Major in Anthropology, Archaeology Concentration

Program Overview

The Archaeology program at Colorado State University specializes in the Americas, encompassing both prehistoric and historic archaeology. With expertise in various fields, the program offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes field schools, research opportunities, and access to specialized centers and labs. The program emphasizes quantitative and analytical methods, as well as theoretical and practical knowledge in archaeology. Graduates are well-prepared for careers in archaeology, cultural resource management, research, and education.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Archaeology concentration focuses on the Americas, encompassing both prehistoric and historic archaeology. The program boasts a faculty with expertise in various areas, including:

• Rocky Mountain and Plains archaeology
• Paleo-Indian studies
• Hunter-gatherer ecology
• Taphonomy
• Zooarchaeology
• Public archaeology
• Andean archaeology
• Inca and Spanish empires
• Mining communities
• Mesoamerican archaeology
• Landscape archaeology
• Geoarchaeology
• Legacies of Resilience Project (LORE-LPG)
• The Center for Mountain and Plains Archaeology
• The MesoAmerican lab
• The Center for Archaeogeophysics and Geoarchaeology
Additionally, the archaeology program hosts an annual field school each summer and houses the CSU Archaeological Repository.

Outline:

The program is structured across four years, with a detailed course schedule outlined for each semester.

Freshman Year:

• Semester 1:
• ANTH 100: Introductory Cultural Anthropology (GT-SS3) - 3 credits
• ANTH 101: Practicing Anthropology - 1 credit
• CO 150: College Composition (GT-CO2) - 1 credit
• Quantitative Reasoning - 1 credit
• Elective - 3 credits
• Semester 2:
• ANTH 120: Human Origins and Variation (GT-SC2) - 3 credits
• ANTH 121: Human Origins and Variation Laboratory (GT-SC1) - 3 credits
• ANTH 140: Introduction to Archaeology (GT-HI1) - 3 credits
• Electives - 9 credits

Sophomore Year:

• Semester 3:
• GR 100: Introduction to Geography (GT-SS2) - 3 credits
• Arts and Humanities - 3 credits
• Biological and Physical Sciences - 3 credits
• Electives - 6 credits
• Semester 4:
• Select one course from the following:
• ANTH 365: Quantifying Anthropology
• ECON 235/LB 235: Working With Data
• SOC 210: The Power of Numbers--Statistics in Sociology
• SOC 314: Applications of Quantitative Research
• STAT 301: Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods
• STAT 307: Introduction to Biostatistics
• Arts and Humanities - 3 credits
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (GT-CI) - 1 credit
• Electives - 7 credits

Junior Year:

• Semester 5:
• Select a minimum of six credits from the Archaeological Concepts and Practice courses (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) - 6-8 credits
• Select a minimum of six credits from the Archaeological Methods courses not taken in another category (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) - 6 credits
• Semester 6:
• ANTH 400/GR 400: History of Theory-Anthropology and Geography - 4 credits
• Select one Biological Anthropology course not taken in another category (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) - 3-4 credits
• Select one Cultural Anthropology course not taken in another category (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) - 3-8 credits
• Advanced Writing - 2 credits

Senior Year:

• Semester 7:
• Take one Geography course (subject code GR) not taken in another category - 3 credits
• Electives - 12-15 credits
• Semester 8:
• ANTH 493: Capstone Seminar - 4 credits
• AUCC 4A: Select one course not taken elsewhere from the AUCC 4A List on the Concentration Requirements Tab - 4 credits
• Select two Place and Space in Archaeology courses not taken in another category (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) - 6 credits
• Electives - 3-8 credits

Other:

• The program requires a minimum of 120 credits for completion, with at least 42 credits being upper-division (300 to 400-level).
• Students taking Senior Honors Thesis (HONR 499, 3 credits) are also required to register for ANTH 493 (1 credit).
• The program includes a list of recommended courses for each semester, marked as "Critical" or "Recommended."
• The program emphasizes the importance of completing AUCC 1B (Quantitative Reasoning) and CO 150 (College Composition) by the end of Semester 2.
• The program highlights the need to select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits.
• The program specifies that courses approved for AUCC category 4A taken in the sophomore, junior, or senior year and not concurrently with ANTH 493 and not included in the approved list in the program will not count toward completion of the 4A requirement for this major.