Program Description:

​

Full tuition scholarships are available for excellent research students based on criteria.

​

The International MA Program in Archaeology is carried out in one of the world's most dynamic centers for prehistoric research. Both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a biosphere reserve, Mount Carmel 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. Unlike any other region in the world, Mount Carmel’s key sites, such as the caves of Tabun and Skhul, preserve evidence of both modern humans and Neanderthal populations, at sites less than 100 meters from each other. For over 80 years, research expeditions working in Mount Carmel have investigated “Out of Africa” human expansions, the role of past climate change in the evolution of culture, as well as the establishment of agriculture and the emergence of farming villages – all issues at the heart of world prehistory research.

 

The program focuses on the prehistory and paleo environment of Mount Carmel and each student can choose to specialize in one of many relevant topics, such as lithic, faunal, geological and palynological studies. Students can 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 method and theory, and archaeology of the Southern Levant.

 

The one-year program is taught in English over three consecutive semesters from October through 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.

​

Field Work:

​

Archaeology starts and ends in the field. As part of the program, students are exposed to applied sciences, research methods, hands-on experience with sites and settings of Mount Carmel, the Galilee and the Negev, and an acquaintance with the challenges of prehistoric research. The interdisciplinary curriculum offers students exceptional opportunities for advanced training and individual research in a dynamic learning environment, with exclusive access to the natural laboratory provided by the diverse landscapes and numerous prehistoric sites of Mount Carmel.

 

Researchers in the Department of Archaeology are currently conducting surveys and excavations in a wide variety of sites and offer students the opportunity to take an active role in these projects.

​

Why study Prehistoric Archaeology at the University of Haifa, Israel?

​

The International MA Program in Archaeology is carried out in one of the world's most dynamic centers of prehistoric research. Both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a biosphere reserve bridging between Europe, Asia and Africa, our hands-on fieldwork in Mount Carmel 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. Unmatched by any other region in the world, these key sites preserve evidence of modern humans, Neanderthal populations and 'Out of Africa' human expansions, alongside a magnitude of cultural, environmental and agricultural challenges within the dynamic evolution of mankind.

​

Highlights 

​

• An opportunity to join a hands-on learning program aimed at training students in prehistoric archaeology through field work, research of dynamic environments, and ecological settings.

• Ongoing practical training and exposure to advanced research and knowledge through excavations and workshops

• Exclusive access to natural laboratories such as Mount Carmel, the Galilee and the Negev.

• Learning and applying versatile data-driven tools to analyze and test anthropological theories.

• A stimulating environment enhancing opportunities for mutual interaction, exchange of ideas, and broadening global perspectives related to prehistoric archaeology.

• Attractive scholarships for eligible students

• A one-year program awarding graduates a Master of Arts (MA) in Archaeology

•