Archaeology, M.A.

Both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a biosphere reserve, the Mount Carmel area reveals a nearly 500,000 year-long sequence of human evolution exposed in caves, rock shelters and open-air sites along mountain valleys and the nearby coastal plain.

The Archaeology programme is offered by the University of Haifa. Unlike any other region in the world, Mount Carmel’s key sites, such as the Tabun and Skhul caves, preserve evidence of both modern human and Neanderthal populations, at sites less than 100 meters from each other. As such, situated atop the Carmel Mountain, Haifa University provides students with an ideal setting for the study of Prehistoric Archaeology and an invaluable opportunity to take part in field research all over Israel’s historic landscape.

The program focuses on the prehistory and paleoenvironment of the Mount Carmel region and each student can choose to specialize in one of many relevant topics, such as lithic, faunal, geological and palynological studies. Students will benefit from a rich variety of courses focusing on prehistoric studies, as well as from a range of additional key topics including environmental archaeology; archaeological theory and method; and archaeology of the Southern Levant.

The one-year program is taught in English over three consecutive semesters from October until September. Students wishing to pursue the thesis track will need to submit a research thesis within one year of completing their coursework, which may require remaining at the university for one or two additional semesters. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be awarded a Master of Arts in Archaeology.

Career

Graduates of the program can find employment with archaeological contractors, local government, university archaeology departments, national heritage agencies, national parks, museums and with independent archaeological consultants.