The Master of Science (Archaeological Science) will provide theoretical and practical knowledge, training, and skills for applying archaeological science to investigate the human past. Students with a strong anthropology background will learn to apply analytical methods from cognate disciplines such as chemistry, physics, geology, geography and biology to archaeological research. Students from the cognate disciplines will learn about archaeological research and methods in order to more effectively apply their discipline-specific knowledge. Therefore, the degree is both transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary encompassing work in a wide array of research areas, including archaeology, archaeobotany, archaeometry, digital archaeology, archaeochemistry, bioarchaeology, classical archaeology, paleoanthropology, paleoecology, geoarchaeology, archaeoinformatics, archaeological physics, remote sensing, molecular archaeology and zooarchaeology.

The program consists of 5.0 Full Course Equivalents (FCE) completed over two years (full-time): 1.0 FCE required courses, 1.0 FCE elective courses, and 3.0 FCE thesis. There is an expectation that students will undertake or participate in fieldwork and/or laboratory work, create new information that can be applied to a research topic, present their own results and critique those of others, and prepare and defend a research thesis under the supervision of a thesis advisor and committee.