Archaeology

Coordinator: Timothy Renner

Jointly sponsored by the Departments of Anthropology, Classics and General Humanities, and Art and Design, together with support from the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, this minor offers an interdisciplinary program in the study of ancient and other past cultures through investigation of their material remains. Coursework includes overviews of ancient Old World and New World cultures and the study of archaeological method and theory. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the extensive coursework offered by the University in modern and ancient languages and in the natural and social sciences. The overall course of study in Archaeology helps lead to a sophisticated understanding of material remains in the larger context of human society. It also shows how material evidence can compare with and supplement the evidence of written texts that are available for historical cultures (e.g., those of the Romans of the Imperial age or European settlers in 18th century North America).

Through programs run directly by the University's Center for Heritage and Archaeological Studies in northern New Jersey (for prehistoric and historical North American archaeology), as well as through faculty-conducted projects in other regions (e.g., the Caribbean or Mediterranean), students have excellent opportunities to participate in fieldwork as part of their curriculum and/or pre-professional experience in archaeology. Here they are able to develop basic fieldwork skills in surveying, excavating, mapping, and artifact analysis. In addition, training in geoarchaeology is available from Montclair State's Earth and Environmental Studies faculty.

The Archaeology minor makes a good complement to any liberal arts or professional studies major. In general archaeology has recently become a subject of great interest to many parts of our society. Students who pursue careers in the media, the travel industry, and international business (to name  a few) profit from this interdisciplinary study. Moreover, historic preservation  legislation has resulted in important employment opportunities in the private (applied archaeology) and public (government agencies, state museums) sectors, especially for students who major in Anthropology. Government funded or permitted development projects frequently require environmental impact studies, including archaeological and heritage investigations; these kinds of studies are typically carried out by heritage preservation or large environmental engineering firms. Finally, students who wish to pursue master's or doctoral level studies in preparation for a career in teaching, research, or museum work will find the Archaeology minor to be excellent background, especially when combined with a major such as Anthropology, Art History, Classics, or Earth and Environmental Studies.

Montclair State University Application or Common App

Please note: The Common App option is for Freshman applicants only.

• Applications for undergraduate admissions are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Check your application status. (If you applied through The Common App, you must create a Montclair State account to check your status. An email will be sent to you with those log-in credentials once your application is received.)
• Montclair State University considers a number of factors in reviewing admissions applications. Well-qualified candidates for admission have a 3.2 or higher cumulative high school GPA on an unweighted, 4.0 scale, a challenging course load (particularly in junior and senior years), and a variety of extracurricular activities.
• Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required, but, if you chose to submit those scores, they will be considered in the admissions process.
• Other factors considered in our holistic review process include: strong letters of recommendation from teachers and/or counselors; a well-written, thoughtful admissions essay; and a commitment to extracurricular engagement, both in school and in the community.