Program Codes:
BSARCHBA
Bachelor of Science
Introduction
Anthropologists (including specialists in archaeology) are scientists who investigate human diversity in the past and present. Today’s anthropologists are interested in applying insights from the study of human cultural, biological, and linguistic diversity and change to contribute to contemporary local and global issues. Our graduates are trained in critical thinking, pattern recognition, problem solving, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and intercultural skills.
Job diversity is a hallmark of careers in anthropology. Anthropologists work not just in exotic field locations but urban settings, corporate firms, museums, government jobs, law enforcement, non-profits, and a wide range of social- and community-focused arenas.
Mercyhurst University’s program in Anthropology and Archaeology is characterized by hands-on training in current field and laboratory methods and theory with highly individualized mentoring. We prepare students to design and execute original research studies and become leaders in their field.
Students regularly participate in faculty research projects with opportunities for professional development, such as conference presentations and peerreviewed publications. They also acquire real-world experience and training through our professional partnerships.
Anthropology is a broad field that integrates with other disciplines. The Department of Anthropology/Archaeology also has a special relationship with the Biology, Applied Forensic Sciences, Geology, and History Departments. Our students take course in these departments in fulfillment of their concentrations and doublemajor or minor in these subject areas.
The Department of Anthropology/Archaeology offers courses leading to Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in Anthropology/ Archaeology. Bachelor of Science degrees offer a deeper grounding in the scientific subject matter and methods of anthropology and achaeology, supporting course work in related fields (biology, geology, and chemistry), and additional experiential learning in rigorous laboratory excercises. Students may follow a general B.A. course of study, or specialize in one of 3 concentrations in a B.A. or B.S. track.
Mission Statement
Our department is committed to the education and training of the next generation of Anthropologists and Archaeologists. As a four-field discipline concerned with the cultural and biological expressions of humanity past and present, Anthropology is a diverse endeavor characterized by approaches and methodologies drawn from both the sciences and the humanities. Therefore, a wide range of core information, concepts, methodologies, as well as the ability to mobilize these resources critically and independently, form the skill set that we strive to impart to our students.
Anthropology/Archaeology Minor
ANTH 107 Language and Culture - 3 Credits
ANTH 112 World Cultures - 3 Credits
ANTH 120/121 Physical Anthropology and Lab - 4 Credits
ANTH 130/131 Archaeology and Lab - 4 Credits
Four additional Anthropology and Archaeology courses above 200.
All Anthropology/Archaeology students complete 9 required departmental core courses (29 credits), Statistics (3 credits), and successfully complete the intermediate level of a foreign language (3-9 credits).
Students seeking a B.S. with a Bioarchaeology Concentration must complete an additional 10 departmental courses (35 credits), Physical Geology and Lab, and 5 cognate courses in Biology and Chemistry (23 credits).
All Anthropology/Archaeology majors must maintain an overall 2.75 GPA, and a 3.0 GPA in Anthropology/ Archaeology major courses. Grades of D or lower will have to be repeated. Students will be evaluated in the summer following their sophomore year. Students failing to achieve the minimum GPA will receive a degree of General Science with an Anthropology/Archaeology Minor.
This course examines the methods, goals, and substantive results of contemporary anthropological archaeology. An emphasis on the archaeological techniques and concepts archaeologists use for making sense of the past are stressed, and numerous case studies are presented which explore past human practice from the development of human culture through to contemporary society, with a particular focus on humanity's unique relationship with material culture and the environment.
ANTH 131
This laboratory course provides the student basic exposure to contemporary archaeological field methods from both a theoretical and hands-on perspective. Topics include: archaeological survey techniques; mapping; excavation procedures; screening and data retrieval; field and lab processing; and documentation.
ANTH 130
ANTH 121
ANTH 120
ANTH 130
ANTH-130,ANTH-236,ANTH-237,ANTH-238,ANTH-239
Senior Thesis This capstone seminar/lecture course is designed to assist Senior Anthropology/Archaeology majors during the completion of their Senior Thesis requirement. The course focuses on enabling students to learn and employ processes and methods commonly used in formal written and oral presentations of background research, data acquisition, data analysis, and conclusions. Students’ ongoing projects will serves as the material for collective class review/critique and discussion. The remainder of the course will consist of short lectures on research paper and graphic preparation and production, and oral presentation. The group will explore the following themes in both lecture and seminar format as appropriate: basic elements of composition, scientific writing, IMRAD format, managing scientific data, technical illustrations, tables and figures, thesis document production/format, and other related themes as needed.
ANTH 390
The study of archaeological skeletal remains to explore diet, ethnicity, health, lifestyle, sex, and warfare/conflict/trauma.
ANTH 130
ANTH 225
ANTH 224
ANTH 120, ANTH 130
ANTH 251
ANTH 120, ANTH 130
ANTH 250
ANTH 120, ANTH 130
ANTH-270
ANTH 120
ANTH 327
ANTH 326
ANTH 326, ANTH 327
ANTH 334
ANTH 326, ANTH 327
ANTH 333
ANTH 130
B.S. Bioarchaeology Concentration
Introduction to the biology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including the structure and function of membranes and organelles, especially mitochondria and chloroplasts. Also included are studies of the molecular structure and function of DNA, with emphasis on the organization of the eukaryotic genome, transcription and translation.
BIO 143
Introduction to the physiological and molecular techniques and methodologies for studying cells, organelles and macromolecules in relation to cellular activities and maintenance of life.
BIO 142
BIO 147
A laboratory course that elucidates concepts taught in BIO 146 from a largely experimental perspective.
BIO 146
An introduction to bioinformatics tools used by modern researchers. The course will introduce the concepts of information transfer in biological molecules, how that information is stored in public databases and how to access this information and organize it in meaningful ways. Course includes exploration of tools used to study whole genomes using high-throughput sequencing data to assemble genomes and map specific subsets of the genomes.
Any student who has completed Calculus I should take Calculus II to obtain a complete study of the calculus of one variable. Topics follow the early transcendentals path, included are the integral, anti-derivatives, the Fundamental Theorem, integration techniques, interesting applications of integration, an introduction to differential equations, series, sequences.
MATH 170