The reconstruction of these societies through the interpretation of material culture permits archaeology to span both the prehistoric and the historic periods. While certain Archaeology Program courses originate within the program, others are cross-listed from the departments of Anthropology, Art and Art History, and Classical Civilization. Majors design their own curriculum in close consultation with their advisor according to the specific area of concentration within the discipline.

Archaeology is the discipline most directly concerned with the understanding and explanation of past societies through the study of their material remains. The reconstruction of those societies through the interpretation of material culture permits archaeology to span both the prehistoric and the historic periods. While certain Archaeology courses originate within the program, others are cross-listed in the departments of Anthropology, Art and Art History, Classical Civilization, American Studies, and History, as well as in the Medieval Studies Program.