Archaeology

How can I study Archaeology?
What is Archaeology?

Archaeology is the scientific study of our human past. Archaeologists search out and excavate ancient sites and examine their artefacts and environmental contexts to gain clues about how various peoples and cultures developed and changed through the ages. Archaeologists at UQ undertake research of international importance and their varied interests take them into the field in Australasia, the Pacifi c (Hawaii, Easter Island), the Mediterranean and Near East (Pompeii, Turkey), the Maya region of Central America, India and France.

In Australia they study the archaeology of 50,000 years of Aboriginal settlement as well as the post-European colonisation period. Through hands-on experience in courses, students learn the many skills needed to uncover secrets of our past through directed exercises in the field, the Archaeological Science Laboratory and the Anthropology Museum. The Archaeology Program offers a range of exciting and useful courses for those wanting a career in archaeology as well as those people in industry and government departments interested in undertaking various land, environment and cultural heritage related research and evaluation projects. 

What job can I get?

In the modern world, most archaeologists get jobs connected with cultural heritage and its conservation, and this is true for the several hundred archaeologists working in Australia. Many are employed by the public service, large corporations and private archaeological consultancy firms to undertake archaeological investigations of development sites.   [more]

Further study

Students are encouraged to undertake a fourth year of study, honours, as preparation for a professional career. The refining of applied research skills and knowledge in a fourth year gives an opportunity to develop a research question, identify and analyse the elements, investigate and explain, and develop an hypothesis. This is a valuable and exciting year dedicated to advanced coursework and to original research. Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

More information

School of Social Science
Domestic students - socialscience@uq.edu.au
International students - study@uq.edu.au

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