Decide which region of the country you want to study In. There are dozens of colleges and universities in the United States that offer students the opportunity to study ancient archaeology. If you're open to learning in all regions of the United States then your options are plentiful. If you have a specific region in mind, it helps to focus on applying to the schools only in areas you would consider living. There are four official regions in the United States: Northeast, Midwest, South and West.
Consider what degree you'd like to obtain. Degrees in archaeology are available at the associate, bachelor, master and doctorate levels. If you're interested in testing the waters and learning basic archeology information to decide if it's the field for you, a two-year associate's degree program is ideal. Students who are decided in their interest in ancient archeology could benefit from a four-year bachelor's degree program. These students would also benefit from attending a school that offers higher-level degree programs, so the opportunities for master and doctorate-level studies are available.
Contact the colleges that meet your location and degree requirements, and ask them what is required for admission to their ancient archaeology program. Ask them to mail or email any required application materials. The best place to start is the admissions office. The school's contact information can be obtained on their website. Sometimes the information on a college's website isn't updated regularly, or they may not have detailed descriptions for every course of study they offer. Calling the admissions office is the fastest method to get accurate information.
Compare the details of the programs you're interested in. Make sure the colleges you're considering offer specializations in areas of archeology you're enthusiastic about. For example, if you're hoping to narrow your field to ancient civilizations of Western Europe or ancient Mayan culture and society, exclude the schools whose programs don't offer such options.
Apply to the colleges you've selected. Now that you've done your research and narrowed down the ancient archaeology programs that would be the best fit for you, all that's left is to fill out the applications and send them. Keep an eye on important dates, deadlines, prerequisites and application fees. All colleges have different admissions schedules, and you don't want your application disqualified.
During college, participate in hands-on archaeological projects. These can include study abroad programs, field trips, a part-time job, volunteer work, or an internship.