Caleb G writes: "Two years from now I will be in college and I was hoping to get a major in history. Once I have completed college, how would I find a job in archaeology? And what would you recommend I minor in that would be useful to this career?"
This great old schoolroom is in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and the photo was taken by one of its former students, Just Jane.
The terrific thing about archaeology is you can minor in almost anything and find it useful in the field of study. So, I recommend to anybody at your stage in life is that you start preparing to study archaeology right now, before you get to college. Don't have any classes in archaeology in high school? That's okay--hardly anybody does. But you can still get a leg up on your career. I've assembled a bunch of suggestions for people in high school who want to get a head start.
Once you've learned a little bit more about the field--and what you like to do--then you'll be better able to search for a school, pick an appropriate major/minor combination and build a career in the area of your choice.
Comments
Caleb G.,
Hopefully you live in a city that has a museum with a diversified collection and offers high school and college internships (both paid). Solid knowledge of a second Modern Language (primarily German for reading and research purposes) is indispensible. If you decide to pursue Classical Archaeology, Latin and Greek are necessary. Of course, a thorough background in History is a must.
Most archaeologists also have a second career. They write and publish like this website’s Guide and/or they teach.
Best of luck in your endeavors.
–Stan
I second Stan’s suggestion about getting in to volunteer at a museum, although I would be surprised if paid internships were available. I volunteered for free during my summer breaks at the Oriental Institute in Chicago and found the experience to be very valuable.
I would say that if the student is interested in going into non-classical archaeology they would be better served by an Anthropology major than a History major. I had classical archy training as an undergrad but found myself scrambling to make up the background my colleagues had as a grad student in an Anthropology program.
Getting language training in whatever area of the world you want to work is also very helpful.
I suggest you seriously rethink this as a career choice. I graduated with a BA in Anthropology in 2008, and began working as an Archaeology Field Technician at that time. Over the past 4 years, I have found it extremely difficult to work full time, and have often been laid off. Unless you are independently wealthy, or intend to continue straight through to your PHD, please consider a different career path! It is often listed as one of the career with the highest necessary education and the lowest pay. Of course the job prospects may improve as the economy does
Good luck!
I’m afraid Rachel B is correct for the time. Cultural Resource Management (CRM) in the USA has been significantly cut by the decrease in construction which fuels local archaeology companies. Work is only just now starting up again. Banks are funding apartment construction (reliable income), the Feds are funding redevelopment project but for how long we don’t know, and eventually and hopefully followed by new home construction.
Your career in archaeology is based on multiple skills and most importantly your passion for the profession. IMO, passion and persistence will pay, but you have to have patience.
Rachael is somewhat right. It would benefit you greatly to head on for your MA or PhD in anthropology if you want a full time career as an archaeologist. However, you can also have a profitable career if you diversify. A double major in anthro BA and biology, ecology, heritage conservation, architectural history, GIS, or business will help you more than the anthro BA alone.
If you go on to grad school, which is pretty much necessary for full-time employment, you should think about getting an MA in architectural history, business management, MBA, GIS, urban planning, English, or information systems technology.
If you go the distance, a PhD in anthro or any of the other majors i mentioned with an anthro minor will make you very marketable.
Also, I strongly recommend you get some field experience. Volunteer at a local museum or see if you can volunteer at a college field school. A few years as a field tech like rachael is indispensable.
Hope that helps you. I’ve always wanted to be an archaeologist and love my job. It’s a tough market, but those with drive and vision can make it.