Industrial Archaeology student working in a rectangular dig site.

Tomorrow Needs You. Are You Ready?

Receive a graduate education from an accredited institution.

Industrial Heritage and Archaeology—MS, PhD

Work with communities to interpret, document, educate citizens, and answer significant historical questions that pertain to industrialization and its consequences. Industrial archaeologists study the physical remains of industrial societies—including artifacts, systems, sites, documents, traditions, and landscapes—within their cultural, ecological, and historical contexts. Are you ready?

Accelerated Master's Program is available for current Michigan Tech students.

Program Overview

The master's or doctoral in industrial archaeology degree program positions you to work at a cultural resource management firm, an archive or museum, for government agencies like the park or forest service, or for non-profit heritage organizations. We investigate the remains of industry to understand the legacies of industrial society. Students pursue interdisciplinary, innovative research that focuses on postindustrial regions and communities struggling with the social and material consequences of industrial decline. If you are driven by a passionate curiosity for industrial communities, landscapes, technology systems, or workplaces, join the leaders at Michigan Tech to unearth and preserve our collective heritage.

Delivery Options
- Accelerated: MS
- On-Campus: MS, PhD

Industrial Heritage and Archaeology Program Details

Choose a specific degree option or delivery type to learn more about the industrial heritage and archaeology program at Michigan Tech. For international students, Industrial Heritage and Archaeology is a designated STEM program.

On-Campus Programs

PhD Requirements: Industrial Heritage and Archaeology

This option requires a research thesis prepared under the supervision of the advisor. The thesis describes a research investigation and its results. The scope of the research topic for the thesis should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in 12 months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

The minimum requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	20 Credits
Thesis research	6-10 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Industrial Heritage and Archaeology: Thesis Option

The minimum requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	20 Credits
Thesis research	6-10 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Industrial Heritage and Archaeology: Report Option

This option requires a report describing the results of an independent study project. The scope of the research topic should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in twelve months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

Of the minimum total of 30 credits, at least 24 must be earned in coursework other than the project:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	24 Credits
Report	2-6 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

Accelerated MS, Industrial Heritage and Archaeology

Bachelor's + 1 Year = Master's Degree

Our accelerated master's degree program is a faster, easier way for Michigan Tech students to earn a master's degree. Up to nine approved credits from your bachelor's degree can be applied towards your accelerated master's degree. Consult your graduate program director for your individualized plan. If you're thinking about pursuing a master's following your bachelor's this option may be the right choice for you.

Additional Program Information

Want to learn more about industrial heritage and archaeology at Michigan Tech? Visit the department for more information:

Contact

Graduate Director

Don Lafreniere

Graduate Assistant

Kathryn Hannum

Sample Areas of Interest

Select areas of interest to help customize your industrial heritage and archaeology MS and PhD. Sample areas include:

Anthropology
Archaeology
Architectural History
Industrial Communities

View full listing for this program

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts or test scores are needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps. International applicants are required to pay a non-refundable $10 processing fee per application.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Admissions Options

Michigan Tech offers several admissions options in order to meet the educational needs of students from a variety of backgrounds. Students should review the options available to them and apply for the program that will best help them achieve their personal educational goals.

See Admissions Options

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Student Statements

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

3 Letters of Recommendation
Résumé / Curriculum vitae
Writing Sample
Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale
GRE not required

International Students

TOEFL: Recommended score of at least 100 iBT
IELTS: Recommended Overall Band Score of at least 7.0

Michigan Tech requires a minimum 79 overall TOEFL or 6.5 overall IELTS score.

Admissions Decisions

Made starting on March 15 for the fall semester, November 15 for spring semester admissions.

Application Deadline

Fall Semester: January 15.
Spring Semester: September 15.
All accepted students are considered for financial support.

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Accelerated Master's Requirements

Our Accelerated Master's Program is available for current Michigan Tech students. Explore our

Program Specific

2 Letters of Recommendation
Résumé / Curriculum vitae
Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
Statement of Purpose
GRE not required

Accredited by HLC

Michigan Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1928. Our Graduate School offers over 125 certificates, master's, and PhD programs to provide our students and the world with what tomorrow needs.

Who You'll Work With

Work with upper Midwest national park and cultural resource managers to document industrial change on an island—and national park—in the middle of Lake Superior. Engage in real-world projects with Pullman National Monument staff. Connect with interdisciplinary faculty to work on research with important implications for rural communities.

Where You'll Work

Dive into the program with summer field school prior to your first fall semester. You can plan on excavating housing and industrial facilities in Michigan’s spectacular Upper Peninsula. Understand the historical labor union clashes while working with management at Keweenaw National Historical Park. The newly renovated industrial archaeology lab on campus is outfitted with everything you’ll need to delve deeper into historical archaeological analysis. The Industrial Archaeology Annex and Research Laboratory supports the documentation, analysis, conservation, and cataloging of artifacts and data recovered during fieldwork. You’ll have opportunities to pursue research at industrial sites and communities spanning from the Upper Midwest to Europe.

Faculty Spotlight

LouAnn Wurst
Professor,
Industrial Archaeology

“Industrial archaeology provides a critical lens into the material realities of everyday life that connects the industrial past to present conditions.”

Industrial archaeology is about more than excavating logging or mining camps; the Field explores issues such as class and inequality, historic preservation and cultural resource management in a rapidly changing world, and how political and economic systems exert power on industries and their employees.

Program Faculty