Student's Guide for Academic Courses

The College of Tourism and Archaeology has been established in 1426 A.H. (2005) under the Royal Decree dated to 22/8/1426 A.H. Actual study began in 1427 A.H. (2006). Thus the College is one of the new Colleges in King Saud University. The establishment of the College was based on the Department of Archaeology and Museology which was established in 1978. It was established to meet the rapidly growing demand of the country to efficient and highly qualified graduate in Tourism and Hotel Management, Archaeology, and Heritage Management and Tourism Guidance. It is hoped that candidates of the College will conduct research and scientific studies related to specializations of the College and succeed as professionals in Tourism Industry, Hotel Management, Archaeology and Heritage Management. The College comprises three

Academic departments as follows:

1- Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management.

2- Department of Archaeology.

3- Department of Heritage Management and Tourism Guidance.

 

The objectives for the establishment of the College are as follow:

1.   Introduce current academic theoretical and practical programs in archaeology, heritage resources management, and tourism and hotel management.

2.   To effectively utilize available resources of the College and its man-power to equip students with interdisciplinary knowledge, and to provide qualified practitioners with professional managerial skills relating to segments of tourism industry, heritage management and archaeology.

3.  Contribute to scientific research and applied studies related to the College specializations and link them with the Kingdom's demand to man-power and development

4.  Introduce cultural heritage through participation in conferences, events, cultural festivals and fairs.

5.  Contribution in achieving objectives of development plans and strategies to promote tourism industry and heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

6.  To promote study in understanding and appreciation of cultural identity.

7.  Serve community and sustainable education by introducing training courses, consultations and arranging scientific symposia.

The Awarded Degree

The College of Tourism and Archaeology awards Bachelor of Arts

In each of the following specializations:

1- BA in Tourism Management.

2- BA in Hospitality Management.

3- BA in Archaeology.

4- BA in Heritage Resource Management.

5- BA in Tourism Guidance.

For the post graduate Programs the College awards MA and PhD Degrees in Archaeology.

 

In order to be eligible for award of a Bachelor Degree, a candidate shall have completed 128 credit hours as follow:

1- University requirements 12 credit hours (units).

2- College requirements 21 credit hours (units).

3- Department (specialization) requirements 95 credit hours (units).

 

Departments of the College of Tourism and Archaeology

The Department of Tourism and  Hospitality Management

 Tourism and hospitality industries are one of the major economic sources for many of the developed countries of the world. The speed and pace of changes in tourism and hospitality industries have been supported to a great extend by information technology. This tourism and hospitality management studies involve a consideration of efficient and qualified graduates equipped with interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to promote tourism sectors to increase economic revenues, provide jobs and develop tourism industry infra structure. Thus, this Department has been established to graduate qualified and motivated nationals to succeed as professionals in the tourism industry and take on the challenges facing tourism and hospitality management in the new millennium. The main objectives of the Department are as follow:

1.   Prepare qualified nationals to serve in tourism and hospitality management in both public and private sectors.

2.   Prepare efficient national graduates to work in tour and travel agencies.

3.   Provide qualified graduates to join tour transport and air-cargo companies.

4.   Prepare qualified nationals to work in Hajj and Umrah service companies

5.   Prepare qualified nationals to work and serve in arrangement of fairs and  conferences

6.  Prepare qualified nationals to work in different segments of tourism and hospitality marketing.

7.  Provide qualified graduates to work in community service and continuous education by arranging training courses and scientific conferences and providing consultancy services.

 

 I - Compulsory Courses for all College Students

Level 1

Total =14

 

Level 2

Total = 15

 

Compulsory Courses for Tourism and Hotel managements Students

 

Level 3

Total = 17

 

Level 4

Total = 17

 

Level 5

Total = 16

Courses for Tourism managements Students

 

Level 6

Total = 20

 

Level 7

Total = 17

Level 8

Total = 13

 

Courses for Hospitality managements Students

Level 6

                                                                                                Total = 19

Level7

Total = 17

Level 8

Total = 14

The required Units for Graduation 128 Units

 

The Department of Archaeology:

 Interest in archeology has become a global phenomenon particularly in developed countries of the world. This interest may be attributed to the fact that archaeology often betrays the depth of country's cultural history and displays its cultural and thinking developments. At the same time, archaeology studies are usually considered as one of the major sources for writing history on empirical evidence. In addition, archaeological material remains and monuments represent one of the sources for a country's economic development. Due to the geographical location of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the center of the ancient world and its being a meeting point for trade routes and ancient caravans, and the land of revelation of the eternal Islamic Mission, archaeological studies in the Kingdom have been actively supported by the authorities who attach particular importance to the heritage of the country. This active support led to the establishment of the Department of Archaeology in King Saud University. It ought to be mentioned here that the Department is the only in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the oldest Department in the Gulf dealing with archaeological and heritage studies. It awards BA, MA and Ph. D in archaeology.

 

The Department staff has expertise in museum studies, and the archaeology of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Near East, from prehistoric times to the Islamic period.

King Saud University strongly believes in the importance of recovering ancient cultures and history of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, subsequent to the formation in 1966, of a society of history and archaeology and founding of a Museum in the College of Arts in 1967, a series of seasons of excavations at al-Fau were begun in 1970. In 1978 the Department of Archaeology and Museology was founded after being a small unit at the Department of History. In support of the excavations and for students training and benefit, are some small units within the Department. These are: (a) the conservation laboratory (b) Survey unit (c) Drawing unit (d) Registration unit (e) Photography unit (f) Ceramics unit and (g) Computer station areas. The prime objectives of the Department archaeological museum are :(1) to familiarize archaeology students with archaeological finds relevant to their theoretical and practical studies, (2) illustrate the archaeology and history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, (3) introduce the contributions made by the King Saud University in the field of archaeology, (4) provide the appropriate atmosphere for children, adults and researchers to understand the country’s antiquities and objects of heritage. In the short years of its age, the Department launched extensive excavations at the two sites of al-Fau and al-Rabadhah concurrently. The excavations revealed the past and portraits of two prosperous periods of the History of Arabia. The work has started on the pre-Islamic site, Qaryat, now known as al-Fau, in 1969 aiming to train students of ancient and classical archaeology. A decade later (1979) work was launched at the Islamic site of al-Rabadhah, to train students of Islamic archaeology. In 2004 the Department shifted its archaeological excavation activities to al-Ula region, to excavate al-Khuraybah (Dadan) pre-Islamic site and al-Mabbiyat (Qarh) Islamic site. The objectives are to train B. A. students and recover material on the history and civilization of the Kingdom. The archaeology students are trained annually in a 12 credit-hours course, in methods and techniques of excavations. On theoretical side, the course includes lectures on surveying, excavation of sites and registration of archaeological finds. On the practical side, it involves a season of fieldwork in which the student is taught how to apply his theoretical knowledge. In addition the students are trained in 3 credit-hours course, in photography, surveying and drawing, and conservation. The results of more than twenty years of excavations at the two sites of al-Fau and al-Rabadhah have necessitated the rewriting of the ancient history and archaeology of pre-Islamic and Islamic Arabia.

 

The main objectives of the Department are as follow:

1.  Prepare qualified graduates to serve in private and public sectors in  archaeology and heritage management.

2.  Provide qualified graduates to work in archaeological and heritage Museums

3.  Provide efficient graduates to conduct archaeological surveys and excavations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and The neighboring countries.

4.  Prepare qualified graduates to serve in related local and international institutes and organizations

5.  Prepare highly qualified students to pursue their graduate studies in archaeology and heritage management.

6.  Provide qualified graduates to work in community service and continuous education by arranging training courses and scientific conferences and providing consultancy services.

Department of Archaeology

I - Compulsory Courses for all College Students

Level 1

Total = 14

 

Level2

Total = 15

 

Level3

Total = 18

 

Level 4

Total = 18

Level 5

Total = 17

Level 6

Total = 17

Level 7

Total = 17

Level 8

Total = 12

 

The required Units for Graduation 128 Units

 

The Department of Heritage Management and Tour Guidance:

Globally, historical and archaeological sites began to be appropriately managed in order to promote them for tourism industry and use them to display the country's heritage. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is rich in historical and archaeological sites which can be invested for sustainable tourism. The Department of Heritage Management and Tourism Guidance of King Saud University undertakes to qualify Saudi nationals to manage cultural heritage attractions. It is hoped that qualified graduates of the Department will skillfully promote and conserve heritage resources of historical buildings, archaeological sites and cultural and natural heritage attractions. In addition, the Department undertakes to graduate professionals equipped with knowledge and skills in Tourism Guidance.

The main objectives of the Department are:

1.   Prepare qualified graduates to serve in private and public sectors in heritage management and tourism guidance.

2.   Prepare qualified graduates to serve in planning and promoting heritage attractions for tourism.

3.   Prepare qualified and efficient graduates to work in management of heritage sites and tourism attractions.

4.   Prepare candidates equipped with interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to serve in management of traditional handicrafts, folklore and non-material heritage.

5.   Provide candidates with necessary qualifications and skills to serve in the field of tourism guidance.

6.  Provide qualified graduates to work in management of festivals, and tourism events

7.  Provide qualified graduates to serve in fairs and museums exhibitions.

8.  Prepare graduate to work in management of archaeological and heritage museums

9.  Prepare qualified graduates to conserve and restore objects, manuscripts, archaeological sites and tourism attractions.

10.Provide qualified graduates to work in community service and continuous education by arranging training courses and scientific conferences and providing consultancy services.

11.Prepare a graduate program in heritage management and development of scientific research.

 

 

The Department of Heritage Management and Tour Guidance

 

Level1

Total = 14

 

Level 2

Total = 15

 

Level 3

Total = 19

 

Level 4

Total = 19

Level 5

Total = 18

 

III- Courses for Heritage Resource Management

 

Level 6

Total = 17

Level 7

Total = 12

 

Level 8

Total = 14

 

 Tour Guidance Students

Level 6

Total = 17

 

Level 7

Total = 13

 

Level 8

Total = 13

 

The required Units for Graduation 128 Units