Expert: John J. Shea - 8/7/2008

Question
I have bounced around between several fields and Universities and I never had any guidance in career planning. I am very much interested in getting a Doctorate in Archaeology however I am not sure what at which point I must launch into the field. I already hold a Masters in Business Administration and a BA in Psychology. My question is then do I need to start as an undergrad or can I start at a higher level?

Answer
Dear Jonathan
No need to start over as an undergrad.  You might want to try an MA/MS in archaeology (or anthro) first (2-3 year committment), before taking the plunge into a Ph.D. (5-7 years total or 3-4 after an MA).  Best thing to to is to decide the aspect of archaeology that interests you most, identify the best/most productive people working in that field, and then write to them about prospective study and about your situation.  Most important of all, though, think really long and hard about why you want the Ph.D.  It is a lot of work, expensive, and not necessarily worth the trouble unless you plan to make a career as an educator or a research scientist.
Good luck in your studies.
Cheers,
John Shea