Archeology is the study of culture and history through excavation and analysis of artifacts. To work in archeology, you'll need specialized training.
This training often covers history and culture, excavation methods, and ethics. Keep reading to discover the top archeology colleges and universities in the United States.
Top Archaeology Colleges and Universities in the U.S.
Several excellent colleges and universities offer archeology degrees in the United States. We've listed our top picks below in alphabetical order for those looking to become an archaeologist.
1. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University is a private research university in Baltimore, MD. It offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Archeology through its Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.
This program introduces students to archaeological theory, analysis of archaeological materials, and results of archaeological research in prehistoric and early historic periods.
Students are required to complete 13 courses and a fieldwork requirement. Courses include:
- A (Virtual) Visit to the Louvre Museum: Introduction to the Material Culture of Ancient Egypt
- Archaeology at the Crossroads: The Ancient Eastern Mediterranean through Objects in the JHU Archaeological Museum
- Archaeological Method and Theory
- World Prehistory: An Anthropological Perspective
Students in the program will have access to resources like the Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum and archeological fieldwork in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
2. Rice University
Rice University is a private research university in Houston, TX. It offers archeology programs through its Department of Anthropology within the School of Social Sciences.
At the bachelor's level, students can major in anthropology with a specialization in anthropological archeology.
This program focuses on research skills in the library, the field, and the laboratory. It includes courses such as:
- Advanced Archeological Theory
- Archeological Field Techniques
- Introduction to Archeology
- Zooarchaeology
At the graduate level, students can earn a Ph.D. in anthropology with a specialization in archeology. It requires coursework as well as extended fieldwork and a thesis.
The department also offers students the chance to participate in a six-week summer archaeological field school in Sub-Saharan Africa.
3. Stanford University
Stanford University is a private research university in Stanford, CA. It offers archeology programs through the Archeology Center within its School of Humanities and Sciences.
The Bachelor of Arts in Archeology provides students with a broad and rigorous introduction to the analysis of the material culture of past societies. It includes courses such as:
- Archeological Methods
- Archaeology of Food: Production, Consumption and Ritual
- History of Archaeological Thought
- Museum Cultures: Material Representation in the Past and Present
Undergraduate students can also participate in summer field experiences. There are currently two experiences offered:
- Archaeological Research on Sicilian Maritime Heritage
- Disease Confinement in the Adriatic: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Other internship and experiential learning opportunities are available through the department as well.
Ph.D. students can earn a degree in anthropology, classics, or East Asian languages and cultures and choose an archeology concentration within those programs.
4. University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private research university in Los Angeles, CA. Its Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences offers an undergraduate archeology program.
The Bachelor of Arts in Archeology is ideal for students who want to understand how our past informs our present. Courses offered in this program include:
- Archaeology: Our Human Past
- Archaeology of Religion in the Greco-Roman World
- Exploring Ancient Ways of Living: Experimental Archaeology
- Scientific Analysis in Archaeology
Students in the program will have access to the university's Archeology Research Center, which houses a collection of artifacts and supports student involvement in research projects.
The program also provides numerous hands-on educational opportunities like student trips, summer excavations, and field research programs.
5. Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university based in St. Louis, MO. It offers an undergraduate interdisciplinary program in archeology.
The program provides a comprehensive understanding of archaeology by emphasizing two approaches: the humanistic and the social scientific.
The program requires 23 courses and at least one supervised field project. Courses in this program include:
- Archaeology of China: Food and People
- Bones to Behavior: Undergraduate Research in the Lab and at the Zoo
- Introduction to Archaeology
- World Archaeology: Global Perspectives on the Past
Students may concentrate on a specific region, such as the Eastern Woodlands of the United States, the Andes, Mesoamerica, Africa, Central Asia, China, or the Mediterranean world.
Some courses in this program are available in an online format.
FAQs About Archaeology Colleges and Universities in the U.S.
Below, you'll find the answers to frequently asked questions about archeology colleges and universities in the United States.
Can I Earn an Archeology Degree Online?
Archeology degrees are not offered online in the United States, as they often require extensive lab and fieldwork.
However, you may be able to complete part of your archeology degree online.
How Long Does it Take to Earn a Degree in Archeology?
The length of an archeology degree depends on what level of degree you're earning. Bachelor's degrees typically take four years, while graduate programs take two.
Doctoral degrees can take several years.
What Can I Do With a Degree in Archeology?
Those with a degree in archeology may work as archeologists and researchers, or they may find jobs as conservators, educators, or museum curators.
Find Archaeology Colleges and Universities in the U.S.
Students can earn degrees in archeology through many esteemed colleges and universities in the United States. Check out the ones listed above to start your archeology journey today!
