General Description / Special Programs
Undergraduate four-field approach with emphasis in archaeology, bioanthropology, forensic anthropology, and socio-cultural anthropology. Graduate concentrations in Archaeology, and Forensic and Biological Anthropology. Research links between departments of Anthropology/Archaeology, Applied Forensic Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, and History provide multiple concentrations and research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. An undergraduate thesis requirement and multiple hands-on opportunities provide students with specialized training, mentored instruction, and tailored degree paths. Field and laboratory instruction at the graduate and undergraduate levels are highlighted through annual field training programs, forensic cases, and forensic and biological anthropology short-courses. Important research partnership
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Degrees
Degrees Offered Anthropology MS, Anthropology/Archaeology BA/BS, Applied Forensic Science BS
Highest Degree Offered MA/MS
Certificate Info Forensic and Biological Anthropology
Certificate Field Areas
Forensics
BA/BS Field Areas
Anthropology
Archaeology
Biological Anthropology
Forensic Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology
BA/BS Requirements
14 intro credits, 15 upper-division credits, and 12 upper-division elective credits or 18-24 concentration credits in chosen areas of concentration, Also 2-7 co-requisite lab-science and statistic courses, and a foreign language requirement.
MA/MS Field Areas
Anthropology
Archaeology
Biological Anthropology
Forensic Anthropology
Experience Offered
Internship
MA/MS
MA/ MS Requirements Two-year MS program. 6-8 concentration- specific required courses depending upon subfield. 30 total credit hour requirement. Comprehensive examinations after the first year. Thesis requirement for archaeology and geoarchaeology concentration. Publishable paper in forensic and biological anthropology concentration.
MA/MS Specializations Master's Degree in Anthropology, concentrations in Archaeology and Forensic and Biological Anthropology.
Internship / Grants / Funding
Internships Available 1
Internship Required 0
Support Opportunities Support is available through work-study and summer employment opportunities and internships. Mercyhurst Anthropology/Archaeology and Applied Forensic Science departments offer opportunities to participate in public and privately funded archaeological and research and contracts, and forensic anthropological research and projects for coroners and law enforcement agencies.
Program Details
Research Facilities The Department of Anthropology/Archaeology in collaboration with the Applied Forensic Sciences and Geology Departments maintains twelve specialized research laboratories for the analysis and curation of archaeological, geoarchaeological, biological, and forensic materials, as well as GIS. HRAF files are available in the Main Library, and the department maintains a graphics and poster production facility. Specialized archaeology labs include: The Center for Perishable Analysis, an Archaeological Processing and Curation facility, and a Conservation & Preservation laboratory with a climate controlled storage facility. Four other laboratories are dedicated to ethnographic research, the analysis of lithic and groundstone artifacts, historic material culture, and historic cemeteries and grave markers. We have an instrumentation and Imaging facility housing a Polynomial Texture Mapping (PTM) imaging device, a Bruker Tracer III- V+ Portable XRF system, an Olympus Terra Field Portable XRF/XRD Instrument, a Breuckmann SmartSCAN-5MP Color 3-D Scanning System, small and medium format film and digital cameras, and photographic lighting systems. Three geological laboratories used by our archaeology students house a Beckman-Coulter LS 200 particle characterization system; a dedicated Regents Instruments WinDENDRO workstation with an LA 2400 scanner; thin sectioning and microscopy equipment, and a 24-seat geospatial analysis lab with ArcGIS, ENVI 5, and the Adobe Creative Suite. There are four dedicated forensic and biological laboratory and storage facilities including an Osteology Laboratory, an osteology storage/graduate student building, and a Forensic Anthropology Human Remains Processing Laboratory containing a large-scale autopsy and processing wet sink with associated fume hood, photography table, and Faxitron radiographic unit; and an alarm protected interior evidence storage room. Our Hertzel Human Anatomy and Forensic Laboratory includes a walk-in cooler for specimen and case storage, aclassroom, an expanded human remains processing laboratory with a large wet sink, a digital x-ray system, and an additional secure evidence storage room. In-house field equipment for archaeology and forensic anthropology includes a sub-meter GPS device, a robotic total station, a fluxgate magnetometer, and an electromagnetic resistivity remote sensing/prospecting instrument.
Library Resources The Department of Anthropology/Archaeology houses two research libraries with publications pertaining to archaeology, perishable material culture, biological anthropology, and forensic anthropology. The Hammermill Library at Mercyhurst University provides print books and journals, HRAF files, a large on-line book catalog, and services in support of the department curricula and the scholarly needs and interests of faculty and students.
Publications Mercyhurst Archaeology Reports of Investigations
Certs Offered 1
Contacts
Online Courses
Online Courses: 0
Club / Honor Society
Anthropology Club: 1
Anthropology Club Info: The Anthropology Club attends disciplinary conferences, and sponsors a lecture series and various activities to increase awareness and understanding of anthropology among students and the general public. There is also an Applied Forensic Science student organization.
Anthropology Club Advisor: Ruth Jolie, PhD
Lambda Alpha Chapter: 1