COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology and Heritage Studies program at Wilfrid Laurier University offers students a comprehensive curriculum that combines foundational knowledge, practical fieldwork, and specialized upper-year courses to prepare graduates for careers in archaeology, heritage management, and related fields. In the first year, students engage with core courses such as Doing Archaeology and Invitation to Archaeology, which introduce essential excavation techniques, research methods, and analytical skills required to study past societies. First-year electives allow students to broaden their understanding of historical contexts and cultural developments, with options like Ancient Rome: Not Just Caesar, Great Battles in History, and Greece: Minotaur to Alexander, providing insight into political, social, and military aspects of ancient civilizations. Upper-year courses build on this foundation with specialized topics, including Archaeology of Disasters, which examines human responses to catastrophic events; Indigenous Archaeology, emphasizing collaborative research with Indigenous communities; Life in the Stonehenge Era, exploring prehistoric societies; Environmental Archaeology, focusing on human-environment interactions; Managing Archaeological Collections, which teaches preservation and curation techniques; Archaeology of Death: Burial Practices Around the World, analyzing mortuary customs; and Health, Diet, Disease in the Past, investigating biological and cultural aspects of historical populations. Together, these courses equip students with the theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and cultural awareness necessary to interpret, preserve, and manage archaeological heritage responsibly and effectively in professional and academic settings.