Education

ARMS is committed to the dissemination of archaeological information and public involvement in Midwestern archaeology. As part of Ball State University and the Department of Anthropology, we focus on student and public education.  Visit our Educational Resources page for more information.  ARMS staff teach several courses in the department. ARMS staff also supervise independent studies, internships and theses. 

For students, ARMS provides the opportunity for practical application of classroom instruction.  Students benefit from instruction in field survey and excavation, laboratory processing, artifact analysis, curation, research, publication of reports, the development of budgets and rapport with contractors. They are instructed in the current methods and technologies that are used in archaeology. Students are exposed to a variety of technology skills in word processing, database programs, Internet research, digital photography, electronic total transit systems and geographic information systems.  The combination of training and practical experience makes our students marketable employees upon graduation.  

Former ARMS employees work in private archaeology firms and government agencies across the country.  The Department of Anthropology and ARMS provides the training and instruction to produce highly qualified professional archaeologists that are ready for jobs in applied archaeology.  

In addition to student education, ARMS is committed to public involvement in Midwestern archaeology. ARMS assists an avocational archaeology group, the Upper White River Archaeological Society, and carries out projects which allow public participation. This commitment to public education includes the presentation of our research findings in public forums. We also conduct numerous archaeology programs at elementary and secondary schools. These programs help to heighten awareness of archaeology in Indiana and the Midwest.