Naturwissenschaftliche Archäologie - Bachelor (minor subject)

This degree program is free of admission, i.e. you will receive a study place if you meet the admission requirements. Nevertheless, an application is required to check these prerequisites. The study program can only be started in the winter semester.

The prerequisite for studying at the University of Tübingen is the general university entrance qualification, usually the Abitur. Other university entrance qualifications are e.g. the Delta examination for prospective students with a "Fachhochschulreife" / "fachgebundene Hochschulreife", or a university entrance qualification for those with vocational qualifications. Applicants with foreign school-leaving qualifications should contact the Department of Counseling and Admission for International Students.

In Baden-Württemberg, there is an obligation to provide proof of participation in a study orientation procedure with enrollment in an undergraduate degree program (Studienorientierungsverfahren).

The language of study and examination is German. Individual courses may be held in English. A good knowledge of English is expected for the study of literature. Therefore, knowledge of English is required. However, formal proof of English proficiency is not required. German language skills to the extent of DSH-2 (Testdaf4) are required for foreign students.

International applicants *without* a German-language university entrance qualification must provide evidence of German language proficiency in accordance with the university's matriculation regulations (see also information on proof of linguistic study ability / DSH language test).

The minor comprises 60 ECTS and can be combined with any major subject at the University of Tübingen to the extent of 120 ECTS. Special reference is made to the major subject Prehistory, early history and archeology of the Middle Ages MA; the dates of the courses of these two subjects are coordinated.

Scientific archaeology refers to the application of scientific methods to answer archaeological questions. These methods come from chemistry, anthropology, zoology, genetics, etc.

The goal of this minor is to familiarize students of archaeological sciences with the basic principles of the natural scientific methods commonly used in archaeology and to teach them their potential and limitations. Students of archaeological sciences will be enabled to conceptually integrate natural scientific investigations in their own work from the beginning (e.g. when planning excavations). Furthermore, they will acquire knowledge of the suitability of different methods for their cultural-scientific questions, and they will be able to competently and critically assess the results of natural-scientific investigations. This will enable them to discuss the results together with natural scientists without difficulties of understanding. They will acquire fundamental knowledge in the six specializations of natural history archaeology: Geoarchaeology, Archaeometry, Zooarchaeology, Paleogenetics, Paleoanthropology, and Archaeobotany. Here, students can choose to focus on the study of organic materials ("organic route") or inorganic materials ("inorganic route").

The study programs of the Institute for Archaeological Sciences are linked to the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment Tübingen, Schöningen. From October 2009, the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (SHEP) was established at the Eberhard Karls University Tübingen. In May 2017, SHEP was confirmed as an institute of the Leibniz Association. SHEP comprises the following seven research groups of the Department of Geosciences:

1. Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology (Prof. Nicholas Conard Ph.D.)

2. Archaeo- and Paleogenetics (Juniorprof. Dr. Cosimo Posth)

3. Biogeology (Prof. Dr. Hervé Bocherens)

4. Geoarchaeology (Prof. Dr. Christopher Miller)

5. Micropaleontology (Dr. Annett Junginger)

6. Paleoanthropology (Prof. Dr. Katerina Harvati)

7. Paleontology (Prof. Dr. Madelaine Böhme)

The close scientific cooperation with the other sites of the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung is particularly evident in the collaborations with, for example, the Section of Paleoanthropology in Frankfurt or the Research Unit for Quaternary Paleontology in Weimar. The SHEP-Tübingen is concerned not only with various aspects of the biological and cultural evolution of humans and the great apes, but also with climate and environmental evolution throughout the Cenozoic. The Senckenberg - University of Tübingen cooperation also concerns teaching as well as Senckenberg's care of the extensive paleozoological, paleobotanical, archaeobotanical, archaeozoological and geoarchaeological collections of the University of Tübingen. These internationally renowned collections are a unique selling point of SHEP.

The research areas of the geoscientific working groups are characterized by manifold national and international scientific cooperations:

• Priority program EarthShape: Earth Surface Shaping by Biota

• Collaborative Research Center CAMPOS - Catchment as Reactors

• Collaborative Research Center ResoursesCultures

• Institut für Naturwissenschaftliche Archäologie (INA)

• Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (SHEP)

• Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum - GFZ

• Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ

• Alfred-Wegener Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung - AWI

The program includes the obligatory modules "Introduction to Scientific Archaeology", Chemistry for Archeaologists", "Archaeozoology", "Archaeobotany", "Dating methods", "Geoarchaeology & Archaeometry", "Introduction into statistics", as well as the "Interdisciplinary module". In addition, students choose two modules to focus on the study of organic materials ("organic route") or inorganic materials ("inorganic route").

For further details: Module handbook B.Sc. Scientific Archaeology

A voluntary stay abroad is possible in every degree program. Planning should begin approximately one to one and a half years before departure.
Further information and advice on studying abroad can be found on the interdisciplinary page Ways to Study Abroad. In addition, some subjects also offer their own information on studying abroad.

Information about the Exchange programs: Division of International Affairs.

Optional time abroad
You may choose to spend some time abroad as part of any study program. You should start planning it 12 to 18 months before your departure. 
Here you will find general information and advice on studying abroad. In addition, some departments have their own subject-specific services providing information on studying abroad.

In the winter semester 2023/24, approximately 200 students are studying in the field of archeological sciences:

The module handbook describes the objectives and the structure of a study program. You will find more detailed information on the type and scope of all modules as well as their courses, requirements and examinations in the module handbook of the B.Sc. Scientific Archeology minor subject. An ideal course plan in the module handbook helps you to plan your studies. The module handbook and the examination regulations help you to understand the framework of your studies and to select the right modules/courses.

The study and examination regulations of the B.Sc. Scientific Archeology minor subject contain legally binding regulations for a study program. Among other things, they specify which modules of a study program must be completed and which examinations must be taken in order to successfully complete the study program. The study and examination regulations also regulate how often examinations can be repeated, which deadlines apply to the examinations of a study program and how the final grade is calculated. The examination regulations and the module handbook will help you to understand the framework of your studies and to select the right modules/courses.

The Career Service of the university gives advise to students about vocationaly orientation and the career start.

Internships and jobs: Praxisportal.

Advice and internships
The University’s Career Service assists with careers orientation and getting started in your profession. Jobs and internships can be found in the Praxisportal.

Usually, a bachelor progam is followed by a consecutive master progam. A possible consecutive program is the M.Sc. Archeological Sciences and Human Evolution.

Admission to doctoral studies with a bachelor's degree is not possible. For admission to doctoral studies, the completion of a master's degree is required.

Here you can find information about the alumni association Alumni Tübingen.