How does the course of study work?

The study of Archaeology starts with a Bachelor program that aims to teach the basics of the field. It is modelled on a duration of 6 semesters (1 semester is half a year, so 3 years) and a so-called fundamental study program. Fundamental means that one does not need to present any previous knowledge. Further information on the BA study programs can be found under the section “study programs”.

Although a Bachelor degree is officially considered a degree that prepares for the future employment, all openings that deal with research (at universities, museums, or bureaus) require a Master degree (M.A. = Master of Arts, not Magister Artium).

The Master program is consecutive, which means that it builds up on the previous BA studies. People that finished a degree in another field of study, has to show evidence that a certain amount of credit points has been fulfilled in Archaeology, otherwise one cannot be accepted into a MA program in Archaeology. The course of study of the Master program is laid out for 4 semesters, or 2 years. Further information can be found here.

The Bachelor as well as the Master can be studied as a single or double major. If choosing the single major, one can choose one or two of the Archaeologies offered in Cologne (Prehistoric Archaeology, Classical Archaeology, Archaeology of the Roman Provinces, Egyptology). In the study course of the Master program, the methodological choice of Archaeoinformatics is also possible.

If choosing a double major, one can only combine one of the archaeologies with an external degree course. From an archaeological point of view, the following fields can be recommended (in alphabetic order):

• Ancient Languages and Cultures (ASuK), especially: ASuK-Ancient History, ASuk-Latin, Philology/Middle Latin Philology and ASuk-Greek Philology/Byzantine Studies
• Ethnology
• Geography (only by request)
• History
• Digital Humanities (especially in combination with Archaeoinformatics)
• Art History

Some combinations are not possible. Details can be found here: http://phil-fak.uni-koeln.de/sites/phil-fak/Relaunch_Startseite/Bachelor/Bachelor-Kombinationen.jpg

Requirements for the study of Archaeology 

For most courses of study at the University of Cologne a general university admission, f. e. the Abitur.

It is also necessary, to acquire an understanding of Latin if one wants to focus on the Roman culture, which means Classical Archaeology or Archaeology of the Roman Provinces. If these requirements are not met from previous school classes, they can also be done within the course of study.

Besides, an interest in ancient cultures is necessary; students of Archaeology should be prepared to work on excavations outside of Germany.