One major field of education is often forgotten about with all the talk of law, medical, and historical programs in the United States. That major field is archaeology, and it is still a prominent part of many universities’ and students’ lives today. For all students interested in archeology as a major, here are some of the universities that have the best archeology programs:
Brown University
Brown, a private and renowned Ivy League university, is located in Providence, Rhode Island and was founded in 1764. It is known around the U.S. for its high academic standards, but many people do not realize that Brown also has an excellent program for Archeology. The Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World is currently in a period of rapid innovation and expansion. According to the institute’s website, “The Artemis A.W. and Martha Sharp Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World promotes the investigation, understanding, and enjoyment of the archaeology and art of the ancient Mediterranean, Egypt, and Western Asia.” For students who have their goals set high, this program would be great.
The College of William and Mary
The College of William and Mary is the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and its undergraduate program ranks 4th and 6th among public universities according to 2010 Forbs and 2011 U.S. News & World Report rankings, respectively. The College of William and Mary is home to the William and Mary Center for Archaeological Research (also known as WMCAR). WMCAR was established in May of 1988. This center includes archaeology, architectural history, archival research, and collection management. William and Mary also has a great historical archaeology program.
University of Pennsylvania
One other member of the Ivy League, this private school is the fourth oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Its anthropology department is considered one of the top five programs in its field. Its graduate program has received 160-210 graduate applications per year.
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago also has a great Archaeology graduate program. Their archaeology program requires that students complete 18 courses to qualify for the PhD. On their website, the University of Chicago’s Department of Anthropology has stated that they include semiotic approaches to culture, postcoloniality, human rights and indigenous rights, globalization, critiques of neoliberalism, the politics of gender and sexuality, the analysis of place and space, and the anthropological study of science.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan’s Department of Classical Studies includes a great undergraduate archeology program. It focuses on classical archaeology; the study of the artifacts, sites, monuments, and landscapes, of the Mediterranean world. This department encourages the interdisciplinary study of art, history, and languages when considering archeology.
The amount of colleges and universities that contain great archeology programs is quite large and, with some searching, you will be sure to find one in your area. Archeology is a great discipline, and with today’s technology, will be sure to expand dramatically in future years.
