One of my sons wants to study Archeology in college. What can he do with a Bachelor in Archeology? Can he go on scientific digs or is that for Masters/PhDs? Does he need to work towards a Masters or PhD in order to do digs? Are there more opportunities with a degree in Anthropology instead of Archeology?
2006-12-30 15:27:21 · 12 answers · asked by missi8301 2 in Social Science ➔ Anthropology
Any one can go on digs, including armatures. Some digs will give students additional responsibilities on digs depending on their skill and education. But that varies from Dig to Dig and on the Professor.
Opportunities also vary, depending on what Minor(s) he attaches to his major. An Anthropology major with a Psych minor has more opportunities than an Archeology major with a minor in Hieroglyphics. But it also depends on what your son wants to specialize in, The Archeology major with Hieroglyphics will suit him better if he was studying the Egyptian culture.
One important fact to know about either field, he won't get rich doing them. It is about the love of the field or the subject.
Archaeologists are not Indiana Jones, they rarely find buried treasures and the only adventure they have is finding tiny fragments of past cultures and civilizations.
Anthropologist are not likely to discover a lost tribe or culture.
If your son has a passion for research, getting dirty, touching the past or discovering what the roots of being Human is all about then he will love either field.
If he is looking to break the bank, he wont enjoy the fields.
Best of luck to your son in what ever field he chooses (personally I hope he picks Archeology, I love that field).
2006-12-30 21:00:01 · answer #1 · answered by Stone K 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
there is only one university in the u.s. which has a bachelors degree in archaeology (Boston University). to do any scholarly or scientific work in the field requires at least a masters degree and prefebably a phd. however, anyone can go on a dig. in order to manage a field team on a dig requires a higher degree. there is a very limited amount to what one can do with a bachelor's degree in anthropology. most museums want someone with a masters or phd. there is a job title called "archaelogical field technician" which one is able to get as long as they have a bachelor's degree in anthropology and at least participated in a dig somewhere. this is not a career!! this is temporary work which is found throughout the U.S. in various locations on a seasonal basis, usually lasting from a weeks to a few months. it perhaps could look good on a resume for future employment, but it is not a stable career.
2006-12-31 05:04:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I assume that you're asking about job opportunities, rather than just opportunities to volunteer on digs as a shovel monkey. In the US, with a batchelors degree in anthropology with a focus on archaeology (including at least one full "field school" during his academic training), your son could get temporary or staff jobs doing contract archaeology. This is when a state or federal agency needs an archaeological survey done and hires a cultural resource management contracting company who in turn hires archaeologists to complete the project. The temporary jobs in contract archaeology are common, but there is a problem with job security unless your son is willing to travel constantly and live out of motels quite a bit. Some people love it, but others prefer stability. Pay for this type of "shovel-bum" job is usually between 10 and fifteen dollars per hour plus a per diem allowance to cover food and incidentals. Permanent positions are rarer, pay on salary and have better benefits, but most permanent CRM staff positions are reserved for people with at least a masters degree.
As someone with experience, I would reccommend that if your son really loves archaeology, he get his bachelors degree, then go ahead and do a masters. It only takes another 2 years, will make finding work much easier for him in the long run, and he will also have the option to teach at a community college or as an adjunct at a 4-year institution if he chooses. If he wants to be more of an academic rather than a contract archaeologist he will have to get a doctorate. Many contract archaeologists are getting doctorates these days too. It can never hurt to have as much education as possible when it comes to competition for good jobs in anthropology and archaeology. It is good that your son's specific interest is in archaeology; very few foci within anthropology have job opportunities below the masters degree level. The real exception to that is in archaeology.
2006-12-31 03:13:10 · answer #3 · answered by forbidden_planet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a PhD isn't necessary for a dig outing. Volunteers are needed, but in order to get paid to do the trip, he needs the PhD in order to qualify him to classify artifacts and such. Any profession that one chooses to enter needs a higher degree in order to be respected in the profession and know it inside and out.
The Bachelors degree would get him paid some, but not the highest wages as with a PhD.
2007-01-01 03:31:31 · answer #4 · answered by Big Bear 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my view on Philippine standard, anthropology is a little better than arecheology is job immediacy is to be considered. Anthropology is a prerequisite subject in all Bachelor of Sciences which includes a section on Archeology. Taking the Bachelor of Science in Anthropooly will bring him University as a professor.With regards to archeology, your son might be inspired on adventure movies like Indiana Jones , etc. If I underestimate you question, it is because of our culture.
2006-12-30 17:03:27 · answer #5 · answered by wilma m 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
As long as he goes to field school, which he should have to with a major in archaeology, he can work as a field archaeologist. Check out shovelbums.org or archaeologyfieldwork.com for ideas of what the work is like; it's mostly very short-lived, but you get to travel. If he wants to be a boss-man, he'll have to get at least a master's.
2006-12-31 16:26:55 · answer #6 · answered by random6x7 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually you really don't need any sort of degree to go on a dig. Archeologists are ALWAYS looking for volunteers to assist on a dig site.
If he has the passion for it I highly recommend he goes for it. If he enjoys going on the dig, then he could pursuit it to its fullest extent, and do digs of his own one day, doing ground breaking research.
If he's intrested, theres a site called "Earthwatch" that hooks volunteer archelogists up with a professional on 3 week digs. See if he'd like to do that.
2006-12-30 20:04:10 · answer #7 · answered by purebloodedheinz57 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ignore hte muppets above saying 'burger king'. My first degree was in archaeology. It's a wide discipline - you can specialise in what you like. I chose the computer route - GIS, programming, VR, etc - and went on to take an MSc in Computer Science. I'm now a network admin.
2016-03-29 01:33:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Run! Unless he has a really huge urge to publish there will be no career for him. No one will take him unless he finds something new to write about and bring prestige to the university he works for.
2007-01-01 03:48:51 · answer #9 · answered by Sarah S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Better call or e-mail the college of your choice and ask an advisor, see if they offer that program, and offer you some suggestions and advice.
2006-12-30 15:33:36 · answer #10 · answered by JBWPLGCSE 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋