Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute

Welcome to the Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute (MAI), which houses the exciting Anthropology/Archaeology, Geology and Applied Forensic Science departments. MAI is a unique institute in North America that employs traditional and cutting-edge applied research in both the United States and abroad. Students work closely with instructors in multiple well-equipped laboratories, utilizing a variety of sophisticated analytical equipment.

The Anthropology/Archaeology program at Mercyhurst University provides students with the opportunity to study human culture from its origins more than 2.5 million years ago to the present day through lectures, hands-on field and laboratory experience and research with faculty and staff. You can elect for focused training in anthropology, bioarchaeology or forensic anthropology to tailor this program toward your specific interests. Whether you’re in the field studying artifacts from ancient cultures, writing a report on your research findings or advising organizations about the cultural impact of plans, policies and programs – your role as an archaeologist and anthropologist is an important one as you document and analyze human history.

Geology majors study real fossils, soil samples, lake sediments and more. You’ll study more than the Earth; you’ll have a chance to study the geology of other planets, as well. Small class sizes mean your professors know you by name and work with you to discover and focus on your individual interests, from planetary science to volcanology, glaciology, sedimentology, climate change or a number of other disciplines in this field.

Many of our students have been offered full-ride scholarships to graduate schools across the U.S. The geology program is also enhanced by its close connection with the archaeology/anthropology program where students can pursue undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in geoarchaeology.

A Bachelor of Science degree in applied forensic sciences prepares you for an exciting career collecting, cataloging and analyzing evidence and remains in the laboratory, or out in the field. Get hands-on experience in crime scene processing with classroom exercises and participation in practical labs. You’ll experience blood spatter analysis, footprint and tire casting, and fingerprint identification and processing – just to name a few. At our autopsy suite and processing lab, you’ll assist in real forensic anthropological cases. In fact, the applied forensic sciences program at Mercyhurst is one of the only programs in the U.S. where undergraduate students can work with real evidence and human remains. Students have the opportunity to learn from our expert faculty who have decades of experience working in the forensic science field.

With a 14-1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 20 students, you’re never just a number at Mercyhurst. In fact, many upper level courses average 10 or fewer students. We keep our classes small so you can get individualized attention from professors to ensure your success in class and beyond.