Most schools have prerequisites for entering a master's program in archaeology in addition to a bachelor's degree and Graduate Record Examination scores. Some undergraduate courses in archaeology or a related field like history may also be required. Some schools also have foreign language requirements that may be completed during the program. For example, Cornell's MA in archaeology requires competence in a language relevant to the area of specialization.
Master's degrees in archaeology can take anywhere from one and three years, depending on the school and field of specialization with most running about two years. Boston University's MA in archaeology can be done in as little as one year, for example.
Master's candidates are often required to take core courses in graduate-level research methods and other courses designed to prepare them for graduate school. Some other required courses include introductory archaeology courses; courses in related disciplines such as geography, science and history; and more advanced classes in the student's field of specialization. The BU program requires eight semester courses in graduate research and general archaeology courses with three courses in the student's concentration. Washington State University's MA program, on the other hand, requires four basic courses on archaeology such as Quantitative Methods in Anthropology and students also choose a topical course, a lab course and an area course.
Many programs, such as at Cornell, require students to write theses as well .
Some courses specifically focus on specific societies such as the early humans, Egyptians, Aztecs, Mayans or ancient Chinese. Others focus on specific geographies such as Africa, Asia and South America. Yet others are time- or subject-specific such as courses on the Bronze Age, lost languages, early writing forms, early technology and underwater archaeology. The more advanced courses a student takes hinge on her field of specialization of which there are many, including classical archaeology, landscape archaeology, forensic anthropology and heritage management. Washington State University, for example, offers courses such as Complexity in Small Scale Societies and Ceramic Analysis.
While most schools with archaeology programs focus on PhD programs, many do offer terminal masters degrees in archaeology. Boston University (BU) stresses that its MA in Archaeology is for students who are unsure they want to commit to a doctoral program. The master's degree can be completed in as little as one year. Cornell University notes on its website that its MA in archaeology is for those who want to pursue careers in small museums, historic preservation, public archaeology and other fields in which a Ph.D. is not required. Washington State University boasts that its MA in archaeology was third in the country according to the Society for American Archaeology.
A master's degree in archaeology enables graduates to work in museums, academia, government and cultural resource management agencies. Some graduates go on to work as researchers at universities typically working with professors of archaeology sometimes even on digs. Those going to work for the government often manage sites in forests and parks. Museum employees may be assistant curators and give lectures and tours for visitors using their knowledge to bring the museum's artifacts to life. Additionally, a master's degree in archaeology is considered good preparation for a doctoral program.