Introduction

Welcome to the Department of Archaeology!

We are a close-knit department with dedicated faculty who have been awarded recognition for their teaching at the university and national level as well as an active alumni community. Small class sizes enable us to successfully help our students (who have joined us from 40 states including Alaska and Hawaii and from as far away as Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Oman, Japan, Nepal and the United Kingdom) to pursue their educational passions and achieve their career goals.

  • We are one of only a few stand-alone archaeology departments in the nation and are unusual in that we grant a BA in archaeology, rather than classical studies or history. The archaeology major concentrates on the ancient Mediterranean, Near East, and Western Europe.

  • The interdisciplinary nature of the major provides the necessary preparation to attend graduate school or enter the workforce directly. Students are offered a wide variety of classes in our program from the ever-popular Greek Mythology to Egyptian Archaeology, and Archaeology of Pompeii, as well as more experiential classes such as Greek Ceramics, Ancient Food & Drink, and Computers in Archaeology.

  • Starting Fall 2023 students have the opportunity to enroll in our new anthropology major. Dr. Kyle Clark a cultural anthropologist offers a wide range of classes including biological anthropology and linguistics. Archaeology and anthropology pair well as a double majors giving our students a unique option not often available at other universities.

  • Our majors have the unique opportunity to learn excavation and lab techniques at the only ongoing on-campus excavation in the nation, led by Dr. Alan Kaiser. The Tin City excavation project, begun in 2003, offers students a chance to practice archaeological field methods as well as the possibility for independent research.

  • In addition, the post-excavation phase of the Jezreel Expedition offers our undergraduates the chance to work closely with Dr. Jennie Ebeling, alumni, and other professionals on research projects for possible publication. This is an experience not offered in any other undergraduate archaeology program.

  • We provide our majors and minors with an exceptional opportunity to learn about historic preservation and modern architecture by working as a tour guide/docent at the campus' own historical home designed by Evansville native William Wesley Peters, who was Frank Lloyd Wright's favorite apprentice and, later, son-in-law.

  • The academic profile of archaeology majors is high. Every semester, approximately 20 students make the Dean's List. Students seek out and have been awarded competitive undergraduate scholarships from the National Science Foundation, National Park Service, and UExplore Undergraduate Research. With a pool of motivated students like these, the department has produced many successful alumni who work in an array of fields.