The archaeology program requires that students complete a total of eighteen courses to qualify for the PhD, some of which may be reading and research in your field of specialization. Students normally enroll in nine courses per year during their first two years in the program. Within the first two years, students will complete three required double courses that are designed to provide a comprehensive grounding in social and cultural theory, as well as the theory and specific methods of archaeology.

In the first year, required courses consist of, first, The Development of Social and Cultural Theory offered over autumn and winter quarters. The two-quarter sequence is equivalent to 4 course credits. In the spring archaeology students take Theory and Method in Archaeology, also a double-credit course. The remaining course requirements in the program, to be met in the first or second year, are Introduction to Chicago Anthropology, and a statistics/quantitative methods course approved by the faculty. For the rest of their course work, students enjoy a broad range of elective courses in archaeology, sociocultural anthropology, history, physical anthropology, Classical or Near Eastern studies, statistics, computer science and geophysical sciences. In addition archaeology students are strongly encouraged to gain technical experience in the university's regular summer field school or other research excavations

The archaeology program requires reading ability in one scholarly language. The choice depends on the student's special area of interest. To meet the departmental requirement, students must demonstrate reading competency in one of these languages by receiving a High Pass on a standardized University examination.

By the end of year one, the student must form an advisory committee of three faculty members. The committee will be chaired by the faculty member of the student's choice. With the exception of those students with M.A. theses from other institutions which are approved by the Department, each student will complete an M.A. paper during the second year. In addition, by the end of year two, each student takes an oral examination from the members of his/her advisory committee in the areas of chosen specialization. The oral examination, lasting roughly an hour and a half, is designed to test basic command of the literature and methods necessary to pursue Ph.D. research in a chosen area. In the third year, having passed the qualifying exam, archaeology students are required to take the Archaeology Research Design seminar. By the end of the third year, students must defend a dissertation proposal before the faculty and interested students. Upon fulfillment of all academic requirements and the acceptance of the dissertation proposal, students are admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.