Archaeology Degrees for Military & Veterans

Associate Degree in Archaeology

Archaeology analyzes the physical remains of ancient and recent human past in pursuit of a broader understanding of human culture. An associate degree in archaeology will introduce students to the two main aspects of archaeology: prehistoric and historical.

Prehistoric archaeology examines sites without a written record. These include ancient villages, stone quarries, rock art, ancient cemeteries, campsites, and stone monuments. A site can be as small and simple as a pile of chipped stone tools left by a prehistoric hunter or as large and mysterious as Stonehenge.

Historical archaeology sites are those where archaeologists can use historical records (writing) to aid their examination. These sites include densely populated modern cities, shipwrecks, battlefields, slave quarters, cemeteries, and centers of industry.

With an Associate Degree in Archaeology, students are prepared for an entry-level job in this career field. They may also choose to continue their studies and pursue a Bachelor’s in Archaeology.

Jobs with an Associate Degree in Archaeology

• Teacher Assistant - Work with a licensed teacher to give students additional attention and instruction. Median Annual Salary: $29,000.
• Human Service Assistants - Provide services for clients and specific populations of clients in a variety of social service fields. Human Service Assistants may work for nonprofit organizations, for-profit social service agencies, and state and local governments. Median Annual Salary: $35,000.
• Public Relations Specialist - Create and maintain a favorable public image for the organization they represent. Median Annual Salary: $63,000.

Bachelor's Degree in Archaeology

With a Bachelor’s in Archaeology students will further explore this field of study while also refining their research and writing skills.

Students are encouraged to choose a particular region of the world or a specific topic to specialize in. Specialization will allow an archaeologist to develop expertise. This is especially relevant for students who are planning to pursue their Master’s in Archaeology. Popular archaeology specializations include:

• human remains (bio-archaeology)
• animals (zoo-archaeology)
• ancient plants (paleoethnobotany)
• stone tools (lithics)
• underwater archaeology
• mapping

Fields of specialty are especially relevant for students that will continue to graduate studies in pursuit of a Master’s and/or Doctorate in Archaeology.

Jobs with a Bachelor’s Degree in Archaeology

• Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary - Assist faculty or other instructional staff in postsecondary institutions by performing instructional support activities, such as developing teaching materials, leading discussion groups, and grading examinations or papers. Median Annual Salary: $39,000.
• Museum Technician - Prepare and restore items in those collections. Median Annual Salary: $52,000.
• Social Science Research Assistant - Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication. Median Annual Salary: $54,000.
• Technical Writer - Prepare instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily. Median Annual Salary: $75,000.
• Public Relations Manager - Direct the creation of materials that will enhance the public image of their employer or client. Median Annual Salary: $118,000.

Master's Degree in Archaeology

Graduate students seeking a master’s in archaeology will refine their research and communication skills including their ability to gather and interpret data. A Master’s in Archaeology is ideal for those seeking postsecondary education and research careers.

Jobs with a Master’s Degree in Archaeology

• Curator - Oversee institutions’ collections, such as historical items or artwork. Median Annual Salary: $52,000.
• Historian - Research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past by studying historical documents and sources. Median Annual Salary: $63,000.
• Archaeologist - Study the origin, development, and behavior of humans. archeologists typically work in research organizations, government, and consulting firms. Median Annual Salary: $66,000.

Doctorate in Archaeology

With a doctorate (Ph.D.) in archaeology, students will become the ultimate expert in the field. Students earning a Ph.D. in Archaeology are expected to have at least one specialty field within archaeology to perfect their expertise in. Doctoral students are also expected to be skilled in fieldwork, research, and writing for publication.

It is important to note that, especially in the US, archaeology is sometimes found as a major within anthropology.

Jobs with a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Archaeology

• Postsecondary Teacher - Instruct students in Archaeology courses beyond the high school level. Median Annual Salary: $80,000.
• Author - Develop written content for various types of media on the topic of Archaeology. Median Annual Salary: $122,000.
• Dr. Jones - Become the next pop-culture archetype for exploration and adventure. Median Annual Salary: priceless.

Is an Archaeology Degree Worth It?

Use your GI Bill benefits and other educational entitlements (such as Yellow Ribbon benefits, scholarships, and grants) and you can earn a degree toward a spectacular degree and an exciting career.

Don’t forget, that a degree in archaeology isn’t just for aspiring archaeologists. There are a wide variety of related jobs and career fields for those earning a degree in archaeology including:

• Museum workers (curator, archivist, technician, etc.)
• Researcher
• Academia
• Non-profit and NGO humanitarian groups
• Historian
• Cultural Resource Management
• Park Services
• Urban Planning

GI Bill-approved Schools and Yellow Ribbon Schools with Degrees in Archaeology

Ready to start your Degree in Archaeology? Check out these great programs available at our partner schools:  

Moorpark College

Offers an Associate in Arts in Archaeology. Moorpark College is a GI Bill® approved school and offers credit for military experience. Moorpark College is a MyCAA-approved school and is approved for Tuition Assistance.

University of Arizona

Offers a Master of Arts in Anthropology-Applied Archaeology. The University of Arizona is a GI Bill® approved school, offers credit for military experience, and awards credit for both the CLEP and DSST exams. The University of Arizona is a Yellow Ribbon school and is approved for Tuition Assistance.

University of Colorado at Boulder

Offers a Ph.D. and a Master of Arts in Archaeology with specializations in archaeology, and cultural or biological anthropology available. The University of Colorado Boulder has GI Bill-approved programs, offers credit for military experience, and awards credit for the CLEP exam. The University of Colorado Boulder is a MyCAA-approved school, is approved for Tuition Assistance, and proudly participates in the Yellow Ribbon program.

University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg

Offers a Master of Arts in Anthropology with specializations in Archaeology and Bio-archaeology available. The University of Southern Mississippi has GI Bill-approved programs, offers credit for military experience, awards credit for both the CLEP and DSST exams, and is approved for Tuition Assistance. The University of Southern Mississippi is a Yellow Ribbon school and a MyCAA-approved school.

*All statistics and calculations from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For more information click here.