This program offers two concentrations:
1) Material/Cultural Concentration: focuses on field-research-based topics that require a direct study of new archaeological data acquired through excavation. This concentration is designed for students who wish to pursue careers in secular archaeology and academia.
2) Historical/Biblical Concentration: focuses on either field-based or archival/historical archaeological research and a biblical-historical or textual approach toward research questions. This concentration will prepare students to teach in faith-based schools and colleges and/or in church settings.
Upon admission to the Ph.D. program and before the start of their first semester, the student must declare a concentration. After completing the six research seminars, the student’s chosen concentration will determine which two reading colloquia they will take, as well as the direction of their dissertation research.
It is possible to change concentrations with the approval of the student’s doctoral advisor and the department chair.