculum draws on faculty from various university departments and schools. To complete the requirements for the major, students must take courses from the program’s offerings 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 past 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 complete a comprehensive curriculum that draws on faculty from various university departments and programs. Archaeology majors are well prepared for advanced training in professional schools such as education, law, and journalism and, depending upon their choice of upper-division course, graduate programs in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Suggested Preparation for the Major 

All majors must complete 60 units with an overall minimum grade of C, which must form a coherent program of study and be approved by the student’s faculty advisor and the program faculty director.

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

Students should declare by the beginning of their junior year. 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.