Couple thoughts:

1. You posted during a low-traffic interval (Sunday afternoon is always slow). Try posing your question again monday morning.

2. The one archeologist I know of who amkes a living outside a university setting graduated from University of California at Santa Cruz. I have no idea how UCSC's department is regarded in the profession. All I know is that it apparently worked well for him.

Good luck!

Thank you for the advice. I'll bump the thread tomorrow and see what happens.

Texas A&M University!

Archaeology is a branch of anthropology ( the other branches are physical anthro and cultural anthro). So you need the anthro undergrad degree and then you get your specialty in graduate school. I would recommend Arizona or New Mexico because of the opportunity to immerse yourself in archaeology outside of the classroom, and see if it is really what turns you on. Other areas of the country may have great schools, but limited local opportunities to look at anything old.

The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) is the home of biblical archeologist Vendyl Jones

You might want to do some research on him. Some think he's a crackpot, because he thinks of himself as Indiana Jones.

Ditto to Admiraln's "Texas A&M University."

Your son needs to go where he'll enjoy the college experience - if that part of the equation isn't right, then it won't matter what he majors in.

There's none finer than Texas A&M - more than a few successful people have come out of there and had a wonderful time in the process.

You can go to any college that offers anthropolgy...my friend went to Ball State and he got to go to the prehistoric sites in the south and out west...we actually have prehistoric burials in our areas (yours and mine) but they are not in good shape. The Professors get to hook up to great summer digs sometimes and it can be in this country or anywhere...another friend of mine is a anthropologist and she spent one summer in Costa Rica...I would look for the best colleges and at the Professors that get the best summer digs...it all depends on what your student in studying...I have been on six digs with an archaeologist and some students never get to go on that many digs....it all depends on connecting with the right person and if you are a student...you need to be one of the top students.

Other areas of the country may have great schools, but limited local opportunities to look at anything old.

I'm admittedly over my head here, but my impression is that regardles of which univesity the sthudent is technically enrolled in for grad school, much of the time is spent on locations that can be almost anywhere. Proximity to campus being nice, of course, but not that big of an issue.

Am I wrong?

My daughter is a junior majoring in anthropology at Adelphi University in Garden City (Long Island), New York. It's close to NYC but in a quiet residential neighborhood. It's not too well known outside of that area but has a very good reputation there. Their web site is www.adelphi.edu

The University of New Mexico has a very active archaeology program, focussed on the pre-Columbian Anasazi culture in the Southwest.

The museum (on campus) is one of the very best in the country featuring this aspect of American history.

Further, the opportunities to practice the profession are all around, in every direction.

From my cousin in the field (pun intended) ...

High End Anglo-American Archeology - Paleontology: Arizona State (Donald Johanson's Institute for Human Origins), Yale, Cambridge, Harvard & Oxford.

High End Anglo-American Archeology - Prehistory: Yale, Cambridge, Johns Hopkins.

Several rock structures dating back millions of years have been discovered at the campus of Blackdog University. Each spring, they reveal themselves as the frost heaves. Last year, a conrtactor(who destroyed much of what mat have deen signifigant) moved 17,000 tons of debris from the site. If you want a summer jog excavating these finds, please get a reply to me. Our site currently being worked is about 70 acres. We will provide tools, living accomodations and laundry service. Sheep roam free on the site, but as long as you are "recovering" and removing these archeological finds, the sheep find your company tolerable.

If I were a serious Archeology major, I'd seriously consider the University of Chicago.

University of Chicago

Highly regarded for studies in anthro & ancient studies, also paleontology (sp?)....(dinosaurs?)

I believe Oriental Institute (Egyptian studies) is located here also.

No. you're not wrong. But why not be an undergrad in an area where you can be more exposed to the field? See post #11.

Welcome thread, btw. I'm weary of reading
about certain other subjects.

Someone my dad knows went to Dartmouth for archaelogy. Don't go there. I've heard that they aren't that great.

U of Chicago if he's really studious. They have a SWELL Egyptology Dept. that's been really good for a long time. But a kid has to be highly academically inclined both to get in and to like it there. Plus it IS in a pretty run-down and dangerous area of Chicago. Used to be a lovely neighborhood (even quite swanky) a long time ago. I'm sure the students manage to stay safe.

State Penn!