Archaeology

Degree: B.A.

Whether you’re in the classroom learning about historical archaeology, or completing field research alongside a professor; the Archaeology program at Millersville University prepares students for employment in a wide variety of fields.

Why Study This Program?

The Archaeology option, housed within the Anthropology department, at Millersville University is dedicated to learning and understanding the role that Lancaster County and Colonial Pennsylvania played in the context of the larger colonial Atlantic World by way of ethical archaeological excavation, historical analysis and documentary research. Our goal is to illuminate the rich history of one of our nation's first culture hearths by revealing Lancaster's economic and cultural history. It is our hope that through our research we may accurately demonstrate the roles the people of Pennsylvania and Bermuda played during the colonial period and how they contributed to the birth and growth of the early United States.

This degree will prepare you for employment in fields such as not-for-profit organizations, entry-level work with local, state or federal government agencies, and employment in the business community. Millersville University's program will also prepare you for more advanced study, which leads to careers in teaching and research at colleges and universities, careers in museums or research/consulting and careers within local, national or international business.

Students will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Anthropology. 

What Will You Learn?

The Archaeology option focuses on historical archaeology of the 17th and 18th century Atlantic World and is based upon an active program of archaeological field research. As part of the hands-on orientation of the program, students are trained to meet high professional standards in every phase of archaeological investigation, from survey and field excavation to laboratory analysis and artifact research. Our archaeological laboratory houses a study collection of more than 250,000 artifacts, including assemblages excavated from Rock Ford (the 18th century home of Revolutionary War General Edward Hand), the Mylin Gun Shop (c. 1719), the Witmer site (c. 1730), the Graff-Rohrer site (c. 1715), and Elizabeth Furnace village (c. 1746), as well as artifacts from numerous other historic and prehistoric archaeological sites.

Students should expect to take courses in anthropology, ethnographic methods, archaeology method and theory, foreign language courses and more. Students also have the opportunity to complete research opportunities at the Elizabeth Furnace Plantation Site, Atlantic World Research Network and the Lancaster Colonial Settlement.

In addition, students can work one-on-one with faculty to design a research project, which can result in the completion of an honors thesis. Students have the opportunity to participate in the Millersville University student research conference, "Made in Millersville," and the PASSHE Undergraduate Anthropology Research Conference.