The University of Mary Washington offers a variety of courses to educate students as to archaeological history, methods, and theoretical perspectives. Courses occur through the Historic Preservation and Classics departments, which also provide opportunities to experience fieldwork in America and abroad. Courses offered through the Historic Preservation department primarily focus on interpretive methods, fieldwork, laboratory practices, and the curation of archaeological collections. Individuals interested in pursuing a career in archaeology can participate in the Department’s summer field school, currently held at Sherwood Forest Plantation (44ST615) in Stafford County, Virginia.
The Classics department courses focus on knowledge of the ancient world and its archaeological sites and, often are supplemented with classes from Art History, Anthropology, History, and Religion. Some of the Department of Historic Preservation’s classes also can be counted towards the Anthropology and Classics majors. Besides the classes listed below, students can increase their archaeological focus through special topics courses, faculty-guided individual studies, and internships. For more information, contact either Dr. Lauren McMillan in the Department of Historic Preservation Department or Professor Liane Houghtalin in the Classics Department.
Courses Offered in Archaeology:
Historic Preservation: 
HISP 207- American Archaeology
Introduction to field and laboratory methods and interpretive issues of North American archaeology, with emphasis on historical archaeology.
HISP 308- Cultural Resource Management
Prerequisite: Historic Preservation 102. Examination of how historic preservation services are provided in legal and contractual contexts within the public sector. Topics include resource assessment, organizational management, proposals and budgets, and ethics.
HISP 327- Analytical Archaeology
Prerequisite: Historic Preservation 207. Exploration of a selected series of archaeological topics at an advanced, analytical level. Incorporates an examination of how archaeological data are analyzed with respect to research objectives, theoretical concepts, and cultural interpretations.
HISP 462- Laboratory Methods in Archaeology
Prerequisite: Historic Preservation 207. Laboratory procedures for the processing, identification, analysis, and interpretation of artifacts, with emphasis on quantitative analysis and collections management.
HISP 467- Field Methods in Archaeology
Prerequisites: Historic Preservation 207 or permission of the instructor. Fieldwork-intensive introduction to the techniques for sampling, excavating, recording, and interpreting archaeological sites. Summer only.
Classics:
CLAS 305- Egyptian and Near Eastern Art and Archaeology
Prerequisite: Art History 114. Using the methodologies developed by archaeologists and art historians, this course will examine the artistic and architectural traditions of Egypt and the Near East from the prehistoric through the Greco-Roman periods. Cross-listed as Art History 305.
CLAS 380- Archaeology in the Greek and Roman World
Prerequisite: Art History 114 or Classics 103 or Classics 105. Study of the archaeological excavation of the Greek and Roman world, with emphasis on the history, techniques, and ethics of classical archaeology.
CLAS 390- The Ancient City
Prerequisite: Art History 114 or Classics 103 or Classics 105. The growth and development of selected urban centers in the Greek and Roman world, with emphasis on the archaeological record.
