GAIN THE SKILL YOU NEED TO RESEARCH ASTRONOMY IN CULTURE

Archaeoastronomy is the study of astronomical knowledge within prehistoric cultures. It can be a powerful tool in fields like archaeology and anthropology because the visual sky is a resource that has remained essentially the same for centuries. The Graduate Certificate in Archaeoastronomy and Astronomy in Culture equips investigators with a specialized understanding of cultural astronomy research skills. To complete the certificate, you must complete 12 hours of required coursework.

ABOUT THE ARCHAEOASTRONOMY AND ASTRONOMY IN CULTURE CERTIFICATE

Graduate certificates provide an opportunity for a focused program of graduate study in a specified topic. You may complete the certificate program while enrolled in a graduate degree program, or you may be admitted directly to the certificate program. The credit hours you take to complete your graduate certificate may be applied to a graduate degree program.

The Graduate Certificate in Archaeoastronomy and Astronomy in Culture provides an applied approach to the study and practice of cultural astronomy. We designed these online and distance-learning courses to meet the needs of those who want to perform research in the field while maintaining a commitment to providing an affordable and enjoyable high-quality education. In addition to our own faculty, we have more than 30 international scholars who have contributed to our curricula—some of whom will serve as guest lecturers!

View our Flickr album of faculty doing archaeoastronomy field work.

Program Type

Four courses (12 credit hours) are required and can be completed 100% online. You may also choose to participate in an elective fieldwork course, where you will practice the proper collection and analysis of astronomical alignments and data onsite.

Certificate Topics:

• Archaeoastronomy Fundamentals and Methods
• Astronomy of the Puebloan and Mississippian Cultures 
•  Cultural Astronomy in Latin America 
• Cultural Astronomy Beyond the Americas 
• Rigorous Archaeoastronomical Research and Publication 
• Optional Archaeoastronomical Research Practice in the Field 

Admission and Retention

Students may apply to be admitted to the Graduate College to pursue the certificate program, or they may complete the certificate program while currently enrolled in a graduate degree program.

For students applying for admission to pursue the certificate, the admission requirements and process are the same as for a degree-seeking student; however, students cannot be admitted on conditional status to a certificate program.

The Graduate Certificate Program Report will be completed during the term the last course is being taken.

Use of Certificate Graduate Credit Towards a Graduate degree

Credit hours gained during a certificate program are eligible to be applied to a graduate degree at OU. However, in all cases, the specific hours that may be transferred to the graduate degree are subject to the prevailing rules regarding residence credit. Certificate hours completed while a student is enrolled in a graduate degree are not considered to be transfer credit.

Read further information from the Graduate College.

APPLY FOR THE ARCHAEOASTRONOMY CERTIFICATE

1. First-time users: Scroll down to create an account and then click “Start New Application” - Graduate Application
2. Select the term and Graduate Certificate application. Follow the on-screen prompts to fill out your application information.
3. Upload a transcript from the last college or university where you have earned a degree, statement of purpose, and resume.
4. Pay the $50 application fee. 

Note: If admitted, you will be required to submit official transcripts. Financial aid may be available to degree-seeking students only. 

Certificate Planning Sheet:

Archaeoastronomy Certificate Planning Sheet

Curriculum

Program requirements

This graduate certificate offers a program of graduate level coursework in Archaeoastronomy and Astronomy in Culture:

• Minimum of 12 hours of graduate credit
• Minimum 3.0 GPA required for successful completion
• No substitution of courses or transfer courses is allowed in the certificate program.

Required Courses

• Archaeoastronomy and Methods (three hours)
• Astronomy of Chaco Canyon and Cahokia (three hours)

Elective Courses (choose two from the following)

• LSIS 5443 Latin American Archaeoastronomy (three hours)
• LSIS 5463 World Archaeoastronomy (three hours)
• LSIS 5493 Field Work in Archaeoastronomy (three hours)*

*NOTE: LSIS 5403, LSIS 5423, LSIS 5443, and LSIS 5463 are not offered during the Summer Session. LSIS 5493 Field Work is only offered in the Summer Session. This week-long elective course is held on-site at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico.