Archeology programs/ colleges/ careers and life as I know it?

Question

So I have come to that wonderful age where school demands that I figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. I'm giving the most thought to anthropology/ archaeology, but am also considering creative writing (although I suppose this could be done on the side easily), and environmental sciences. I'm just wondering what the job outlook and demand for any of these careers (archaeology in particular) is, as well as what each job entails. I don't mide low pay, I just need enough for a decent apartment and car, although food every once in a whild would be nice.

Answer 1

I think you got a good answer on the archaeology end.  However, I do have just a bachelors and getting a job in the field is a bit limited compared to those that have their masters.  As for museum jobs, they are slowly moving toward prefering a Museum Studies degree over an anthropology degree.  I do know archaeologists that only have apartments in the winter.  This cuts down on cost and most places will pay you perdium if you are located outside of a city.

If you go to a Univerisity, you can try a course in each and see if it is right for you before declaring a major.  This saves the time and trouble of changing majors.  Then again, you might find that you'll change your mind in the future...but we'll save that for another question.  I do know quite a few people that double majored and got two degrees.  Your two choices could compliment each other well and you could still take a couple of creative writing courses additionally (I would do that career on the side).  Also, if you had the two degrees you could have one to fall on if the job market slowed in the other one.  Or if your life changes with time, you might choose to switch careers and you would be set up to do so with two degrees.  It is cheaper to get 2 degrees at once if you watch for common couse requirements.

Coming from someone whose life has really changed since college and changed their major twice while they were there (me); don't let them pressure you into deciding right away unless you want to.  A lot of times the University requirements (these are requirements in addition to those set by the department of your degree program) can be fulfilled by trying out your interests before making an official decision.  I probably should have been an undeclared major for the first year.

Anthropology is a reading and writing intensive degree program.  You'll probably like the ethnography part of it if you like creative writing.

Answer 2

It varies on a number of factors. As far as archaeology, you can get a job in it, but your position and pay will depend on a number of factors.

The most 'available' job as an archaeology is working in the field of Cultural Resource Management (CRM) which goes by a number of names depending on the region (English Heritage in the parts of the UK, CRM in most of Canada, others in the US and other nations). You can usually get a job as a 'shovel-bum' (digger) for archaeological contractors with just a B.A.

Other positions will be largely based on your education and experience. Museums sometimes hire people with archaeological training in a related area for general or specified positions. If you have a specific skill set (say, Stable Isotope analysis) you could get a job at an institution or a university doing certain types of lab work.

Your best bet is to get as much field experience or labwork in your BA as you can. Volunteering is very important as well as its often the best way to get your foot in the door. I'd recommend volunteering either to help an instructor with lab work/research or seeing if your local museum has volunteer positions. At the very least it will look good on your CV when applying for jobs.