The velocities of elastic waves in a laminated medium have been determined by calculating the effective elastic parameters and the effective density. The procedure is to assume the medium to be in static equilibrium and exposed to certain stresses. The stresses are of such a nature as to generate strains similar to those which would exist during the passage of an elastic wave through the medium. From the application of Hooke's law, an effective stiffness constant for the medium is obtained. The ratio of this effective stiffness to the effective density is the square of the velocity of the elastic wave. For a medium consisting of layers of two materials with the same density but with a velocity contrast of two (2), the velocity of compressional waves traveling parallel to the layering is 20 percent higher than the velocity of the same wave traveling perpendicular to the layers. TheSHshear wave has a velocity which is 25 percent higher than theSVshear wave for the same laminated medium.