Cultural Resource Management (MA)
Length of program
Mode of delivery
Program consists of:
- Thesis
- Coursework
- Co-op
Campus
Intake
Related programs
Program description
The Master of Arts in Cultural Resource Management (CRM) program provides students with training in the skills, methods, and theoretical backgrounds necessary for work as professional archaeologists within the cultural resource management industry in Alberta and elsewhere. Graduates of this major will also be prepared to run their own companies and projects.
The program consists of 9.0 to 18.0 credit hours of graduate semester courses, a co-op program semester, and a thesis. It is based on a co-operative education model that integrates real-world work experience with classroom and research-driven learning.
The archaeological training received during the program prepares students not only for local careers but also international opportunities. Students gain transferable academic and occupational background, which can be applied in any archaeological context.
The major integrates a range of theoretical approaches from a variety of disciplines with practical experience, and incorporates course work and thesis work within a unique co-op-based learning program where students work in industry. Co-operative education and internship opportunities provide paid work experience in appropriate employment fields for students. These value-added activities provide enriching experiences and professional development opportunities for students. This major requires a co-operative work term as a degree requirement. Students may elect to complete a second co-operative work term as part of their degree in order to earn a co-op designation.
In case of discrepancies between this page and the Graduate Studies Calendar and Course Catalogue, the Graduate Studies Calendar and Course Catalogue shall prevail.
Finding a supervisor
Students are required to secure a potential supervisor prior to submitting an application for this program. Faculty members in this area include:
Hendrika Beaulieu
Jerimy Cunningham
Shawn Bubel
Kevin McGeough
Additional supervisors may be available. Visit our Search Supervisors webpage for more information.
Career pathways
Graduates will be prepared to work within pre-existing CRM companies as senior archaeologists or to start their own companies and further contribute to Alberta’s economic growth. Specifically, students who successfully complete this program will be able to:
- Supervise archaeological excavations and surveys in Alberta and elsewhere.
- Interpret and communicate the results of archaeological work to academics and government agencies, and to corporate and community agencies.
- Assist community members and corporations to mitigate heritage concerns in relation to economic development.
- Work in a number of settings related to the heritage industry.
Additional information
What is the difference between the MA in Archaeology and MA in Cultural Resource Management programs?
There are two main differences:
1) The types of courses taken—The Archaeology major requires courses specific to archaeology, the study of material culture, and specific historical periods. The courses in the CRM major have a slightly different focus. Students are required to take ARKY 5010: Cultural Resource Management, a course that introduces students to issues specific to archaeology in the cultural resource management sector. Students in the CRM major may also elect to take courses that are not traditionally part of an archaeology degree, such as management courses related to small business operation. The CRM class requirements are also flexible in allowing students who have one area of archaeology or geography background to take courses in technical fields in which they do not have a specialization. Furthermore, the CRM requires a co-op program, a type of “on-the-job” training not offered through the Archaeology major.
2) The thesis project—This project is based on materials collected in a CRM environment and result in a project that is recognized by Alberta Heritage as sufficient to allow the student to be given permits to conduct independent archaeological investigations. Theses written as part of the Archaeology major may be similar, but will not necessarily meet the requirements expected by government agencies for CRM work. For example, a thesis that investigates the changing nature of Egyptian funerary texts in relation to shifts in royal political power would be an excellent thesis topic for the MA in Archaeology but would not help a student secure work in the CRM industry.
Is Co-operative Education required component of the CRM program?
Yes, this major requires a co-operative work term as a degree requirement.
Can I pursue a PhD degree following the MA in CRM?
Yes, you'll gain sufficient background and knowledge to be accepted into PhD Archaeology programs.
What undergraduate courses or educational background are needed to be eligible for admission?
Students with background in Archaeology, Anthropology, Native American Studies or Geography may apply for this program. Please also check the admission requirements for Master of Arts program.
Learning outcomes
As part of this program, students will:
- Prepare for careers in Cultural Resource Management (CRM) in Alberta and further afield.
- Gain intellectual and practical skills to work with different community partners, and to especially work as intermediaries between local stakeholders, government agencies, and corporations involved in Alberta’s economic development.
- Get familiar with United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) charters and declarations and Truth and Reconciliation recommendations in a manner that promotes and supports these processes and ideas.
Students graduating from the CRM major will demonstrate a range of:
- Academic skills - archaeological methods and analysis; historical and cultural understanding.
- Professional skills - familiarity with industry standards and practices; small-business entrepreneurship.
- Community outreach skills - working with stakeholders and agencies.