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Title
Archaeology
Category
graduate
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c7621f864f644ee897c4454cb5b51958
Source URL
https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/discover-opportunities/explore...
Parent URL
https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/discover-opportunities/explore...
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2026-03-19T07:44:20+00:00
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# Archaeology

**Source**: https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/discover-opportunities/explore-programs/archaeology-phd
**Parent**: https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/discover-opportunities/explore-programs

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis-based program

[Start your application](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/how-apply)

## Program overview

Students in the Archaeology program experience a hands-on approach combining rigorous classroom and laboratory training with field work around the world. Opportunities for field experience have ranged from Western Canada to the circumpolar North, as well as Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The program is offered through the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, which embraces an integrative approach under the guidance of distinguished faculty members. Research areas include cultural heritage management, development of complexity, ethnoarchaeology, human-environment interaction, landscape, paleobotany, bioarchaeology, and social identity.

### Completing this program

- **Core Courses:** Theoretical Foundations and Topics in Archaeological Theory and Method or Theory and its Application in Biological Anthropology.
- **Professional Skills Course:** Professional Skills for Anthropologists or its equivalent.
- **Thesis:** Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.
- **Additional Courses:** Students may study hunter-gatherer adaptations, origins of agriculture, development of complex societies or other topics.
- **Candidacy:** Students will complete a research proposal and both oral and written candidacy exams.
- **Field Work:** Two seasons of field work, or an approved program of laboratory work for one of the field work seasons.

### Specializations

[Biological Anthropology (Interdisciplinary)](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/programs/BANTINTSPC)

### Outcomes

Museum Curator, Cultural Resource Management, Heritage Regulator, academic positions.

**A PhD in archaeology is usually considered a final degree.**

### Thesis-based program

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

### Courses

Two core courses and two electives

[Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/programs/ARKYPHD)

### Classroom delivery

### Time commitment

Four years full time; six years maximum

### Supervisor

A supervisor is required, but is not required prior to the start of the program

### Fees and funding

See the Graduate Calendar for information on [fees and fee regulations,](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/uofcregs/tuitionandfeesoverview/grad) and for information on [awards and financial assistance](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/uofcregs/studfinsupport/awardsgrad).

---

## Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.\
Please note: additional supervisors may be available. [Contact the program](mailto:anargrad@ucalgary.ca) for more information.

---

1. [Andrea Freeman](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/andrea-freeman)

   Accepting Inquiries

   Geoarcheology, Pedagogy in Geography and archaeology
2. [Diane Lyons](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/diane-lyons)

   Accepting Inquiries

   Ethnoarchaeology
3. [Julio Mercader Florin](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/julio-mercader-florin)

   Accepting Inquiries

   Environmental Archaeology, Geoarchaeology, Bioarchaeology, Chemical and Materials Science approaches to the Past
4. [Elizabeth Paris](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/elizabeth-paris)

   Accepting Inquiries

   Mesoamerican archaeology, Maya culture, Urbanism, Lithic analysis, Zooarchaeology, Archaeometallurgy, Compositional analysis, Economic archaeology
5. [Kathryn Reese-Taylor](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/kathryn-reese-taylor)

   Accepting Inquiries

   Maya archaeology, Mesoamerican anthropology, Remote sensing in archaeology, Landscape archaeology, Urbanism, Ceramic analysis

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## Admission requirements

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#### GPA

A minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.

#### Minimum education

A master’s degree or equivalent from a recognized institution.

#### Work samples

A specimen of relevant written work.

#### Documents

- A concise statement setting forth the reasons for wishing to pursue graduate work in this department

#### Reference letters

Two

#### Test scores

None

---

#### **English language proficiency (ELP)**

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in different ways. For accepted criteria, please refer to the program “Admissions” tab in the [Academic Calendar](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/programs/ARKYPHD).

*\*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements.*

#### Deadlines

**For admission on September 1:**

- Canadians and permanent residents: December 15 application deadline
- International students: December 15 application deadline

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about
[international requirements](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/international-students)

## Are you ready to apply?

[Application process](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/how-apply)

## Learn more about this program

### Department of Anthropology and Archaeology

Earth Sciences 620

2500 University Drive NW

Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

[Contact the Graduate Program Administrator](mailto:agscinquiry@ucalgary.ca)

[Visit the departmental website](https://arts.ucalgary.ca/anthropology-archaeology/anthropology-archaeology)

### Faculty of Arts

University of Calgary\
2500 University Drive NW\
Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

[Visit the Faculty of Arts website](https://arts.ucalgary.ca/)

## Related programs

If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.

#### [Archaeology](#collapse100823125)

[Thesis-based MA](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/archaeology-ma-thesis)

#### [Geography](#collapse305674640)

[Thesis-based MA](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/geography-ma-thesis)

[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/geography-msc-thesis)

[Course-based MGIS](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/geography-mgis-course)

[PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/geography-phd)

#### [History](#collapse1058462434)

[Thesis-based MA](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/history-ma-thesis)

[Course-based MA](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/history-ma-course)

[PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/history-phd)

#### [Physics and Astronomy](#collapse2034625727)

[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/physics-and-astronomy-msc-thesis)

[Course-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/physics-and-astronomy-msc-course)

[PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/physics-and-astronomy-phd)

#### [Sociology](#collapse1769676427)

[Thesis-based MA](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/sociology-ma-thesis)

[Thesis-based PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/sociology-phd)

## Curious about the University of Calgary?

Located in the nation's most enterprising city, we are a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude.

[Learn More about student life at UCalgary](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/student-life)