Program Codes:
MSANTHAG
Master of Science
Availability: campus
Introduction
The MS Program in Anthropology – Archaeology Concentration consists of 24 months of full-time graduate coursework designed primarily for students who have a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology or a related sub-discipline. The program provides classroom, field, and laboratory training in anthropological archaeology that culminates in a faculty mentored individualized thesis project. Students are prepared for careers in public and private archaeological settings (e.g. Cultural Resource Management, Federal and State Agencies) and for advanced degree programs. Students anticipating part-time status should expect longer completion times.
Mission Statement
Our program is committed to the education and training of the next generation of anthropological 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 drawn from both the sciences and the humanities. Therefore, a strong base in anthropological/archaeological core information, theories, concepts, and 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. We prepare students for careers in public and private archaeological spheres of practice, and for the pursuit of advanced degrees.
Upon completion of the Archaeology Concentration curriculum in the Master of Science in Anthropology program, students will be able to:
Admission Requirements:
Program Requirements
To obtain the Master of Science in Anthropology – Archaeology Concentration students must successfully complete all requirements, including a 12 graduate courses (minimum 42 credits), a comprehensive examination, and a Master’s Thesis, while maintaining a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average.
Exams /Thesis
Graduate students are required to complete a comprehensive examination consisting of three questions that underpin and pertain to their thesis research topic. This examination is generally taken in the Spring Term of the second year, after students have completed most of their coursework and thesis background research. An 80% score on each question is required to pass the examination. At the discretion of the Program Director, students failing one or more questions will have one opportunity to repeat a similar exam.
All students must complete a thesis based on an archaeological topic. Approval of topics must be granted by the program director and faculty supervisor, and students will submit a formal research proposal. In order to participate in graduation, students will be expected to defend their thesis project prior to their commencement date.
Prerequisite Courses
Students with anthropology/archaeology deficiencies in their in their undergraduate curriculum may be required to take a maximum of 10 credits of undergraduate ANTH offerings at Mercyhurst University (e.g. ANTH 130/131; ANTH 336, ANTH 338, ANTH 226). These will count towards the semester load but will not substitute for any graduate curricular requirements.
All students must complete 8 required classroom courses, including one material culture course (some course have requisite lab sections) (25-26 credits), three elective courses, a graduate Field Training course held in the summer (6 credits), and prepare a Master’s Thesis document. Students will register for Anth 670 (Master’s Thesis) if they need additional time to complete their Thesis. Students will also choose a minimum of 3 elective courses (9-12 credits) from Anthropology/Archaeology departmental offerings.
This course provides training in managing archaeological data recovery and documentary procedures while simultaneously developing student knowledge of the full spectrum of field methods in contemporary anthropological archaeology. The rationale and technical details of a wide array of field methods are reviewed in the context of the location, characterization/evaluation, and data-recovery of archaeological sites.
ANTH-525
ANTH-524
This course is designed to provide graduate students with a guided experience of the initial phases of independent research through the production and defense of a graduate research proposal. The course typically occurs during the second year of coursework and is designed to precede Directed Thesis Preparation.
Students review a seLecturetion of readings pertaining to a particular topic, study, period, and or geographic region as directed, and prepare written annotations and critical reviews.
This course guides students through the research design process in preparation for completion of a master?s thesis. Topics include choosing a research topic, conducting a literature search, generating hypotheses, formulating practical research designs to investigate or test those research questions, interpreting and reporting results, scientific writing, and research presentations. In addition, discussions will be held on research ethics, publishing, and obtaining grant funding. By the end of the course, students are expected to submit a thesis proposal for a project that can be feasibly completed in approximately six months. Each student will be required to present proposed research in a manor suitable for both academic and public audiences.
This course introduces students to concepts in probability and statistics including sampling distributions, normal theory estimation and hypothesis testing, regression and correlation, exploratory data analysis, logistic regression, discriminant analysis, resampling methods and linear model selection. Learning to do statistical analysis on a personal computer is an integral part of the course.
(choose one from the below)
This course will develop student?s knowledge of the analytical and classification methods used in the treatment and processing of historic materials recovered from archaeological investigations. Emphasis will be placed on colonial and nineteenth century materials of the eastern United States. Students will assist in the analysis of materials from Mercyhurst University field projects or loaned colLecturetions from other institutions and museums.
This course will develop student’s knowledge of the analytical and classification methods used in the treatment and processing of historic materials recovered from archaeological investigations. Emphasis will be placed on colonial and nineteenth century materials of the eastern United States. Students will assist in the analysis of materials from Mercyhurst University field projects or loaned collections from other institutions and museums.
This course is to be taken when the student is completing the Master's Thesis.
Graduate students will be exposed to the latest methodologies in field archaeology, including geoarchaeology, electronic data recordation, excavation, field photography, photogrammetry, remote sensing, mapping, sampling, and recordation. The course will emphasize research design, reflexive methodologies, interpretation, and the handson managing of data recovery and documentary procedures
3 Additional Graduate Level Electives
This course provides training in managing archaeological data recovery and documentary procedures while simultaneously developing student knowledge of the full spectrum of field methods in contemporary anthropological archaeology. The rationale and technical details of a wide array of field methods are reviewed in the context of the location, characterization/evaluation, and data-recovery of archaeological sites.
ANTH-525
Short Title : Analy Lab Meth Hist Arch
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : ANTH 505
Course Description :
This course will develop student?s knowledge of the analytical and classification methods used in the treatment and processing of historic materials recovered from archaeological investigations. Emphasis will be placed on colonial and nineteenth century materials of the eastern United States. Students will assist in the analysis of materials from Mercyhurst University field projects or loaned colLecturetions from other institutions and museums.
Short Title : Plants & People
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : ANTH 516
Course Description : People depend on plants for food, clothing, shelter, medicines, and a host of other daily needs. This course examines the varied and complex interrelationships between plants and people through a focus on domestication processes, the Green Revolution, intentional and unintentional modification of plant communities, and an examination of those plants that provide drugs, food, beverages, and fibers necessary for daily life.
Short Title : Adv Prehist Western N Amer
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : ANTH 527
Course Description : This course provides a thorough grounding in the prehistory of western North America from initial peopling of the continent to the development of settled villages and complex societies. Societal reproduction, subsistence and economic development, changing traditions of knowledge, cultural contact and material culture production and exchange are considered alongside a changing local and regional environmental matrix.
Short Title : Adv Native Amer Cntemp Soc
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : ANTH 537
Course Description : This course is intended to introduce students to the diverse lives and livelihoods of Native Americans in Contemporary society with an emphasis on the range of issues facing Native peoples today. The course provides an overview of the salient issues affecting contemporary Native peoples? social, cultural, economic and political activities. Topics include but are not limited to colonial legacies, popular culture and stereotypes, indigenous identities, tribal-federal relationships, sovereignty, cultural survival and revitalization, research issues and ethics.
Short Title : Archaeological Report Prep
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : ANTH 555
Course Description : This course will introduce students to a number of aspects of archaeological reporting, placing particular emphasis on practical applications. Topics covered include the organization of an archaeological report, technical writing and editing, scholarly style, data presentation, and desktop publishing and illustration.
Short Title : Bioarchaeology
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : ANTH 557
Course Description : Students will learn how the analysis of human remains from archaeological contexts can inform on past demography, subsistence, diet, patterns of disease, biological distance, violence, warfare, migration, physical activity, mortuary treatment, and various biological indicators of environmental conditions. Examples from numerous cultures and sites from around the world will be used to illustrate how the bioarchaeological approach helps to understand the lives and deaths of earlier peoples.
Short Title : Basics Of Gis I
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : ANTH 600
Course Description : This course introduces students to Geographic Information Systems, providing students with a basic knowledge of its theory and main practical applications, with stress on basic GIS software logistics, usage and applications. Students will learn the usage of ESRI?s ArcGIS 9, with archaeological and geological examples. Students will be able to colLecturet, create and view geographic information data from preexisting sources as well as produce their own maps and calculate basic descriptive spatial statistics.
Short Title : Perishable Analysis
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : ANTH 632
Course Description : This course provides the rational and protocols for the analysis, documentation, and interpretation of fiber perishables including twined, coiled, and plaited basketry, along with cordage by-products. Delineation and recordation procedures of technological attributes, as well as the identification of plant and other organic raw materials used in the construction of perishable materials will also be emphasized alongside a hands-on analysis of a variety of items.
Short Title : Lithic Studies
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : ANTH 634
Course Description : Lithic artifacts compise a significant component of most archaeological assemblages and are, consequently, a primary sourse of data from which inferences regarding human behavior can be derived. Following a review of the history of stone tool technology and the mechanics of their production, students will learn to conduct several analytical methods and interpret their results. Throughout the course, we will explore the practical, logistical, social, and environmental factors involved in technological decision-making, while considering the theoretical lenses through which archaeologists examine data in pursuit of cultural and behavioral information.
Short Title : Basic Stat Meth For Resrch
Active Term : Spring / All
Course Code : FRSC 546
Course Description :
The goal of this course is providing the student with an in depth understanding of formal hypothesis testing and the general principles underlying parametric statistical methods. The student will not only learn the practical applications of the methods discussed in class but will also learn to interpret and evaluate the result of hypothesis tests carried out with any other method. The course will also serve as an introduction to experimental design. The skills obtained from this course will form the basis to learn more advances statistical methods and research techniques in the natural sciences.
Short Title : Master'S Thesis
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : FRSC 670
Course Description :
This course is to be taken when the student is completing the Master's Thesis.
Some of these classes will require corresponding labs. For example ANTH 505 will require the ANTH 506 lab.