Postgraduate Courses in Archaeology
Archaeology is an exciting subject. It combines the interest in past societies and the lives of ancient people with modern methods of investigation, borrowed from the humanities and sciences. Detective work is required to paste together evidence from literature, historic texts, archives, excavations, animal and plant remains, human bones, geophysical surveys, aerial photographs, chemical tracers, ancient DNA and many other areas. No wonder such ‘forensic’ work attracts student interest! Studying a postgraduate course in archeaology is recommended for those who wish to pursue this career to the maximum level. Read on to discover how a postgraduate course in archaeology can kick-start your career.
There are many undergraduate degrees offering broad training in archaeological method, theory and practice, either on a BA or BSc level, but by necessity they only straddle the different aspect of archaeology. To gain specialist training or deepen the understanding in a particular branch of archaeology, a postgraduate course is an ideal complement. Some postgraduate courses in archaeology are research oriented and prepare students for further research, for example at PhD level. Others are more vocational and mainly provide practical skills training. Most courses, however, include both elements and hence make it easier for students to choose the direction of their future career after they have completed a course.
Although there is a market for archaeology undergraduates, most organisations require specialist qualifications for their more senior positions and are hence looking for postgraduates with either a Masters or Diploma degree. The insight and subject knowledge that most courses pack into one year of intensive study is very hard to gain in any training ‘on the job’. However, 
some courses are also offered part-time (for example spreading the individual modules over two years) and in certain instances can be attended alongside existing work commitments. Distance learning courses have also started to emerge but by necessity they are less vocational and more centred on content. A masters degree is also an excellent foundation for further research at PhD level and many doctoral programmes expect that applicants have already gained subject knowledge and research skills through a postgraduate programme. The in-depth research of such advanced programme can be thoroughly rewarding and may be required for the most senior posts in an organisation, not to mention a career in academia. Postgraduate degrees can hence be seen as stepping-stones for any more advanced position in archaeology, involving insight, judgement and a thorough understanding of the subject. Examples of successful postgraduates include Field Archaeologists at the York Archaeological Trust, Human Remains Experts at Museum of London Archaeology Service, Archaeological Geophysicists at GSB Prospection and Project Director at Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service.
There are many different postgraduate courses in archaeology, ranging from being very broad (e.g. MA in Archaeology) to very specific (e.g. MSc in Archaeological Prospection). The former 
allow great flexibility in the design of the modules that make up the course and this will be reflected in the number of available option choices. The latter may have a clearly prescribed path of study, condensing all important material into a very focussed degree programme. Most courses will also include a dissertation that allows students to work on an extensive project and undertake substantial research. The extent of such independent work, its supervision and the resources available vary considerably between different institutions and are often a good indicator for how much research is included in a postgraduate degree. Laboratory and field classes are important aspects of archaeological training but require a lot of resources and support from an institution. If you are particularly interested in such hands-on training it is important to enquire about the support for, and number of, such activities.
Postgraduate studies in archaeology can be very rewarding. Whether you have already developed a clear vision for your future career during an undergraduate degree or have started to work in the field and then come to the conclusion that further training is required, a postgraduate course in archaeology is bound to enhance your prospects. The difficult choice is to find the right course that suits your needs and caters for your interests.
Armin Schmidt (A.Schmidt@Bradford.ac.uk)
Course manager MSc Archaeological Prospection
Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford
http://www.bradford.ac.uk/archsci
