Archaeologists research the human past, focusing on evidence from material culture and the natural environment, in ways that often offer insights into contemporary society. Urban life, for example, carries many of the same benefits and drawbacks today that it did for the inhabitants of the Roman Empire. Examining the archaeological record helps uncover the ways that ordinary people organized their lives to cope with a variety of conditions. By showing what changed, and why, archaeology reveals the evolving patterns of human diversity and helps place humanity in its chronological and ecological contexts.

The archaeology program at Wooster is designed both for majors and for students with a more casual interest in archaeology. Majors may view the degree in archaeology as partial preparation for a career in teaching, museum curatorship, or field archaeology.