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Bilkent University

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Undergraduate and Graduate Programs 2024-2025


ARCHAEOLOGY

Peter Louis M. Talloen, Ph.D., Chair

Academic Staff
Courses

Teaching and research activities of the department concentrate on the archaeology, history and art of Anatolia, the Mediterranean, and the ancient Near East. Students will have opportunities to take part in excavations, surveys and research projects.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

The undergraduate program in the Department of Archaeology aims to provide a thorough and comprehensive understanding of archaeology, ancient history, and ancient and medieval art and architecture. Our attention centers on Türkiye and its neighbors: the Ancient Near East (Neolithic period, Bronze Age, and Iron Age); the Classical world (Greeks and Romans); and the Byzantine Empire. Despite this regional focus, cultures from different parts of the world also form a regular part of our teaching (such as World Prehistory, Prehistoric Europe, and Ancient Mesoamerican Civilizations). Our courses include not only academic work but also practical training, as in drawing of archaeological finds and surveying, and are supplemented by field trips to museums and archaeological sites. In addition, students are required to participate in archaeological projects (surface surveys or excavations) conducted by the Department or sponsored by other institutions, or to undertake an internship in a museum or other cultural institution. The Department teaching staff will help place students in their summer apprenticeship.

The first two years of the program introduce students to the main themes of archaeological study: the methods, theory, and history of archaeology; art and architectural history; and the geography and civilizations of southwest Asia and the Mediterranean basin. Building on this foundation, the third and fourth years feature more specialized subjects. These advanced courses are often offered as electives, allowing students to choose subjects that particularly interest them. Additional requirements include the study of ancient languages, either four semesters of one language or two semesters each of two languages: the choices are Greek, Hittite, or Latin.

At the end of the program, students will emerge with a good knowledge of Ancient Near Eastern, Classical, and Medieval art and archaeology, with a particular familiarity with the sites, monuments, and cultural history of Türkiye. For some, an area of specialty will already be clear, an opening towards a future career.

CURRICULUM

FIRST YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
CS 121  Introduction to Computer Applications and Programming  2  2  3  5
ENG 101  English and Composition I  5    3  5
GE 100  Orientation      1  2
HART 111  Introduction to Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 117  Ways of Seeing: Approaches to Art and Architectural History  3    3  5
HART 125  Archaeological Illustration  3    3  5
TURK 101  Turkish I      2  3.5

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
ENG 102  English and Composition II  5    3  5
HART 120  Human Evolution and World Prehistory  3    3  5
HART 126  Fieldwork Methodologies in Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 225  Cultural Anthropology  3    3  5
TURK 102  Turkish II      2  3.5
  PSYC 100 or PSYC 102      3  -

SECOND YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
GE 250  Collegiate Activities Program I      -  1
HART 222  From Villages to Empires in Ancient Mesopotamia  3    3  5
HART 227  Greek Archaeology  3    3  5
HCIV 101  History of Civilization I  3    3  5
HIST 200  History of Turkey  3    4  6.5
  Ancient Language Requirement I      3  -
  MATH Elective      3  -

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
GE 251  Collegiate Activities Program II      1  2
HART 208  Roman Art and Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 219  Anatolia I-Hunters,Farmers,Merchants in Prehistoric Anatolia  3    3  5
HCIV 102  History of Civilization II  3    3  5
PHIL 102  Ancient Philosophy  3    3  5
  Ancient Language Requirement II      3  -

THIRD YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
ECON 103  Principles of Economics  4    3  5
HART 310  Introduction to Digital Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 399  Summer Practice I      -  6
  Ancient Language Requirement III      3  -
  Department Elective      3  -
  Science Elective      3  -
  Social Science Core Elective      3  -

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
COMD 358  Professional Communication  3    3  5
HART 325  Anatolia II- The World of Hittites  3    3  5
  Ancient Language Requirement IV      3  -
  Arts Core Elective      3  -
  Department Elective      3  -

FOURTH YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
HART 305  Byzantine and Islamic Art and Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 401  Summer Practice II      -  6
HART 409  Museum Practices and the Preservation of Cultural Heritage  3    3  5
HART 423  Anatolia III-Life in Greek and Roman Anatolia (Classical Anatolia)  3    3  5
  Department Elective      6  -
  General Elective      3  -

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
HART 400  Senior Project      3  5
HART 426  Ancient Technologies and Materials  3    3  5
HART 436  Archaeological Method and Theory  3    3  5
  Department Electives (2)      6  -
  General Elective      3  -

DEPARTMENT ELECTIVES

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
HART 206  Mythologies of the Ancient Mediterranean World  3    3  5
HART 231  Ancient Greek I  3    3  5
HART 232  Ancient Greek II  3    3  5
HART 239  Latin I  3    3  5
HART 240  Latin II  3    3  5
HART 303  Greek Sculpture  3    3  5
HART 307  Monumental Painting  3    3  5
HART 317  Archaeology of Troy  3    3  5
HART 333  Ancient Greek III  3    3  5
HART 343  Latin III  3    3  5
HART 348  Coloring Greek and Roman Antiquity: Mosaics, Paintings and Sculptures  3    3  5
HART 352  Monuments of Rome  3    3  5
HART 372  Hittite I  3    3  5
HART 373  Hittite II  3    3  5
HART 376  The Land of a Thousand Gods: History and Literature of Ancient Anatolia  3    3  5
HART 410  Special Topics in Art, Architecture and Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 434  Landscape Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 440  Readings in Anatolian Art and Archaeology  3    3  5

MINOR PROGRAM

The Minor Track in Archaeology aims to provide students with a useful background for many careers different from "hardcore archaeology", such as publishing, tourism, communications, law, management and finance, international relations, and government service. The Minor track is designed to equip candidates with both broad and in-depth knowledge in Pre-Classical and Classical archaeology, its current research objectives, methodologies and applications.

Prerequisite Courses: None

CURRICULUM

Courses

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
HART 111  Introduction to Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 208  Roman Art and Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 219  Anatolia I-Hunters,Farmers,Merchants in Prehistoric Anatolia  3    3  5
HART 227  Greek Archaeology  3    3  5
  HART electives (2)      6  -

GRADUATE PROGRAM

Master of Arts in Archaeology

The Department of Archaeology offers a graduate program leading to the M.A. degree. The program focuses on the archaeology and art of Anatolia from the Prehistoric to the Medieval period, within its Mediterranean and Near Eastern context. Instruction is primarily through courses that encourage independent research, and emphasis is placed on individuality of thought as well as a thorough knowledge of the field and the application of critical methods to archaeological problems.

Admission: Applicants are normally expected to have an undergraduate major in archaeology, history of art, anthropology, or a related subject, and must demonstrate a proficiency in English. Students from other disciplines are also eligible for the program, providing they remedy deficiencies in their academic background by completing up to one year of preparatory courses prior to beginning the Master's program. (Also refer to the ''Graduate Admissions'' section in the introduction of this catalog for the general graduate admission requirements.)

Degree Requirements: The program requires students to complete a minimum of 21 units of course work (a total of at least 7 courses), comprising courses in Archaeological Method and Theory, Research Directives in Archaeology and Anatolian Art, and seminars in Pre-Classical and Classical Archaeology. A range of seminar topics is offered within each specified period, and these are varied each semester according to the needs of the students and the specialties of the instructors. Students are encouraged to take an ancient language (Ancient Greek, Latin, Hittite, or Akkadian, as offered). Students who wish to supplement their academic background are permitted to attend undergraduate lecture courses and seminars either as auditors or for extra credit. They can also enroll in Erasmus exchange programs or internships in various European countries.

By the end of the second year the student will complete a Master's thesis in a specialized field of study. Participation in an approved field project or internship is a recommended part of the program. By the second year at the latest a reading knowledge of French or German must be demonstrated through examination.

GRADUATE CURRICULUM

Courses

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
GE 500  Research Methods and Academic Publication Ethics      -  1
GE 590  Academic Practices      -  12
HART 501  Issues in Archaeological Theory  3    3  5
HART 519  Research Directions for Anatolian Archaeology and Art  3    3  5
HART 590  Seminar      -  1
HART 599  Master's Thesis      -  71
  Core Electives (3)      9  15
  Restricted Electives (2)      6  10

CORE ELECTIVES

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
HART 507  Pre-Classical Art and Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 509  Classical Art and Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 510  Issues in Classical Art and Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 514  Readings in Classical Archaeology  3    3  5

RESTRICTED ELECTIVES

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
ARCH 411  Conservation of Historical Environments  3    3  5
HART 409  Museum Practices and the Preservation of Cultural Heritage  3    3  5
HART 410  Special Topics in Art, Architecture and Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 423  Anatolia III-Life in Greek and Roman Anatolia (Classical Anatolia)  3    3  5
HART 426  Ancient Technologies and Materials  3    3  5
HART 434  Landscape Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 507  Pre-Classical Art and Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 509  Classical Art and Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 510  Issues in Classical Art and Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 514  Readings in Classical Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 519  Research Directions for Anatolian Archaeology and Art  3    3  5
HART 542  Hittite I  3    3  5
HART 543  Hittite II  3    3  5
HART 551  Ancient Greek I  3    3  5
HART 552  Ancient Greek II  3    3  5
HART 553  Ancient Greek III  3    3  5
HART 554  Ancient Greek IV  3    3  5
HART 563  Latin I  3    3  5
HART 564  Latin II  3    3  5
HART 576  The Land of a Thousand Gods: History and Literature of Ancient Anatolia  3    3  5
HART 583  Latin III  3    3  5
HIST 413  Byzantine History I: 324-1025  3    3  5
HIST 414  Byzantine History II: 1025-1453  3    3  5
HIST 5513  Venice between the Byzantines and the Ottomans (ca. 300 - ca. 1700 CE)  3    3  5

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