A master's degree is generally a two- to three-year intensive university program that you take after you've completed your four-year university bachelor's degree. To become a professional archaeologist, you will need at least a master's degree. So, you need to know--how do you pick a program? First, universities around the world do not organize themselves in the same manner.
The "Taught" vs. the "Research" Master's Degree
In most of the world, there are two kinds of Master's degrees you can get--the "taught" master's and the "research" master's. The "taught" master's degree has a programmed set of courses leading to a master's degree in a specific field--such as Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MSc or MS) in a specialized field such as Classical Archaeology, Landscape Archaeology, Forensic Anthropology, Heritage Management; there are many such programs, depending on the interests of the professors teaching at the department. The "research" master's, on the other hand, can be whatever the student wishes to work on (within limits, of course). There are still a set of preset classes to take, but they are non-specific to period or time, or elective.
If you decide to take a research master's degree, it is still best to find at least one professor in your university who is familiar with your topic, to get you pointed in the right direction.
United States and Canada
Master's degrees in the U.S. and Canada, however, are organized differently. Two kinds of master's degrees there are the thesis and non-thesis master's, and they at least on the surface lead to different career paths. Both are 'research' master's, in that they are not programmed to a specific kind of archaeology; most of them in fact are anthropology master's degrees. In general, the thesis master requires you to write a master's thesis--a long paper on a particular topic. If you want a PhD, chances are you must complete a 'thesis master's' degree.
The non-thesis master's degree is sometimes called a 'terminal degree', in that you expect to leave school when you are finished with your degree, rather than going ahead to a PhD. This is a fork in the road you must recognized: a PhD allows you to teach at the university level; a terminal MA rules out teaching at the university level, although you can still find a job in cultural resource management, which will keep body and soul together.
In the U.S. and Canada, you can choose your own thesis topic no matter where you are. However, as with a research master's in the rest of the world: you should find at least one professor to work with who can help you on your path to the right field of interest.
GGSA: Program Focus (Taught Master's Programs)
The Guide to Graduate Schools in Archaeology: Program Focus includes a list of the taught MA programs that are specifically tailored for specific degrees. There are specific programs in the US and Canada that are built for topics, such as underwater archaeology, which requires a whole set of skills not available at every graduate school in the nation, and those I've included where I know about them. But by and large, taught MAs are not located in the United States or Canada.
So how do you find a professor to work with? Try the Find a Specialist route next.
If you know of any missing schools or any other errors on this list, please notify me.
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