Not Just a Degree: Essential Steps for Aspiring Archaeology Graduate Students

It’s no longer enough just to earn a bachelor’s degree.
 

Attending grad school has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career so far. I have learned so much about zooarchaeology, research methods, analysis methods, and also about myself. I’ve learned how to stay consistent with my schoolwork and push myself on hard days. My point is, everyone deserves to attend grad school if it’s what you want to elevate your skill set, and, ultimately, your career. But it takes a lot of hard work. I have been reflecting on all the work I did to get to this point in my academic journey and would like to share with you the various routes you can take to build a competitive graduate school application. To be clear, the aim of these tips is for prospective master’s students, but none of these would hurt a PhD candidate as well. You worked hard for that diploma; now let’s work just a little harder for that acceptance letter.

First and foremost is volunteer experience. Volunteering matters because it demonstrates genuine interest and passion. It shows you’re willing to work without being paid for it simply because you love archaeology. This piece of the puzzle on your CV highlights to admissions officers that you are committed to this field. Also, most of the time, when you volunteer, you’re helping out institutions, such as museums or colleges, that really need it. Many departments in colleges are underfunded and cannot pay for the work you may be providing them. Avenues I recommend exploring for volunteering are local museums (even one in the next town over—that’s what I did), asking your professors for leads on opportunities at your college or nearby, and checking with any CRM firms or nonprofit organisations in your area. Museums and colleges are your best bet, and I have found that museum volunteering gigs are the most difficult to secure, especially if it is a particularly well-known or prestigious museum. Remember, too, that museums often offer volunteer experiences on both the public side (the actual museum) and the private side (curation, collections, archives, etc.). Check as well if there are any public archaeology networks or organisations in your area. There is one in mine, and these are great opportunities to share with the public why archaeology is not just fascinating, but also important for preserving, protecting, and sharing history with everyone.

When I was an undergrad, I volunteered with my university archaeology lab at multiple public events to share the local history we uncovered. It’s surprising how many people in your area are unaware of the vast history or what archaeologists do. I also volunteered at a museum in a town over (while working and attending field school—I have no idea how I managed this when I look back!) and learned a lot about large-scale curation standards and the differences between curating ceramics and faunal artefacts.

My second (and probably most important) recommendation is to complete at least one research project before you graduate. These projects are so crucial because completing an undergraduate research project—no matter how small—proves you can design a study, manage your time, and carry out a research plan through to results and presentation. Admission officers, and especially the faculty you’re connecting with, will see that you can do what they will be asking of you on a larger scale. They do not want to waste their time and resources on a student who won’t succeed at a master’s dissertation. If you’re not sure what you want to explore for your master’s dissertation, find a research gap in your archaeology lab or program and make a project out of it. My first research project focused on shell artefacts because no one else wanted to work on them. Seriously, your professors will always have something they need someone to work on, and that someone can be you. If you have a strong idea of what or who you want to work with, align your topic with that faculty member’s ongoing research. That makes you a natural fit for their grad-level team.

“Researcher” on your CV is even better if you can present your findings at a conference or submit a paper to the department journal. My department held a student symposium once a year, and I’m sure they got sick of hearing me present, but I presented from my sophomore to senior year as an undergrad. Don’t get hung up on how exciting or essential your project or conference is. Just do it. That’s what’s most important.

In that same vein, one skill you must develop before grad school is academic writing (and presentations, too, if you can). Academic writing skills will make or break your grades and will make your experience either smooth(ish) sailing or a nightmare. You can practice your writing during your undergraduate classes, of course, but use your research projects as an opportunity to push yourself to be the best writer you can be. You can’t just use Grammarly and call it a day. You need to be able to thoughtfully and clearly explain your points in an organised manner. And, by the way, no one thinks you’re any smarter for including every big word you can. That was me at times, and I can tell you it does not count as developed writing skills. It’s not a fun or exciting skill, but archaeology is built on robust reporting. If you can’t write a clear site report or craft an engaging conference talk, you’ll struggle—and so will your grades.

I highly recommend the book: A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations by Kate L. Turabian. I also encourage you to take advantage of any workshops or courses your college offers for academic writing. I still cannot pretend, to this day, that I have mastered this skill. It's one that I practice as much as I can. I read and take to heart every bit of feedback I've gotten on assignments and try to improve each time I write. 

Finally, excavation skills. This is the fun one (I hope; if not, this may not be the right field for you). Employers and grad programs want to know you’ve handled a trowel, a shovel, and a drawing board before. Ideally, you want to complete an accredited field school recognised by your department, but if that’s not possible, arrange to volunteer on another school’s dig for a semester’s worth of excavation experience. Cue the blood, sweat, and tears joke—no, but actually. I feel like it does mean a lot when you’ve sweat for your career, and let’s be honest, you likely will continue to. Faculty and admissions officers want to see not only that you’ve attended an excavation but that you gained familiarity with excavation protocols (unit layout, stratigraphy, screening) and are capable of on-site recording, such as context sheets, drawing logs, and photo records.

I was lucky that my university held a field school every summer semester. I did two years of this and volunteered for a smaller excavation project that we would undertake a few weeks a year. I learned so much. It's also a great test to see if you want to continue in this field. You only withstand the heat, humidity, ticks, blisters, and so on if you love doing it. 

To recap, you need: a solid record of volunteering, an independent research project with real results, demonstrated writing and presentation skills, and hands-on excavation skills. I believe that combination will transform your application from “just another BA holder” into the standout candidate any grad program or employer wants on their team.

Feature mapping in a pile of dirt!

Excavating during a rare event (the florida winter that happens for a week!)

My last year of presenting at my University’s student symposium

A public outreach day with the University’s Archaeology Lab