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ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES PROGRAM Careers in Archaeology |
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES PROGRAM Careers in Archaeology |
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There are three main employment areas for archaeologists:
1. Research and government employment. Research archaeologists may be hired by Federal agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service. State Agencies, such as the Department of Transportation, State Historical Societies, state burial sites preservation programs, and historic preservation programs, typically have one or more archaeologists on staff. Museums and research institutions, such as the Smithsonian, the Field Museum, the Science Museum of Minnesota, and the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center (UW-La Crosse), have staffs of archaeologists. Some job titles include:
Regional Archaeologist
Research Archaeologist
State Archaeologist
Historic Preservation Officer
Park Ranger
Archaeological Field Technician*
Archaeological Lab Technician*
Museum Technician*
Archaeological Surveyor*
Public Education and Outreach Coordinator
*Entry-level
positions that require only a bachelor's degree. Other positions
require graduate training.
2. Teaching. Most teaching positions are at colleges or universities and typically require a doctorate (Ph.D.) degree. Teaching specialties include:
Prehistoric Archaeology
Classical Archaeology
Near Eastern or Biblical Archaeology
Historical Archaeology
North American Archaeology
Geoarchaeology
Environmental Archaeology
Egyptology
3. Cultural Resources Management (CRM). State and Federal legislation has created the fastest-growing area for archaeological career opportunities, cultural resources management. CRM archaeologists assist developers and public agencies in meeting the requirements of preservation legislation by contracting their services. These archaeologists locate previously unknown archaeological resources (sites and artifacts), evaluate the importance of the resources, and if necessary conduct rescue excavations if the remains are threatened by development. Job titles include:
Contract Archaeologist
Cultural Resources Specialist
Director of a CRM company
Archaeological Field Director
Archaeological Lab Director
Collections Manager
Archaeological Lab Technician*
Archaeological Field Technician*
Public Education and Outreach Coordinator
*Entry-level positions
requiring only an undergraduate degree.
Many professional archaeologists have careers that involve work in more than one of the three major areas mentioned. For example, an archaeologist who is a university or college professor during the academic year is often involved in research or consulting during the summer.
Archaeological Studies: Also a good choice for those planning careers in other fields.
Many undergraduates choose Archaeological
Studies as a major not because it is their career choice, but because it
is an interesting, broad-based and challenging Liberal Arts major.
These students go on to careers in business, teaching, communications,
legal, or medical professions.
CAREER DIRECTIONS
For those of
you who are planning on a professional career in archaeology, graduate
school, sooner or later, probably is a must. Here is where you will get
the chance to not only focus more on archaeology, but also to develop areas
of specialization within archaeology. In addition to the specific courses
required of all majors (ARC 200, ARC 204, ARC 402, and ARC 499), students
who plan to apply to a graduate program in archaeology should try to
take the following courses: Physical Anthropology (ANT 102), Bones for
the Archaeologist (ARC/ANT 334), Archaeology Lab Methods (ARC 403), History
of Archaeology (ARC 433), Cultural Resources Management (ARC 435), and
Archaeological Theory (ARC 455). These courses are not a requirement
for graduate school but they are extremely beneficial. Graduate schools
typically require a strong background in cultural anthropology and a knowledge
of linguistics, and an anthropology minor is recommended.
The following
courses are strongly recommended for students who plan to pursue one of
the following graduate-to-professional career areas (to find out more about
each course, visit the course
description page of this web site):
Cultural Anthropology
Students in the Archaeological Studies program who plan to pursue a graduate program in cultural anthropology are expected to complete the anthropology minor. Each student interested in a graduate program in this area should consult at length with the UW-L anthropologists, Dr. Susannah Lloyd or Dr. Sheldon Smith.
Cultural Resources Management*
ARC 205
North American Archaeology
ARC/ANT 334
Bones for the Archaeologist
ARC 403
Archaeology Lab Methods
ARC 404
Environmental Archaeology
ARC 435
Cultural Resources Management
GEO/ESC 343
Geoarchaeology
*A minor in
geoarchaeology is strongly recommended.
Environmental Archaeology*
ANT/ARC 305
Indigenous Agricultural Societies
ARC 403
Archaeology Lab Methods
ARC 404
Environmental Archaeology
GEO/ESC 343
Geoarchaeology
GEO/ESC 425
Biogeography
ESC 221
Introduction to Climate Systems
*A minor in
geoarchaeology is strongly recommended.
Forensic Anthropology*
ANT 102
Introduction to Physical Anthropology
BIO 102 or
103 Introductory Biology or General Biology
CHM 103
General Chemistry
Bio 312
Human Anatomy and Physiology
ANT/ARC 334
Bones for the Archaeologist
*A second major
or a minor in biology is strongly recommended.
Midwest/Plains Archaeology*
ARC 205
North American Archaeology
ARC 310
Midwest Archaeology
ARC 403
Archaeology Lab Methods
ARC 404
Environmental Archaeology
ANT 343
North American Indians
ARC/ANT 304
Hunter and Gatherer Societies
ARC/ANT 305
Indigenous Agricultural Societies
ARC/ANT 334
Bones for the Archaeologist
*A minor in
geoarchaeology is strongly recommended.
Old World Archaeology or Classics*
GEO 304
Geography of Europe
GEO 331
Geography of the Middle East, Central and Southeast Asia
ARC/HIS 331
The Ancient Greek World
ARC/HIS 332
Ancient Rome and the Mediterranean
ARC/HIS 340
The Rise and Fall of Ancient Civilizations
ARC 350
Independent Foreign Research in Archaeology
ARC 365
Ancient Egypt
ARC 433
History of Archaeology
*Foreign language
expertise will be required (Latin for Classics, French or German for Old
World).
Latin American archaeology
ARC/ANT
285 Archaeology of Mexico and Central America
ARC/ANT
353 Maya Civilization
ARC
360
Archaeology of the Andes
At least
one course on contemporary cultures in Latin America
In addition
to the suggestions given above for those interested in prehistoric archaeology
in graduate school, individuals who intend to specialize in Latin American
Archaeology should consider the following:
1.
Develop a reading knowledge of Spanish.
2.
A strong background in archaeology and archaeological field work, preferably
in Latin America
3.
Knowledge of statistics and computer skills
GEO/ESC
323, geomorphology
GEO/ESC
326, soil morphology and genesis
GEO/ESC
343 geoarchaeology
1.
A strong background in archaeology and archaeology field work
2.
Knowledge of statistics and computer skills are essential.
NOTE:
These career tracks are not set in stone. Students do not need to
follow one of these tracks - they are only suggestions. Students
are encouraged to customize their course choices to their particular area
of interest, with the assistance of their mentor and/or advisor.
Links of Interest
