Academic Programs and Units

Academic Programs

Training in archaeology, material culture and the ancient world at the University of Michigan is situated in many different academic departments and programs, aptly reflecting the breadth of methodological and theoretical approaches to these topics. While undergraduate and graduate students are typically based in one of the programs described below, students have the opportunity to pursue coursework and research experiences across these many units, and to work with the rich collections of the University's museums and archival collections. For more information on any of these programs — including on the courses they offer, field and research opportunities, and faculty interests—follow the links below.

Anthropology
The Department of Anthropology is a dynamic four-field intellectual community formed by faculty and students in a mutual quest to understand the human condition in all its variety, past and present. The questions we explore are many. Some have persisted through over a century of anthropological inquiry, some have been refined or altered as a result of anthropological work, and some have emerged recently along with changing world conditions and new intellectual debates. Read more
Interdepartmental Program in Ancient Mediterranean Art and Archaeology (IPAMAA)
The Interdepartmental Program in Ancient Mediterranean Art and Archaeology (IPAMAA) offers a program of doctoral study in the visual and material culture of the ancient Mediterranean world. Read more
Classical Studies
The Department of Classical Studies offers a wide variety of courses in the languages and culture of both the ancient world and modern Greece. Students may choose a concentration or a minor that emphasizes archaeology, classical civilization, or the language and literature of Latin and/or Greek (ancient or modern). Read more
History
The Department of History offers graduate programs (including three joint degree programs), opportunities for undergraduates, and a wide variety of courses. The research fields of the ninety faculty members illustrate the exceptional breadth and depth of the department. Read more
History of Art
The Department of the History of Art takes a global and multicultural perspective to studying images and objects. Rigorous, cutting-edge, and inspiring, our program emphasises critical thinking, in-depth study, and an interdisciplinary curriculum. Read more
Asian Languages and Cultures
The Department of Asian Languages and Cultures is a center for the exploration of the humanities of Asia, where students are invited to cross the boundaries of nations (including China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Korea) and of disciplines (including literature, film, language, religion, and history) in order develop two vital qualities: a deep local knowledge and a broad global perspective. Read more
Middle East Studies
The Department of Middle East Studies offers several programs of study at the B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. levels, covering Near Eastern languages, literatures, civilizations, linguistics, history, Ancient studies, Biblical studies, Egyptology, Medieval Islamic history and Islamic studies. Read more
Museum Studies
At Michigan, students engage with museums in their seemingly infinite variety and from an interdisciplinary perspective that draws upon a rich body of museum-focused scholarship and cultural theory derived from multiple academic disciplines. Course work for the Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies and the Undergraduate Minor in Museum Studies emphasizes both theory and application and includes campus-based proseminars/lecture courses, cognates/electives from a variety of fields, and practica/internships, where the museum itself becomes the site of learning. The Museum Studies Program provides outstanding opportunities to engage intellectually, professionally, and interpersonally with the world of museums. Read more

Museums

Museum of Anthropological Archaeology
The Museum of Anthropological Archaeology (formerly Museum of Anthropology) is a research and collection unit housing archaeological and ethnographic collections from around the globe. The Museum's curators are international leaders in archaeological research, with projects in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. The Museum's collections are used in undergraduate and graduate student research and training and portions are displayed in the University's Museum of Natural History and other campus and off-campus venues. Read more
Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
The Kelsey Museum houses a collection of more than 100,000 ancient and medieval objects from the civilizations of the Mediterranean and the Near East. The Kelsey offers regularly changing special exhibitions and sponsors research, educational programs for children, and fieldwork projects, as well as housing the Interdepartmental Program in Classical Art and Archaeology. Read more
Museum of Paleontology
The Museum of Paleontology is a research museum devoted to study the history of life, interpretation of its meaning, and sharing these experiences with students. Read more