Archaeology and Heritage Studies (BA)

Laurier’s Archaeology and Heritage Studies (BA) program offers cutting-edge training in excavation techniques, alongside advanced laboratory analysis methods. You'll gain experience working with Indigenous, descendant, and local communities to preserve cultural heritage. Your future professors will share their expertise in New World and Ancient Mediterranean archaeology, preparing you with modern field and analytical techniques. 

This program emphasizes contemporary methods within the broader context of heritage conservation and preservation, equipping you with the knowledge and skills needed for a successful career.

Program Details

Degree Highlights

Your future professors work hard to make sure your academic experience is current, complete and designed to open doors in your career. Here are a few things you can count on:

  • Field School: Experience hands-on archaeological exploration through our four field schools, which rotate every two years. Right now we’re partnered with: 16th/17th-century Wendat (Huron) village, Biblical Town of Nebo (Khirbat al-Mukhayyat) in Jordan, Minoan palace of Gournia in Crete, and Old Fort Erie, a War of 1812 site.
  • Research and Internships: Engage in research at field schools and contribute to projects that may lead to publications and conference presentations. Additionally, apply for a three-month internship with the Canadian Institute in Greece, located in Athens, a hub for archaeological research.
  • Path to Business or Education: Combine your archaeology degree with business through the Management Option or the BA+MBA program Co-op Pathway. Interested in education as a career? Explore teaching with the Teaching Option, which prepares those interested in a Bachelor of Education for K-12 teaching.

Top Experiences

Here are just a few of our students’ favourite ways to apply their learning in the real world throughout their degree (check out the Experience Guide for even more!): 

  • Fieldwork and Travel: Enroll in advanced spring/summer fieldwork courses to explore archaeological sites in locations like Jordan and Greece, enhancing your practical experience.
  • Overseas Excavation Funding: Financial support is available for students involved in overseas excavations through several awards.
  • Capstone Projects and Specializations: Pursue diverse interests in your fourth-year capstone project, ranging from underwater archaeology to educational approaches.
  • Instructional Experience: Apply for instructional assistant positions in archaeology labs and field courses to gain teaching experience and deepen your expertise.
  • Global and Cultural Engagement: Complete the Intercultural Certificate with Global Engagement and work with Cultural Management firms on archaeological assessments of land under development during summer.

Courses, Options and Pathways

First-Year Core Courses

  • Doing Archaeology
  • Invitation to Archaeology

Sample First-Year Electives

  • Ancient Rome: Not Just Caesar
  • Great Battles in History
  • Greece: Minotaur to Alexander

Sample Upper-Year Courses

  • Archeology of Disasters
  • Indigenous Archeology
  • Life in the Stonehenge Era
  • Environmental Archeology
  • Manging Archeological Collections
  • Acheology of Death: Burial Practices Around the World
  • Health, Diet, Disease in the Past

Options and Minors

Add an option or a minor to your program of study. Popular choices include:

  • Management Option
  • Geomatics Option
  • Geography Minor
  • History Minor
  • Medieval Studies Minor
  • Climate Change Management Option
  • Anthropology Minor

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

Business Pathways

Enhance your degree with a Management Option or get a head-start on graduate studies by applying to the BA + Masters of Business Administration with co-op. Apply directly to either on the Ontario Universities' Application Centre.

Check out all pathways to and from Laurier.

Admissions

  • Format: full time or part time
  • Duration: four years
  • Start: September (fall term) or January (winter term)

Your Career Awaits

It’s not only about the journey; it’s about the destination. Let us help you get to where you’re going.

Here are just some examples of our graduates' destinations. What’s yours?

Sample Career Options

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

  • archaeological site surveyor
  • artifact analyst
  • collections curator
  • crime scene investigator
  • field archaeologist
  • forensic analyst
  • GIS specialist
  • historical preservation specialist
  • underwater archaeologist
  • urban planner

Explore more careers.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

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Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

 

Laurier is among the top 6 percent in the Global 2000 World University Ranking

 

Laurier students engaged in hands-on learning in 2023

 

Laurier graduates employed or in post-graduate studies in 2023

Waterloo Campus

The Waterloo campus is tucked into about one city block, so you’re steps away from your classes, food and your new favourite study spot.

There are many ways to tour our Waterloo campus, whether that's on a guided tour with one of our Laurier student ambassadors, on your own using virtual reality, or even on-demand through one of our pre-recorded tours. See our campus spaces and start to picture yourself at Laurier.

Chat with Current Students

Want to know what it’s really like to be in this program? U Community is our Discord server where future Golden Hawks like you can connect with current students to get their first-hand stories and tips on living and learning at Laurier.

Connect with Us

Questions? Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all contact information.


You Belong Here

Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?