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Archeology Schools and Programs in The United States

25 schools in The United States teach Archeology.

Archeology Studies in The United States

Archaeology (also spelled archeology in the United States) is, in the words of Boston University, the study of people, cultures and human environments in the distant and recent past. At many US universities it is taught as a branch of anthropology; at others it is a separate interdisciplinary programme. SpainExchange lists 26 schools in the United States that teach archaeology.

How the degree is organised

A bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study, and each university sets the number of credits needed to graduate. The route into the subject differs from one university to another:

  • Boston University offers a BA in Archaeology that requires 12 courses: nine in archaeology, two in anthropology and one in statistics, including a field or research design course
  • Yale University has an interdisciplinary Archaeological Studies major of twelve term courses, including a senior research project, plus a summer field techniques course or research project
  • University of California San Diego teaches archaeology inside its Department of Anthropology, which offers major and minor programmes in several specialisations, among them archaeological anthropology
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison lists a BA and a BS in Anthropology and a separate Archaeology certificate
  • Colorado Mesa University offers a minor in archaeology that it recommends pairing with a major in history, sociology or environmental science

Fieldwork is part of the training. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), students may attend archeological field schools, which teach how to excavate sites and how to record and interpret findings. Colorado Mesa University mentions research partnerships and internships with the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service and the Museum of Western Colorado.

The two main graduate degrees are the master's degree and the doctorate. BLS notes that master's programmes usually take two years and that a PhD takes additional years. Boston University advertises a combined BA and MA in Archaeology in five years. At The University of California Los Angeles, the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology hosts an interdepartmental archaeology graduate programme and a conservation programme for archaeological and ethnographic objects.

Professional standards and recognition

Archaeologists do not need a state licence, but two standards matter for professional work. The Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards, published by the National Park Service, set the minimum for archeology at a graduate degree in archeology, anthropology or a closely related field, plus at least one year of full-time professional experience, at least four months of supervised field and analytic experience in general North American archeology, and a demonstrated ability to carry research to completion. The Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA), created in 1998, is a voluntary registry of qualified archaeologists who agree to uphold its code of conduct and standards of research performance. Graduates who plan to work in another country should check there how a US degree is recognised.

Admission, language and costs

Teaching is in English, and universities require an English proficiency test before admission. EducationUSA advises starting the search 12 to 18 months before the planned start. For a full degree, international students need a student visa: once accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the international student office issues the Form I-20 used in the visa application.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), average tuition and fees at 4-year institutions in 2022-23 were $9,800 at public institutions and $40,700 at private nonprofit institutions. The public figure is the in-state rate, so check what each university charges non-residents. Starting at a community college, which is usually cheaper, and transferring after two years can lower the total cost of a bachelor's degree.

Where to study archaeology

Los Angeles has two, the University of Southern California and The University of California Los Angeles. In the Northeast the list includes Boston University, Yale University in New Haven, Brown University in Providence, Princeton University, Wellesley College, Bryn Mawr College and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Large public universities include The University of California at Berkeley, which has an Archaeological Research Facility, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Washington in Seattle, The Pennsylvania State University and the University of California San Diego. Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs and Amarillo College in Texas are two-year colleges on the list.

Careers

BLS groups archaeologists with anthropologists. It counts about 10,200 jobs in 2025 and projects employment to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 800 openings a year. The largest employers are management, scientific and technical consulting services (28%), research and development in the social sciences and humanities (23%) and the federal government (19%). BLS gives the example of an archeologist who assesses construction sites for compliance with federal historic preservation rules.

To enter the occupation, a master's degree in anthropology or archeology is typically needed, and some positions require a PhD. Graduates with a bachelor's degree and field experience may start as field or laboratory technicians or research assistants.

Frequently asked questions

Is archaeology a separate degree in the United States?

Sometimes. Some universities, such as Boston University and Yale University, have their own archaeology major; at many others archaeology is a specialisation inside the anthropology department.

Which degree do I need to work as an archaeologist?

According to BLS, archeologists typically need at least a master's degree, and some positions require a PhD. A bachelor's degree with field experience can lead to work as a field or laboratory technician.

Do archaeologists need a licence in the United States?

No state licence exists. Federal work follows the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards, and archaeologists can join the voluntary Register of Professional Archaeologists.