How do I Earn an Archaeology PhD?

The archaeology PhD represents a terminal level degree. Possessing a doctorate in this field, which is a branch of anthropology, opens careers in research, academia or sometimes in the private sector. Getting this doctorate can be challenging work. It involves first being accepted to a program and then completing all the requirements of it to receive a degree.

There are many questions on what type of undergraduate degree is required if students wish to pursue an archaeology PhD. Typically, any anthropology major may prepare students for this field, and sometimes students who have studied but not majored in anthropology can successfully apply to doctoral programs if they have other majors. Such majors could include geology, zoology, classical studies, and art history or ancient history. Even with these majors, students will need to have taken some core archaeology classes and should consult the specifics of each archaeology program to make sure they meet all requirements. Few programs require a master’s degree, but this extra preparation may make an application more attractive, particularly if an undergraduate degree was earned in a different subject.

Predictably, any archaeology PhD program will require strong grades from students, usually at least a 3.0 and often higher. Students are likely to need glowing letters of recommendation from faculty members at their present school, or possibly from professionals in the field if they have worked in this area. Many doctoral programs require students to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and non-native speakers may need to prove language competency with additional tests.

An exceptionally important part of the application is a written statement of purpose, in which students discuss their experience and their interest in the field. Students benefit when these statements are error-free and conform specifically to the writing prompt. These statements are also best when they are quite specific about goals for study, especially if these goals are something in which the school specializes.

After getting accepted to an archaeology PhD program, the hard work begins in earnest. Students usually take two to three years of courses, participate in student teaching or research, and also begin to refine the topic of their dissertation. Since many archaeology studies involve hard research, a dissertation and research project may be more involved and complex than in other fields.

Students may need to work on things like setting up digs or traveling to certain areas to study things from a first-hand perspective. Many students have to apply for additional funding in order to conduct research, and a dissertation could take longer than the two years expected in many fields. Sometimes it can take as long as six to seven years to earn the doctorate if the research project is extensive and requires significant travel.

Once a dissertation is completed, faculty advisers read and, hopefully, approve it. Students must present and defend the work in a public forum. When the dissertation is approved and when all other requirements are met, the student has earned an archaeology PhD.