Archealogical careers?

Question

i'm curious in becoming an archeaologist, how easy would it be to find a job out college?

Answer 1

You can work in:

Universities

Excavations

Museums

Field work

Magazines

National Geographic

Answer 2

Darn good question!

Actually, entry level positions in archaeology are plentiful, if you are mobile and flexible. I was a field archaeologist for 17 years before I retired and took up teaching, so I can speak from some experience.

First, find a college with an active CRM (cultural resource management) program as well as a good academic archaeological program, the two are not always found together. Just a good traditional academic program will not prepare you to actually find a job outside the university system, which has very few viable positions opening at one time, and almost always require a PhD. On the other hand, you can get work with a BA/BS degree doing CRM pretty much anywhere in the US if you dig around a bit.

Most schools in the American Southwest (AZ, NM, CO, NV, UT) have such an emphasis, with many other good ones in California and Texas.

Let me know if you need more info. Archaeology is an awesome profession, but one should go into it with open eyes and a degree of pragmatism.

Catiline