Course Offerings

This underwater archaeology course is structured as an on-island research mission in which the entire class produces new documentation of tangible heritage materials, such as wrecks or traces of ancient sites. During the 4-week residential Maymester course at the Wrigley Marine Science Center on Catalina Island, we collaborate as team members to document and process data, images, and models of terrestrial and submerged heritage, supporting partnerships with the Catalina Island Conservancy, the California Parks Service, and other entities. The traces that we interpret and document are human heritage, from ten thousand years ago through this century. This course is open to all majors and minors.

Although this course includes underwater archaeology and photography of submerged heritage, students do not need to be divers or swimmers to participate. Students who prefer to stay dry are our land-based team members, participating equally but distinctively. Anyone with AAUS Scientific Diving certification already in hand at that start of the class is invited to participate using SCUBA, while anyone already holding a recreational qualification for SCUBA diving is welcome to either finish their AAUS Sci Diving certification prior to the start of our course, or to join in as free divers.

Curiosity and a willingness to be actively involved in your own learning leads to success in this course taught on a beautiful, WiFi-accessible, island in the Pacific Ocean located only an hour from Los Angeles.

For more information please contact:
Professor Lynn Dodd
archaeology@usc.edu